The Ukrainians shot 4 Poles. „In our area, two colleagues, Henryk Piotrowski and Zbyszek Hofman, reported for the first watch. Young boys. From a short story by Mira and Czesław Piotrowski: «To those on guard, Henryk Piotrowski and Zbyszek Hofman. Two pairs of sleds pulled up by 2 horses and four people on them. They stopped and said they were Soviet partisans. At first they clung to the gun, wanting them to give it back. Then they asked who had good horses. Henryk knew that his neighbor, Hipolit Sawicki, had good horses and he led them there. In their apartment, they ordered Henryk and Zbyszek to undress to their underwear. They took the sheepskin coat and clothes with them. They ordered Sawicki to harness the horses. This was done by his son, who sensed who he was dealing with and the horses would harness but ran away himself. The sounds of the shots were heard by his neighbor, Władysław Libera. He got dressed and went to where the shots came from, ie to Hipolit Sawicki. When he entered the apartment, he found Hipolit and Zbyszek dismantled. The Banderites fire three shots each and killed Libera, Heniek and Zbyszek. In the Piotrowski's house they broke down the door and burst into the apartment, they found Czesław's son and Mirka's daughter – they asked about her father. Stanisław Piotrowski sensed the threat and hid in the other room. The Banderites left them and went to look for their father. Then Czesław and Mirka run away. Czesław Piotrowski died but he sold his life dearly. he killed one bandera and seriously injured the other»”.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „75th anniversary of the genocide – February 1943”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Kwiatkowski Edward, „Biography of Wołyniak. Memoirs from 1929-1972”, comp. Franciszek Burdzy; in: „Notebooks from Łuków”, in: No. 11—12, October 2005 - December 2006 — web page: www.waly.brzegdolny.pl [accessible: 2022.04.06]

The Ukrainians murdered 30 Poles.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „75th anniversary of the genocide – April 1943”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: btx.home.pl [accessible: 2021.02.04]

During the UPA attack, about 100 Poles were killed or murdered during the defense. The attack on Huta Stepańska began on July 16 at 23rd about 2,000 UPA members armed with firearms and about 4,000 Ukrainian peasants armed with axes, pitchforks, scythes, etc. take part in it. Polish farms are burned in all nearby towns and Poles are murdered, some refugees arrive in their underwear. Despite the huge advantage of the Ukrainians, the Poles manage to stop the panic of women and children and take up defense. „all children with their mothers, the sick and the elderly were gathered in the school and in the shelters. The rest of the population took part in the defense. In designated areas there were horse–drawn carts for possible evacuation. From the area of the Słone Błota health resort, grenade launchers were fired at the Steelworks. The falling missiles started fires, killed people, and smashed carts and horses. My mother was at school with my brother and sister, I was in the bunker with a wooden «rifle» and a bayonet mounted on it. People could hear terrible screams, mixed with grenade blasts and a cannonade of shots. The first impression was terrible. The pressure of the Ukrainians from the northern and eastern sides was so strong that we were ordered to run out of the bunker several times during this attack and shout «hurray!» run to the bayonet fight. This detained the Ukrainians. In the field in front of our bunkers there was a large number of killed bandits and Poles”. .

source: Żurek Stanisław, „75th anniversary of the genocide – July 1943”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Drohomirecki Włodzimierz, „Through the eyes of a child”; in: „The witnesses say”

