The Memorial Day for the Victims of the Katyn Massacre
The 85th anniversary of the Katyn Massacre reminds us of the tragic events of 1940 and their significance in shaping our historical memory and national identity. Centrum Mieroszewskiego remains consistently engaged in activities aimed at commemorating one of the most tragic chapters in Poland’s history.
In this symbolic anniversary year, we invite you to explore our resources, including our publication "Katyn Pro Memoria", which we are making available free of charge for the first time — so that the history of this crime can be passed on and reach the widest possible audience. This year’s commemoration is also special because, in addition to our traditional educational initiatives, we have prepared several new projects, including the co-organization of a historical competition for young people entitled "KATYN 2025. Anniversary Newspaper".
Katyn Pro Memoria — an online platform and a free e-book for everyone
On the occasion of the anniversary, we invite you to visit the "Katyn Pro Memoria" platform, created to provide access to the burial sites of the Victims of the Katyn Massacre — knowing that for most of us, visiting these places in person is limited or impossible.
This is an opportunity for a virtual walk through the Katyn necropolises, allowing users to discover the history and atmosphere of these places anew. The platform presents the "Voices" of victims and witnesses — read by outstanding Polish actors — and enables visitors to light a virtual candle for specific victims, restoring their individual, personal stories.
At the same time, Centrum Mieroszewskiego is making the book "Katyn Pro Memoria" available completely free of charge in an electronic version. The book is a record of conversations with researchers, journalists, lawyers, and the families of the Victims of the Katyn Massacre. It is an invaluable source of knowledge about this tragic event — which for years was misrepresented or, at times, ignored. The publication is available for download on our website and serves as an excellent tool for deepening knowledge about what happened in the spring of 1940 and the impact of this crime on the history of Poland and the world
Katyn 2025 Competition — a unique educational project for young people
As part of this year’s anniversary, we are also announcing the launch of the 5th edition of the National Historical Competition "Katyn 2025. Anniversary Newspaper". The competition is addressed to young people aged 13-18 and aims to deepen their knowledge of the Katyn Massacre and to cultivate remembrance of its Victims.
Participants will prepare anniversary newspapers, which will include, among other things:
- an essay entitled "Katyn. Heroism or Weakness?"
- a memorial piece about one of the Victims
- and an article about Polish war cemeteries in the East.
This is a unique opportunity for young people to actively participate in the anniversary commemorations while learning journalism, text editing, and source material research skills. More information about the competition can be found on the websites of the organizers: "Katyn... Saving from Oblivion" and the Parafiada Association. We encourage you to take part!
