The Ukrainians murdered Jan Żywina.

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

Jan Żywina, the host, was shot through the window.

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

source: „Situation Report from the Polish Territories, No. 8/44”; in: The Polish Institute and the Gen. Sikorski in London, in: no: PRM — 122

[The Ukrainians] abducted and murdered 6 Poles in the forest. On the way from the village of Majdan to the mill in the village of Tudorów, four Poles were stopped by the Bandera followers and murdered in a nearby forest, including Józef Grzeczny, 18 and his father. A few days later, Adolf Czarnecki, 22, was abducted from the road to the church and murdered, and Mikołaj Krasicki, 52, murdered in the forest.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide, February 1944”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Kubów Władysław, „Terrorism in Podolia”, in: Warsaw 2003

At the same time, Marysia Pełechata, 24, d/o Anna and Mikołaj, was murdered. She went with her friend, Marysia Dżumyk, to Cortków. On the road near the old forester's lodge, a few Ukrainian resuns (Eng. butchers) came out to them and took them to Korczakowa, to „the” torture house located in the Polish farm of Maria and Franciszek Czarnecki  […] When both girls were brought to her house, Marysia Dżumyk the Bandera followers released her because her mother was a Ukrainian from Tudorów, while Marysia Pełechata was arrested. Several drunk Banderites first raped her and then tortured her, incl. They cut off her tongue, then both breasts, and dragged the girl who was in agony by her hair into a nearby deep ditch and finished it there.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide, February 1944”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Ciemny Józef, recollections; in: Komański Henryk, Siekierka Szczepan, „The genocide committed by Ukrainian nationalists on Poles in the Tarnopol Province 1939-1946”, in: Wroclaw 2004, p. 745—746

The Ukrainians murdered 2 Poles.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – March 1944”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

According to the Institute of National Remembrance, the Banderites murdered about 100 Poles, burnt a dozen farms and kidnapped a 24‑year‑old girl who went missing. „I was 14 at the time. A group of armed Banderites pacified Polish farms combined with burning them and murdering Polish inhabitants. Some of them in masking outfits (covered with white sheets) surrounded the village and hunted those fleeing from the village, often shooting them with Dum–Dum bullets (tearing themselves apart when leaving the body). The second group was walking in a line, catching the encountered residents and murdering them, the third group robbed their belongings and set fire to selected buildings. The whole action lasted from 9 pm to 5 am  […] Grandma wandered off somewhere. Marta Bandura, 38, who is pregnant, came to our house. It also decided that we gave up our escape and decided to take refuge within our buildings. I fell into the stable, it was covered with tiles, so it gave certain guarantees that it would not be set on fire quickly. I drove the cow out of the stables, but I couldn't decide myself where to hide. My mother gave me a quilt, I was dressed warmly and told me to hide in a potato pit. She knocked the hole down with a large log of wood. On the other hand, she and Marta Bandura hid in the barn and watched what was happening outside through the cracks in the boards. Our barn was also covered with tiles. At one point I heard and felt that someone entered the pit where I was hidden and fired. After a while, I felt a strong stench of smoke that was pressing into the cavity, and the straw was burning, which clogged the opening to the cavity. Then I felt a strong heat of the fire. I looked through the opening. Our straw house was on fire. Fear paralyzed my movements, I sat hidden in the corner of the pit and heard the footsteps of Banderites passing by. I was very afraid that a grenade would not be thrown into me. It was only 4 meters from the road. This is how I survived until dawn. The buildings have already burned out. At one point, I heard my mother's voice and her calls. She was convinced that I was already dead. Then I spoke, signaling that I was in the pit. My legs are so completely stiff that I can barely get out. Mom was very happy. After the Banderites left, my mother tried to save the belongings of the burning house. She even managed to retrieve the undamaged «Singer» sewing machine from the ruins. I started to look around, in the orchard I noticed the body of our neighbor Anna Dutka, 35, she was shot while escaping and was lying with a bag of personal belongings. Soon my grandmother showed up and told me about her experiences. She was going to get to the church, but the Banderites were already in the orchards and they were shooting at everyone who was walking towards the church. In this situation, she hid in the nearest pile of brush and survived until the morning. After listening to my grandmother's account, we decided to go to our relatives' apartments. First, we went to the house of uncle Michał Krzywy. We found him wounded lying on a bamboo. He was shot three times, he was bleeding a lot, he was in agony. A nun prayed with him, who said that his uncle was dying. He suffered a lot and died after 20 hours. His wife and children survived. Then we went to uncle Mikołaj Krzywy. We found no one there. Later we found out that the uncle and the family fled to the forest, then to Jabłonowo, and then to Kopyczyniec. On the way, he entered Jabłonowo, the German Military Command and there he submitted information about the Banderites attack on the village of Majdan. The translator was a Ukrainian, who translated the other way around that it was Poles who attacked The Ukrainians and there was a Russian partisan. The German looked at his uncle suspiciously and told him to report it in Kopyczyńce. So there could be no question of any help from them”.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – March 1944”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Polański Dionizy, „I was a witness”; in: „In the Outlands”, in: No. 21/1997