Czesław Piotrowski estimated that as a result of the first UPA strike, about 300 people were killed, mainly from Perespa, Wyrka, Hał, Soszników, Tura and Uzhanie, and about 50 people in Omelanka. „On July 16, 1943, from the direction of Omelanka and Siedlisko, the Bandera followers interrupted our defense, entered the village, smoking on the way and killing the refugees who had fled to the school, where the main self–defense force was located. at that time, together with my sister, mother and grandmother, we headed to the shelter, which I was digging for a week and it was in the orchard. When the fights intensified around 12 o'clock at night, we were afraid to sit alone in this pit, we ran towards the Szmytkowo mill, onto the meadows, under a hail of incendiary balls. We stayed in the open area all night long, with a large group of refugees lying on the bed. When it died down in the morning, we returned home, taking coats and other small things, most importantly biscuits and everything we could carry in our hands. It was pointless to continue to stay in the apartment, at any moment there was a risk of renewing the attack by the Banderites, and there was almost no one in the village, all of them went to the school under the care of self–defense. When we were returning through the village, where the Bandera followers broke the self–defense ring at night, I felt horror and terror at the sight of so many dead and burning down houses. and when I was passing the People's House, I went in there, I thought that I would faint at the sight of so many corpses stacked next to each other, children, women, men. at noon on July 17, 1943, a mass grave was dug on the sports field, where the bodies were placed on the bottom, wrapped in sheets, blankets and other bedspreads, because there was no time to make the coffins as another attack was expected at any moment. as I remember, during the funeral, there were three priests from nearby towns burnt by the Bandera followers. During this sad ceremony, despair and crying engulfed us all gathered at the local sports field. after the funeral, we arrived at the school, because we couldn't get to the school, because it was full of people, and we only managed to get to the shelter, where a dozen or so on the school playground had already been dug out, with a view to defending the people gathered in the village. They were all full to the last place, whole families and those who were unable to fight (defend) because the men were in positions to defend their children, wives and mothers. The self–defense armament was weak, hardly anyone had a rifle, and most were «scythemen» with scythes on a stick, a brother who was 16 was also one of them. It was quiet until the evening, while my cousin Stanisław Włoszczyński and I was walking along the ruins of the burnt house near the school, it was burned down at night after breaking the self–defense ring. Rummaging in the ashes and burning wood, we collected pockets full of burnt nails and with this «treasure» we returned to the trenches, where there were loud prayers asking God for life, for survival, and for a light death, because there was little hope that everyone would get out of it alive. The population was about 5 thousand. children, mothers and the elderly, and about 800–900 people able to defend themselves, and every 4th had weapons, and on the part of the Banderites, fivefold advantage, heavily armed with machine weapons and mortars, spreading terror among the population in the trenches and beyond school area. It was quiet until dusk. The self–defense was commanded by Lieutenant Kochański, who got here after the self–defense was broken in Wyrka. In the late evening hours, the general attack began. First, mortar shells started to be fired at the position in the school, church and cemetery. after these intimidating shots, which lasted several hours, the Banderites attacked from all sides, burning and killing around Huta. at that time, the church bell rang in alarm, mixing with the gunshots, attacking and defenders of Huta Stepańska. Together with my mother, grandmother and sister, and with other people, we prayed for the defenders to stop the attacking Banderites. It was a fierce fight for our and family's lives, our defenders in their positions were dying, defending their loved ones, not taking a step back, because their children, mothers and grandparents were behind their backs. Late after midnight, God listened to the prayers of innocent people, it became quiet, a large fog came, the defenders held their positions, the Bandera followers abandoned the attack in poor visibility, and suffered heavy losses in people and equipment. Taking advantage of the opportunity that the Banderites ceased the attack and the heavy fog, the self–defense command informed people that further defense was hopeless, because the ammunition was running out, and the self–defense towns near Huta were killed, among others. Siedlisko, Wyrka, Hały, and with such a concentration of people, the defenders do not guarantee safety. Samoobrona advises that at least half of the population, and most of all beyond school, should retreat towards Wyrka and Hała to the railway towns of Rafałówka and Grabina, where large German garrisons are stationed. We also took advantage of this opportunity, followed on foot, along with about 3,000 people, and it was during the night time of July 17–18, 1943. Most of the farmers had carts that left their homeland once and for all in their long tail, for an unknown misfortune. I, in turn, with my family, leaving all our belongings, cows, chickens, having only a small supply of biscuits and coats, we escaped from death that was threatening us from the Banderites. When at night a column of wagons and pedestrians was moving towards Siedlisko and Wyrka, shots were fired at the back of the wagons, it did not do much harm, because the distance was long, and only the anxiety grew among the refugees that we could be attacked again at any moment. My family and I rushed forward from the end of the column, it was easier for us because we were on foot and the carts filled with belongings dragged slower, and cows were led by some carts. and so we wandered all night, without major disturbances, only when a column of carts and people entered Wyrka, we saw the protruding chimneys of burned houses, when we reached the wooden bridge, on the left side there was a fire and by it were murdered, the corpses of the whole family, children, women, men. This sight terrified me, and on the right side the mill was burning down, as if it had been set on fire an hour ago, so that there would be a clear view of the advancing refugees. We did not have to wait long for the results when we reached the bridge, a hail of machine gun bullets rained down, those who were in the lead, the rifle mowed, horses injured and injured people, formed one huge swirl, the cry of wounded people who were blocking the bridge calling for help. Carts and people in panic left the road left and right. I, in turn, rolled off the road and fell into the river and began to scream mercilessly and call out loud «mommy don't leave me». at that time, everyone was shocked, we didn't know what was going on, with that groan, screeching, screaming, we didn't know where to run, where to hide. at my scream, my mother regained consciousness, grabbed my hand and together with my sister we took refuge under the bridge, with us a swarm of people escaping from the endangered road. after half an hour of this shooting, our self–defense defenders started firing in the direction from which the Banderites shots were fired. Thanks to the heroic self–defense and the incredible fog, the Bandera followers did not take any further fight. The people scattered around began to gather and go to the village of Hały, and there it was close to the Grabina railway station, where a strong German unit was stationed. During the escape, it was hot and hard for us, we only left our warm coats, and we lost the biscuits by the bridge in this storm a long time ago, it affected our further fate, because for about two days we had nothing to eat, because before we got to work in Germany, we slept in camps on bare boards, with nothing to cover. During the escape, my leg was bleeding a lot, but I didn't feel anything. When my mum saw that, she thought that I was wounded, during the inspection, she saw nails coming out of the pockets and injuring my leg, we immediately got rid of them, my «treasure» found on the site of the fire site in Huta Stepańska. When we were passing the village of Hały, which was burnt down with the belongings, we saw decomposing bodies in some places. after passing this village, we reached the Grabina railway station without any problems. Freight wagons were already provided and after a few hours the Germans took us to Kostopol, from where we continued our way to work in Germany, for further misfortune, escaping from some bandits we went under the wings of others, there was no other way out, but at least there was a hope of surviving”...

