SOVIET ATROCITIES COMMITTED IN OCCUPIED EASTERN POLAND, JUNE-JULY 1941

INTRODUCTION

On June 22, 1941, after almost two years of 'mutual understanding' and smooth cooperation at all possible levels, the Nazi and Soviet 'friends' jumped at each other's throat.

On that same day, a decree by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR implemented martial law in western parts of Russia and in Soviet-occupied territories of the Baltic States (Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia), Finland, Poland and Romania. Two other, supplementary decrees issued on the same day provided ramifications of the implemented Martial Law - among them the establishment of Military Tribunals with specification of their organization, duties, and powers.
The Decree had mentioned neither the reasons for the implementation of the Martial Law, nor named the Russia's Nazi 'friend' as an aggressor - overwhelmed by panic Stalin still hoped for a peaceable solution to the conflict.

Situation, which occurred in the morning hours of June 22, 1941 added to the NKVD's usual 'burden of responsibilities' a new, special assignment - solving the unexpected problem of many thousands of prisoners remaining in Soviet arrests, prisons, concentration camps, and penal colonies in the areas engulfed in Nazi-Soviet military operations. The intended aim was to ensure that no Soviet prisoner, and particularly a political Soviet prisoner should fall into enemy's hands.
On that day, Lavrentiy Beria (head of the NKVD) and Viktor Bochkov (chief prosecutor of the USSR) issued Order No. 221 sharpening the strictness of regulations in the NKVD prisons, camps, and colonies, also ordering separation of foreigners (Poles and Germans in particular) and anti-Soviet elements from other inmates.

However, Russia's catastrophic situation on all fronts of the Nazi-Soviet conflict and swift advancement of the German armies called - in the opinion of the Soviet leadership - for more radical and drastic measures.
With full understanding of the urgency of the situation, on June 23 Vsevolod Merkulov (head of the NKGB) issued Order No. 2445/M with directions regarding preparation for the evacuation of prisoners and listing those prisoners anticipated to be shot.
Soon after, the telephones rang in the NKVD-NKGB regional headquarters and an uncontrolled slaughter of prisoners began immediately.
The Soviet omnipresent and omnipotent apparatus of oppression delivered again.

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title page illustration:
MANGLED CORPSES OF NKGB-NKVD VICTIMS
Photograph, taken by a soldier of the Wehrmacht 57th Infantry Division in the late June of 1941 (exact location and time unknown).

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