In the evening, around 21.00, they set fire to the buildings located on the outskirts of Maidan. The cottages started to burn quickly because the roofs were thatched. After some time, our house was also taken over by flames. My father would go to the well to get water and water the attic where we kept the chaff. On the floor, they were laid in a thick layer and partially protected the beams from burning. Unfortunately, not everything was saved. Rezuni in the village shot at terrified people who ran away in panic. Some managed to escape the encirclement and take refuge in the nearby forest. Our family hid in a basement made under the steps of the granary. We were hiding with the Ukrainian Wolański family, whose son was courting my younger sister Hania. On that day, the Bandera followers killed many Poles, our neighbors and relatives. Among them were, among others The Puków, Mielnik family, Szymański family, Nawroccy family, Milimąków, Żywinów, Dutków, Bandur. Our houses were looted and a dozen or so were burned. Those who survived found shelter in Kopyczyńce with friends, family and good people. We did not return to Maidan until the front shifted and the Russians entered the village.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – March 1944”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Szewczuk Eugeniusz; in: portal: Eastern Borderlands — web page: kresy.info.pl [accessible: 2017.07.08]

IPN Wrocław S 26/02 / Zi – investigation into the committing by Ukrainian nationalists in 1939—1945 in the former district of Kopyczyńce, voivodeship Tarnopol, crimes of genocide against Polish citizens in order to destroy part of the Polish national group  […] The findings of the investigation show that the attackers, attacking individual localities, acted in a planned manner, were well organized, and their aim was to destroy the population of Polish nationality mainly by murdering. An example of such an action was the two–time attack by Ukrainian nationalists on the Polish inhabitants of the village of Majdan, county Kopyczyńce. On the night of March 12, 1944, the attackers, masked and dressed in white clothes, attacked Maidan from four sides. About 100 Poles were shot or burned alive, robbing their belongings and burning most of the property.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – March 1944”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: „My childhood ordeal”; in: „Investigation into committing by Ukrainian nationalists in 1939-1945 in the former district of Kopyczyńce, voivodeship Tarnopol, crimes of genocide against Polish citizens in order to destroy part of the Polish national group”, Institute of National Remembrance IPN, Investigation into committing by Ukrainian nationalists in 1939-1945 in the former district of Kopyczyńce, voivodeship Tarnopol, crimes of genocide against Polish citizens in order to destroy part of the Polish national group, in: Acta IPN Wr 26/02/Zi

The UPAs kidnapped two Polish women who went missing.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – September 1944”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

The Ukrainians murdered a 17‑year‑old Pole.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – October 1944”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

[The Ukrainians] kidnapped one Polish woman who went missing without a trace.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – January 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

During the second attack (in March 1944, the UPA murdered 35 Poles here), they robbed and burned Polish farms and murdered 118 Poles, mainly women, children and the elderly. Fr Wojciech Rogowski tried to save the parishioners gathered in the church and in the presbytery, convincing the Banderites that they were preparing to leave for Poland, but to no avail – the bandits threw grenades into the church, fired and then chopped with axes, the wounded priest died for a few hours. „The second attack, much more serious, took place on the night of January 26, 1945. Many more Banderites took part in it and it was carefully organized. This time, the attackers did not miss the church, where many residents gathered. They massacred several dozen people there. Some of the people were in the attic and the choir. The massive door was bolted. After breaking them off, the attackers started throwing grenades inside and shooting  […] A dozen or so people were hidden in the choir together with Father Wojciech Rogowski. The Banderites could not get there. So they cried out that everyone would come down so that they would not hurt anyone. They also threatened to set the church on fire. At first, people hesitated, but following the priest's example, they jumped from above onto unfolded pillows and quilts. Some descended on ropes coiled from the sheets. When everyone left the choir, the Bandera followers allowed them to go outside. Some let them pass, but others murdered them after a while. Father Rogowski was allowed to leave and when he was approaching the presbytery one of the murderers severely wounded him with three shots. He lived for a few more hours, died of the loss of blood. Inside the church were killed: Paweł Ciemny with his wife Jadwiga, which was killed with an ax by a Ukrainian, Katarzyna Tytor. She also hacked Stanisława Żywina, Mikołaj's wife, and Michalina Żywina, wife of Jan and his son from her first marriage, with an ax. Also murdered in the church were: Michał Towarnicki with his wife Anna and little daughter, Anna Nowacka with her daughter, Franciszek Dżumyk and Leon Żywina. Next to the church, the Ukrainian resuns (Eng. butchers) stopped Grzegorz Ciemny's father, took his clothes and shoes off him and hacked him with an ax. Jan Czarnecki, who died in a similar way, was lying next to my father. At the rectory, the Banderites shot my uncles: Mikołaj the Dark, Filip Ciemny and Jan Ciemny, along with his wife and daughter”.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – January 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Ciemny Józef, recollections; in: Komański Henryk, Siekierka Szczepan, „The genocide committed by Ukrainian nationalists on Poles in the Tarnopol Province 1939-1946”, in: Wroclaw 2004, p. 745—747