source: Żurek Stanisław, „75th anniversary of the genocide – July 1943”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Włoszczyński Władysław, „My memories of Huta Stepańska”; in: „Borderlands Information Service”, in: No. 7/2013

Poles were defended against UPA attacks all day long. „During the breaks between the attacks, the found murdered Poles were collected and placed in a row, first in the people's house, and then buried in the newly ordained cemetery  […] Only about 120 people were buried. The rest of those murdered were not found and not buried  […] The general attack on Huta continued and intensified on the one hand, on the other. It seemed that the defense was getting hopeless, and that this time there would be a terrible mass slaughter. It was then that outside the school he heard shout «hurrah» from all throats, and it repeated itself many times to the edge of the village. It was desperate townspeople who shouted «hurrah» towards the attackers. Even women closer to the exit, especially all those who had not managed to get into school, jumped out from their hiding with with sticks, hand farming tools”.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „75th anniversary of the genocide – July 1943”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Libner Julian, „Memories of Huta Stepańska”; in: „Information Bulletin of the 27th Volhynia Division of the Home Army AK”, in: No. 3/1998 i 4/1998

In the period of a deadly threat, Poles put up crosses in the entire area, they were supposed to save people from misfortunes through God's intercession. These crosses were called Jesus, Save Us from the inscription on the crossbeams. Three of them were built around Huta Stepańska, only one remained near the Słone Błoto health resort. This cross is an eyewitness to the extermination of Huta Stepańska. The Banderites attacking from the direction of Rudni were walking straight across the cross, driving a wedge between Huta Stepańska and Omelanka. Under the fire of the defenders, the attack broke down at the very cross, they did not progress any further, which allowed the people of Omelanka to get to Huta Stepańska. In the occupied area, however, they caught the wife of the former commander of self–defense, Hieronim Konwerski, Stanisława and two daughters Janina, 18, and Wanda, 16. the glow of the fires illuminated the area. First, they tormented their mother, when they thought that they had tormented her, took care of sister Janina, and cut her breasts just before she died. When it was Wanda's turn, she only asked not to cut her breasts, but to shoot them. She called by name to the torturers, a shot was fired, maybe one of the schoolmates took pity. After the war, Stanisława and her daughter Leokadia lived in Lublin and their descendants still live there. Old kolkhoz farmers told me how they were persuaded to remove the cross, but no one dared. Communists and atheists, were unsure of their beliefs, when dying they asked the swordsman (pop) to secretly sprinkle their coffin. And then no one was interested in the fate of the cross, so Poland was inconvenient, but also divine, how to move it. when they thought that they had tormented her, they took care of sister Janina, before her death they cut off her breasts. When it was Wanda's turn, she only asked not to cut her breasts, but to shoot them. She called by name to the torturers, a shot was fired, maybe one of the schoolmates took pity. After the war, Stanisława and her daughter Leokadia lived in Lublin and their descendants still live there. Old kolkhoz farmers told me how they were persuaded to remove the cross, but no one dared. Communists and atheists, were unsure of their beliefs, when dying they asked the swordsman (pop) to secretly sprinkle their coffin. And then no one was interested in the fate of the cross, so Poland was uncomfortable, but also divine, how to move it. when they thought that they had tormented her, they took care of sister Janina, before the very death they cut off her breasts. When it was Wanda's turn, she only asked not to cut her breasts, but to shoot them. She called by name to the torturers, a shot was fired, maybe one of the schoolmates took pity. After the war, Stanisława and her daughter Leokadia lived in Lublin and their descendants still live there. Old kolkhoz farmers told me how they were persuaded to remove the cross, but no one dared. Communists and atheists, were unsure of their beliefs, when