KAZIMIERZ WĘDZIKOWSKI

On 31 May 1947 in Zwoleń, the District Commission for the Investigation of German Crimes with its seat in Radom, this in the person of its member, Deputy Prosecutor J. Skarżyński, acting pursuant to Article 20 of the provisions introducing the Code of Criminal Procedure, interviewed the person mentioned hereunder as a witness, without taking an oath. Having been advised of the criminal liability for making false declarations, the witness testified as follows:


Name and surname Kazimierz Wędzikowski
Age 51 years old
Parents’ names Karol and Franciszka, née Jędrasik
Place of residence Policzna, district of Kozienice
Profession priest of the Roman Catholic parish in Policzna
Religion Roman Catholic
Criminal record none

During the German occupation I was the parish priest in Policzna, district of Kozienice. Deportations to labor in the Reich, round-ups and individual arrests – a mix of economic and political measures – were the order of the day. I am in possession of a document signed by the mayor, Jeske, forbidding me to conduct church services on weekdays.

The first mass double execution was held in the spring or summer of 1943 at two locations in Policzna: near the cemetery and in Policzna-Kolonia. To be exact, it took place on 12 June 1943. More than 20 victims were shot dead, among them a few women – all were from Policzna. I would assume that this measure was aimed against persons suspected of belonging to pro-independence organizations. Whole families were liquidated, and one farm building was burned down – with the owner and his family inside. This was in Policzna near Frankowo. I don’t remember the family’s surname. I saw the charred bodies of 5 people, among them that of the smallholder’s 14-year-old daughter. I was told that the house was torched because the Germans considered it a waste of time to have it surrounded with gendarmes. The execution was carried out by army and Gestapo units, which had first cordoned off the entire village. I myself took part in the burial of 24 people who were shot dead in the course of this action.

A year later (that is in 1944), when two officials of the Radom District were kidnapped, the Germans organized a retaliatory operation during which they executed every single person who was found hiding in the fields or the forest. They also burned down the village of Antoniówka, alleging that partisans had sought refuge there. I heard that a man who wanted to save his property was thrown alive into the fire. The residents of Antoniówka were expelled and not allowed to take anything with them, whereafter all movables presenting any value were looted by the execution squads. The livestock was requisitioned and driven to Policzna, and from there to another location. In this way those who had survived became beggars. I think that the following persons – eyewitnesses to these crimes – could provide more information on the topic: 1) Jan Mazur, 2) Podsiadły, 3) Sławicki, resident in Policzna, 4) the village leader of Antoniówka, 5) Domański, and 6) Rapcia – resident in Antoniówka.

The witness was obligated to send in a copy of the document forbidding him to conduct church services.