ANTONI DRYJA

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.