dying they asked the swordsman (pop) to secretly sprinkle their coffin. And then no one was interested in the fate of the cross, so Poland was inconvenient, but also divine, how to move it. she only asked not to cut her breasts, but to shoot them. She called by name to the torturers, a shot was fired, maybe one of the schoolmates took pity. After the war, Stanisława and her daughter Leokadia lived in Lublin and their descendants still live there. Old kolkhoz farmers told me how they were persuaded to remove the cross, but no one dared. Communists and atheists, were unsure of their beliefs, when dying they asked the swordsman (pop) to secretly sprinkle their coffin. And then no one was interested in the fate of the cross, so Poland was inconvenient, but also divine, how to move it. she only asked not to cut her breasts, but to shoot them. She called by name to the torturers, a shot was fired, maybe one of the schoolmates took pity. After the war, Stanisława and her daughter Leokadia lived in Lublin and their descendants still live there. Old kolkhoz farmers told me how they were persuaded to remove the cross, but no one dared. Communists and atheists, were unsure of their beliefs, when dying they asked the swordsman (pop) to secretly sprinkle their coffin. And then no one was interested in the fate of the cross, so Poland was inconvenient, but also divine, how to move it. Old kolkhoz farmers told me how they were persuaded to remove the cross, but no one dared. Communists and atheists, were unsure of their beliefs, when dying they asked the swordsman (pop) to secretly sprinkle their coffin. And then no one was interested in the fate of the cross, so Poland was uncomfortable, but also divine, how to move it. Old kolkhoz farmers told me how they were persuaded to remove the cross, but no one dared. Communists and atheists, were unsure of their beliefs, when dying they asked the swordsman (pop) to secretly sprinkle their coffin. And then no one was interested in the fate of the cross, so Poland was uncomfortable, but also divine, how to move it.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „75th anniversary of the genocide – July 1943”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: „The Trail of the Volhynia Crosses. Around Huta Stepańska with Janusz Horoszkiewicz”; in: portal: Fr Tadeusz Isakowicz-Zaleski — web page: isakowicz.pl [accessible: 2021.04.11]

On the third day of defense against the UPA attacks, about 50 Poles were killed, a decision is made to evacuate the population, a 3 km long convoy set off at night. Evacuation column that left Huta Stepańska on July 18 at On 15th, there were about 3,000 people and managed to reach the town where Polish self–defense existed. The first group of refugees who voluntarily left Huta in the morning hours of that day was smashed and massacred. Władysław Kobylański „Jerzyk” in the book „In the clutches of three enemies”, estimates that 1,800 to 2,000 Poles died during the attack on Huta Stepańska. Władysław and Ewa Siemaszko give the number „of the victims of the crimes of Ukrainian nationalists: ~ 155 +? Poles, 11 Jews” and the number of „killed in battle:? Poles, 6 Ukrainians”. They estimate the overall Polish losses during the attack on the Steelworks at about 600 people murdered or killed in combat. „In the morning, taking advantage of the break in the attacks, the people were gathered in the square in front of the school. Father Drzepecki and two young priests celebrated the Holy Mass, distributed all the messages they had to the faithful and gave everyone a complete indulgence and God's blessing in the face of an immediate threat to their lives  […] Only small children, the sick, the wounded and the old were allowed to stay on the carts. The rest of the population had to go on foot. At. On the 15th, ie at the hour of God's mercy, the first carts started  […] The column stretched for several kilometers. We all prayed for a happy escape from this hell. After leaving Huta, a huge storm met us, the rain poured in streams, the sky flashed with lightning, God heard our prayers. People said – it is a miracle. God blurs the tracks of carts and pedestrians, martyred exiles from his own home and his own” land.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „75th anniversary of the genocide – July 1943”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Drohomirecki Włodzimierz, „Through the eyes of a child”; in: „The witnesses say”

