Today in World War II History—March 5, 1940 & 1945 POSTED: Thursday, March 5, 2020 by Sarah Sundin 80 Years Ago—March 5, 1940: USSR declares Polish officers are enemies and sentences them to death; this will lead to the Katyn Massacre. 75 Years Ago—Mar. 5, 1945: German Army begins conscripting fifteen-year-old boys.