Murder of Poles in Różaniec

Różaniec, a village in the administrative district Tarnogród, located 16 miles south of Biłgoraj in Poland, witnessed some of the typical German "pacification" actions during WWII.

A prelude took place on 20th July 1942. On this day Germans murdered 25 Poles from Różaniec, burned some houses and stole farm animals, including 1000 cows, 500 pigs and 3000 hens.
They also deported 10 Poles from różaniec to the infamous German Death Camp KL Majdanek.

Within few months another operation took place. On 18th of March 1943, German army, gendarmerie and SS surrounded Różaniec. They went on an organised killing spreee - murdering 68 Poles, including elderly and children as young as 5.
Germans systematically set fire to the houses and farm buildings shooting occupants who were trying to escape. At the end of the day 260 of the buildings were burned to the ground, many with farm animals trapped inside.

Poles who were killed on this day:

Bolesław Bukowiński, age 21
Józef Bukowiński, age 17

Anastazja Jamińska, age 68
Edward Jamiński, age 18
Michał Jamiński, age 19

Maria Michalska, age 38
Bazyli Michalski, age 34

Patro, age unknown
Antoni Patro, age 75
Barbara Patro, age 72
Ewa Patro, age 74
Helena Patro, age 54
Maria Patro, age unknown
Wawrzyniec Patro, age 20,

Andrzej Saj, age 62
Andrzej Saj, age 32
Jan Saj, age 52

Semejko, age unknown
Anna Semejko, age 60
Daniel Semejko, age 52
Katarzyna Semejko, age 50
Onufry Semejko, age 60
Zofia Semejko, age 60

Andrzej Seńko, age 50
Katarzyna Seńko, age 31
Paweł Seńko, age 37

Anna Stolarz, age 52
Ewa Stolarz, age 29

Michał Sytny, age 61
Michał Sytny, age 29

Michał Szwedo, age 30
Anna Szwedo, age 29
Bazyli Szwedo, age 9
Józef Szwedo, age 7
Michał Szwedo, age 5

Paweł Zub, age 71
Serafin Zub, age 62
Stefan Zub, age 15

Franciszek Buńko, age 72
Bolesław Fus, 19
Sergiusz Fyk, age 41
Regina Gień, age 55
Stefan Grzywa, age 38
Katarzyna Hyż, age 47
Krzysztof Koc, age 65
Józef Kościk, age unknown
Katarzyna Kozaczek, age 47
Tomasz Krawiec, age 45
Katarzyna Krupa, age 68
Aleksy Kuba, age 49
Katarzyna Larwa, age 72
Feliks Łuszczak, age 18
Michał Makara, age 37
Jakub Olekszyk, age 56
Jan Piścio, age 33
Katarzyna Juda, age 52
Franciszek Kita, age 75
Hylko Kniaż, age 31
Regina Pokrywka, age 74
Maria Polewniak, age 44
Franciszek Romańczuk, age 55
Jan Rudnik, age 17
Jan Szkoda, age 66
Andrzej Szum, age 36
Jan Serafin, age 23
Stefan Wielgoń, age 53
Bazyli Wnuk, age 62
Stefan Wójtowicz, age 22


In June/July 1943 few hundreds of Poles remaining in Różaniec were deported to slave labour in Germany. Some were also sent to camp in Zamość.

#WeRemember #GermanCrimes and #PolishHolocaust