Stanisława Guzowska tells us: „We were sitting with our 4 years younger brother on our elegant, large cart, drawn by a pair of beautiful horses. The column was said goodbye to the parish priest Drzepecki, who had blessed us and said: Dear children, maybe you are worthy of God, pray. I intoned «Beneath Thy Protection». But it wasn't singing, just one big sob. Everyone cried. My grandfather Krawczyński, who did not want to go, said to my mother: «Frania, you go with the children and I will stay here, I will die, I will die». Well, mummy left us in that wagon with people and ran to my grandfather for a moment. She was supposed to come back soon, but in the meantime the leaders gave the order to leave for Wyrka and the whole column moved. Mom didn't have time to come back. And the carts rode and rode, because they were crowds, probably thousands of people. The fog was amazing. When we were approaching Wyrka, the Bandera followers, having passed the head of the column, started firing a machine gun. And their terrible screams: «Hurray! Beat Lachiw! Cry lachiw! Hurrah!». At this point, my 10‑year‑old brother, who was always playing shooters with the boys on the schoolyard, shouted at me: we jump out of the car! And like a small commander, he would say in a commanding voice: crawl, crawl! I crawled away from those shots. To this day, I have a barbed wire scar on my knee. I didn't know Wyrka. I thought I was among the grains. And only this terrible picture: carts overturned, quilts scattered around, horses beaten. People lying here and there – some dead, some wounded. Cows walking around and roaring because they haven't been milked. I noticed the burned sheet metal and realized that it was the remains of the burned church. I started running down such a path between the grains, and the grains were beautiful that year. Suddenly I heard a horse's beat behind me. I thought: it must be a Bandera. So it's over now! He's about to hack me with an ax or stab me with a pitchfork. Resigned, without even looking back, I stood by the little chapel there and began to pray fervently. Suddenly, in one moment, as if in a flash, I found myself on the horse's back. Fortunately for me, one of our scouts was galloping from the head of the column. A great young man. Without stopping, in full run, he grabbed my dress and lifted my leg with a smooth movement. Machine guns were fired behind us, but fortunately the bullets missed us. We drove into the forest, where there was a large group of survivors from the head of the column. My savior left me there saying: this is a Polish girl. I was saved, though barefoot and in a torn dress. I felt as if I had been given a second life. With these survivors we reached the railway station in Grabina safely. There, the Germans provided wagons, cattle wagons, to take us to Sarny. I got into the car, looked up, looked – and there was my brother! We threw ourselves into each other with great tears, because people said that Huta Stepańska no longer exists, that it had been blown up. We did not know what happened to our parents and grandparents”. When Stasia Romanówna, saved by a heroic scout, was walking with a group of survivors from the head of the column towards the railway line, the rest of the carts returned in panic to Huta Stepańska. Defenders, after collecting information on the deployment of Bandera forces in the area, they launched a tactical attack on the Banderites' positions in the area of Słonne Błota, and then Lieutenant Kochański ordered evacuation. All Poles left Huta Stepańska in an orderly, several–kilometer–long column of carts, protected by armed defenders, and additionally also by a violent afternoon storm. Before the night they reached the colony of Hała, where – after a victorious battle with a small group of Banderites – they set up a fortified camp and spent the night there. and in addition to the violent afternoon storm. Before the night they reached the colony of Hała, where – after a victorious battle with a small group of Banderites – they set up a fortified camp and spent the night there. and in addition to the violent afternoon storm. Before the night they reached the colony of Hała, where – after a victorious battle with a small group of Banderites – they set up a fortified camp and spent the night there.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „75th anniversary of the genocide – July 1943”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Borzęcki Jacek, „Defense of Huta Stepańska”; in: „Galician Courier”, in: No. 13—14, July 16 - August 15, 2013 — web page: arch.kuriergalicyjski.com [accessible: 2021.04.11]

