The air crash near Smoleńsk in Russia killed the President of the Republic of Poland, the First Lady and the cream of the Polish elite – the last President of Poland in exile, heads of all the Polish armed forces, rector of the Warsaw University named after Cardinal Wyszynski, the President of the National Bank of Poland, the Ombudsman, Vice Marshals of the Presidium of Sejm and Senate, several MPs, senators, ministers, bishops – in total more than 90 distinguished and respected individuals.
The catastrophe occurred in the area adjoining Katyń – a distinctive site for the Polish history – where 70 years ago in April 1940 ....