On 14 January 1946 in Radom, Investigating Judge Kazimierz Borys of the II District of the Regional Court in Radom with its seat in Radom 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 | Antoni Dryja |
Age | 47 years old |
Parents’ names | Jan and Marianna |
Place of residence | Firlej, commune of Wielogóra |
Occupation | farmer |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Criminal record | none |
Relationship to the parties | none |
I saw trucks driving up from Radom in the direction of Firlej and turning towards the sands. I then saw people being unloaded from the vehicles and led deep into the sands. I also heard the sound of gunshots coming from that direction. But I myself did not witness any execution. I don’t remember the exact date when the shootings started, nor can I provide any approximation. I do remember, however, that people would be executed a few times a week. In the autumn of 1943, residents living close to the site were evicted, whereafter the Germans screened the sands with mats of some sort and started burning the bodies. I cannot give any details concerning these incinerations, for I didn’t see them close-up. You could see smoke and fire from afar, and smell the stench of decaying human flesh. These incinerations ended in the spring of 1944. The shootings continued thereafter – truckloads of people would be brought in and executed. Their bodies were not incinerated. The last execution took place just before the Germans fled.
The report was read out.