Jadwiga Majewska (born in 1933) was less than ten years old in July 1943. She witnessed the tragedy in Huta Stepańska. „We were there until July 18, and then the order came out to withdraw to Sarny, closer to the railroad, where the Germans were  […] We returned home quickly, everyone took what could. Only I did not manage to get on the wagon, because I decided to come back home for my picture, which I received for the First Communion. I was running after the wagon, but there were a lot of people  […] My mother was screaming and reaching out to pull me onto the wagon, but I didn't have time. I saw a lot of the murdered. I remember we were attacked during this withdrawal. When I heard these screams and shots of the Bandera followers: «Urra, urra, rezać Lachy» [Hurrah, Hurrah, kill the Poles!] I jumped over the ditch out of fear, because I saw that some of them were fleeing into the forest  […] I lost my shoe and this picture there. I was running away in a dress in which I was accepted for First Communion, only dyed blue  […] Then I saw a woman with her belly cut open, dead, with her child sitting next to her, crying. I've also seen other dead people. When I was running into the forest, I saw my uncle, my father's brother, who was running with his fiancée – she grabbed my hand and we walked day, night and day, until Sarn”.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „75th anniversary of the genocide – July 1943”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Pękała Rafał B., „Bery kosu, bery niż i na Lacha… ”, accounts of the survivors of the Volhynia massacre; in: portal: 1943. Volhynia crime. Truth and memory. — web page: zbrodniawolynska.pl [accessible: 2021.04.11]

After the evacuation and murder of about 600 Poles, the UPA burnt the village, while Orthodox clergy celebrated a thanksgiving service in front of the church for the victory over the Poles, and then the Ukrainians burned down the wooden church. Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the Report „of the First UPA group on the action on Huta Stepańska”, the Ukrainians state: „On July 16 at On the 22nd troops set off to attack the village of Huta. The first branch towards Borki, the second one towards the Resort, and the third one from the southern part. The action was carried out by liquidating the Borek, Lady and part of the Resort, and the units approached the fortified positions. The enemy, alerted by a strong machine fire, holds back the attack, and the battle continues until noon. a cannon was pulled to the place of the fight and another attack was launched. Losses of enemies on that day – more than 150 killed. There were no losses of my own. The next day, 18. VII at 1st unit, the first, reinforced with a part of the unit «Voronoho», renews its attack. One of the groups managed to break into the fortified positions and set the buildings on fire. Own losses of 6 killed and 3 wounded. The fight lasted until evening, and on the morning of 19 July the fortifications were taken  […] On July 18, the second group eliminates the rest of the colony. During the action, an enemy fleet was captured that was escaping from Huta (150 carts with property). The losses of the enemy that day – over 800 killed  […] as a result of the actions carried out, the first group on 17, 18 and 19 July liquidated the following villages and colonies: Huta Stepańska, col. Borek, Omelanka, Lady and chutory Kamionek, Romaszkowo, Podsielecze, Polany, Hołyń, Temne. The second group liquidated villages and colonies: Wyrka, Siedlisko, Soszenia, Ostrówki, Perespa, Wyrobki, Hały, Szymonisko, Użane, Ziwka, Berezyna, Tur, Osiewicze, Iwanicze, Długie Pole, Berezówka. Losses of the enemy over 500 killed and an undetermined number of wounded. Household property, cattle, horses and carts were taken from the Ukrainian population. The job was done completely. By breaking up the Polish armed gangs, the threat to the local population was removed. at the same time, the area was cleared of the occupation authority”. The Ukrainian report shows that the sum of over 150 Poles killed on the first day of the attack and over 800 on the second day gives the total number over 500 killed and an indefinite number of injured. The Ukrainians lost in the fight by attacking their fortified positions. 6 killed and 3 wounded. The lie about „taking the stolen property from the Ukrainian population” should be left without comment.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „75th anniversary of the genocide – July 1943”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

