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40 Dziś i jutro
English version
The Rally attracted much attention on
its long route. Local people cheered at
the sight of motorcycles decorated with
Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian, Russian
and Ukrainian fags. Not a single hostile
attack took place during the Rally and
the attitude of local authorities was very
friendly. In the territory of Russia and
Ukraine, the Rally was escorted by the
police, which facilitated a smooth and
quick ride. Crossing borders did not
render any problems either; the partici-
pants were even allowed to cross them
without having to queue. The only ex-
ception was the Russian border (Lat-
via-Russia), which took 7-hour waiting
in the pouring rain to clear customs.
Like in the past, the Rally generated
media interest beyond the Polish bor-
der. A lot of interviews were given to
the press, radio and television. There
was even coverage of the Rally on the
Smoleńsk TV, and the Ukrainian TV re-
leased information almost every day,
which we learned from people we met
on our way.
Wreaths were laid at the site of com-
munist crimes, cemeteries in Katyn,
Miednoje, Charkov and Kiev-Bykov-
nia. Holy Masses were celebrated
to remember the murdered. Wreaths
were also laid at neighbouring ceme-
teries where citizens of the former So-
viet Union are buried – who were mur-
dered in the same vicious way (e.g. in
Koniuchy, a village whose inhabitants
were murdered by communist guer-
rilla). Wreaths were laid at the site of
the German crimes in Vilna-Ponary
and Lvov, at the Woleckie Hills. On
graves of the Polish soldiers. In Kop-
ciow where Emlia Plater is buried. In
Vilna at Rossa, on Mother’s and Son’s
Grave. In Brachilov to remember those
who were killed in action with Bolshev-
ics at Meżyrovo on 27 April 1920. In
Bar to remember those from the 3rd
army under general Rydz-Śmigły, who
fought together with units under ata-
man Semen Petlura against Bolshev-
ics for freedom of Ukraine in 1920.
In Lvov, at the Cemetery of Lvov Ea-
gles, where the youngest soldiers of
the Polish Republic fought and de-
fended Polish Lvov on 1-22 November
1918. In Żółkiew on the grave of Great
Crown Hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski.
We also laid wreaths in Zułowo, where
Józef Piłsudski was born. On the
grave of Maria Konopnicka, at the foot
of monument of Adam Mickiewicz in
Lvov. We visited Polish fortresses in
Chocim, the Trenches of the Holy Trin-
ity, Buczacz, Jazłowiec and Kamien-
iec Podolski.
GIFTS: Before the Rally started gifts
were gathered for Poles staying in for-
mer Eastern Borderlands of the II Pol-
ish Republic. There were mainly books:
works of Sienkiewicz, Mickiewicz,
Słowacki, Norwid and many others, as
well as schoolbooks for learning Polish
and history. There were also sweets,
toys, T-shirts, ballpoints etc.
Film documentary of the 6th Interna-
tional Katyn Rally “6000 km. Follow-
ing the traces of the Polish Suffering”
by Ania Pietraszek – got a special prize
awarded by the President of the Polish
Republic at the International Catholic
Festival Niepokalanów 2007.
Dear Friends,
We have already started prepara-
tions for the next, seventh Katyń
Rally. The Rally will take place from
25 August to 9 September 2007.
The route planned is as follows:
WARSZAWA - ŻÓŁKIEW – LVOV –
ZBARAŻ – TREMBOWLA – BUC-
ZACZ – JAZŁOWIEC – TRENCH-
ES OF THE HOLY TRINITY – CHO-
CIM – ŹWANIEC – KAMIENIEC PO-
DOLSKI - BERDYCZÓW – KIEV
– CHARKOV – MOSCOW – MIED-
NOJE – OSTASZKÓW – KATYŃ –
KUROPATY – ŚWITEŹ LAKE – NO-
WOGRÓDEK – LIDA – GRODNO –
SOKÓŁKA – WARSZAWA
We may also visit KOZIELSK
Soon more information will be given.
WE INVITE YOU TO TAKE PART IN
THE RALLY
Association of International Motorcy-
cle Katyn Rally
*Material based on notes made by th
organiser of the Association of Interna
tional Motorcycle Katyń Rally
– www.rajdkatynski.net.