Katarzyna Zawadzka, born in 1932, was the eldest d/o a married couple Malwina and Cezary. On a farm located near Huta Stepańska, in the Kostopol district. Poles and The Ukrainians lived in harmony in the settlement  […] For the first time the village understood the horror of the situation when they murdered three elderly women who were going to Huta Stepańska to buy shopping. – There were forests, big, thick trees. Beeches, lots of Christmas trees, when you got into the bushes, you couldn't go out. At the bottom, a wetland – says Zawadzka. And the Ukrainians jumped out of this forest. They stung them with skewers where it fell. Live. This news spread quickly through the village. – It was only one scream and cry – says Zawadzka. – A neighbor called my mother, as they pulled these dead grandmothers out of the forest. My mom took me with her. She told me to see. She said: „Though you shouldn't be looking, I brought you so you know how” was. But it does not fit in my head – Zawadzka shakes her head in disbelief. Katarzyna Zawadzka's family decided to flee when the Ukrainians once again invaded the countryside. – Our neighbor had a sick son. He was lying on the wagon, he did not walk, he hardly moved. When these hosts heard that the Ukrainians were approaching, they hid in the bushes. The wagon with the sick man remained. They thought that they would forgive the disabled person, and they stung him like a sieve. It was their only child. – In the end, they tried, in a group, to break through the forests to Huta Stepańska. Unfortunately, on the way, they were attacked by a band of Bandera followers. – We all fell apart there. Wherever anyone could, he ran away. And we got lost – recalls Zawadzka. She has not seen her parents since then, although she is sure they were murdered on the way. Otherwise they would look for children. Brother, the neighbors took care of her sister and herself. The same people who had a disabled child murdered. Katarzyna Zawadzka does not know where her parents were buried. Every year in July, he gives them for mass. – I see their faces every day. – he confesses.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „75th anniversary of the genocide – July 1943”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: „Murder in the neighborhood. They were then children”; in: „Recollections of those who survived”, portal: Volhynia of our forebearers — web page: www.nawolyniu.pl [accessible: 2021.04.11]

Stanisław Zabłocki was 14 years old when, after the Ukrainians attacked Huta Stepańska, his family together with the Pilski, Janicki, Popławski and Zabłocki families escaped not to the center of the village, but to the forest by Horynia. Gradually, other refugees joined them, so that in the end the group in hiding numbered about 100 people. – For two months the Bandera followers hunted us as if we were animals – says the man. – When they once caught a pregnant woman, they hung her by the hands on a tree, cut her belly open and left her there.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „75th anniversary of the genocide – September 1943”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Kruczek Adam, „Volhynia crosses around Huta Stepańska”; in: „Nasz Dziennik”, in: July 24-25, 2010

Poles who were fleeing and hiding in the woods were murdered: Residents of Ozgowo: Basińska Anastazja aged 28, Basińska Janina aged 13 d/o Anastazja, Basiński Bolesław aged 10 s/o Anastazja, Basiński Anastazy aged 35, Basiński Jan aged 65 s/o Feliks, Basiński Ksawery aged 68, Bielski x 60, Grochowski Władysław 3, Karpicka Anastazja 42, Karpicka Maria 70, Karpicki Antoni 48, Karpicki Stanisław 23, Sulikowska Elżbieta 30, Sulikowska x 6 months, Sulikowska Feliksa 60, Sulikowski Hipolit 60, Sulikowski Stanisław, 25, Sulikowski, Zenon, 27. The Szeciak family from Huta Stepańska. Inhabitants of Podsielecze: Kobylański Cezary, 40, Kobylańska Malwina, 36, wife of Cezary, Kobylańska Katarzyna, 12, d/o Cezary, Kobylańska Stefania, 10, d/o Cezary, Kobylański Marceli, 8, s/o Cezary, Kobylański Roman aged 6 s/o Cezary, Kobylański Mieczysław aged 4 s/o Cezary, Kobylański Stanisław aged 1.5 s/o Cezary, Kobylański Hipolit aged 70. From Mielnica Wielka Kubicz Józef aged 65. Inhabitants from the Romaszkowo colony: Libner Bronisław aged 42, Libner Sabina 33 Bronisław's second wife and her child, Libner Tadeusz, age 8, s/o Bronisława, Libner Marcelina, age 10, d/o Bronisław, Libner Halina, age 7, d/o Bronisława. Matuszek x forester. From the woods near Mydzek Matuszek Weronika x with three children. Libner Marcelina, age 10, d/o Bronisław, Libner Halina, age 7, d/o Bronisław. Matuszek x forester. From the woods near Mydzek Matuszek Weronika x with three children. Libner Marcelina, age 10, d/o Bronisław, Libner Halina, age 7, d/o Bronisław. Matuszek x forester. From the woods near Mydzek Matuszek Weronika x with three children.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „75th anniversary of the genocide – October 1943”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Piotrowski Czesław, „Bloody harvest after Styr, Horyń and Słucza”, in: Adam Marszałek publishing house, 2006 — web page: genealogia.okiem.pl [accessible: 2021.04.11]