On that memorable night, I saw with my own eyes the animal fight of the Banderites with the villagers. People screamed, cattle roared. The air smelled of human blood and fire. People took refuge in the church, but this did not stop the bandits. They threw a few grenades inside, came in from the altar side, took people out and swung their axes on the spot. I saw how the bandits threw living inhabitants into the fire: Domba and Katarzyna Żabielska. In the church, they killed H. Towarnicka with a 4‑year‑old child and a 65‑year‑old Stork with three grandchildren. My house, barn, 20 centners of grain and all my inventory were burnt down. I stayed in my shirt, but with the faith that the murderers would be punished.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – January 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Kinal Jan, recollections; in: Komański Henryk, Siekierka Szczepan, „The genocide committed by Ukrainian nationalists on Poles in the Tarnopol Province 1939-1946”, in: Wroclaw 2004, p. 751

On my way through the village, I saw many dead bodies, incl. Szczepan Gumienny, Anna Dutka, a few people from the Mielnik family, the torturers cut an eagle on the chest of Michał Grzeczny, he had to die in agony.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – January 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Mamij Maria, recollections; in: Komański Henryk, Siekierka Szczepan, „The genocide committed by Ukrainian nationalists on Poles in the Tarnopol Province 1939-1946”, in: Wroclaw 2004, p. 752

Most of the Polish men were drafted into the army, while the Ukrainians avoided conscription and fled to the forests, supporting the underground UPA gangs. Not only did the threat not diminish, but it increased significantly, as the Polish countryside was completely defenseless. Some youth aged 12 to 17 remained. The organization of self–defense in the village was undertaken by Tadeusz Świderski. He intercepted the Bandera liaison from whom he obtained information that the Banderites were planning an attack on the village of Majdan on the night of December 24/25, 1944, during the Midnight Mass. The intention was to blow up the church and murder the Polish population. Information was also obtained that the base for the preparation of this attack was to be the Ukrainian Dolib family living in Majdan on Łyczakowa Street. Doliba was a deac in the local church, and his son was the main ringleader and organizer of the planned attack. This information was passed on to the Soviet authorities, which searched and interrogated both The Ukrainians and shot them dead. This fact probably delayed the pogrom of the Polish countryside for the planned day. However, he did not prevent the second attack carried out on January 26, 1945. Around the death of the Dolibs, the Bandera followers unleashed a broad campaign against Poles and threats against the village of Majdan. The Banderites set a high reward for capturing Tadeusz Świderski. Unable to count on the support of the Soviet authorities, he and his family were forced to flee to the region of Rzeszów. In practice, the organization of self–defense was abandoned and the village was deprived of it. Hence, the second Banderites attack found the inhabitants completely unprepared for defense and without weapons. Some precautionary measures were taken in the village and the rule was that in case of a robbery, everyone should take refuge in the church. This place was considered holy and in its naivety, people and the priest thought that the Bandera followers would not dare to murder the church itself. On January 26, 1945 there was a second mass pacification by UPA gangs, allegedly in retaliation for killing the Dolibs. I know it didn't matter, even if it hadn't been for the Dolibs, the robbery would have been carried out anyway. This time the robbery was prepared with great precision and with the use of much greater forces than during the 1st attack. The village was tightly surrounded. And according to the customary practice, the Bandera followers began plundering the property of the inhabitants, then setting fire to buildings and murdering them. A number of residents managed to take refuge in the church and they barricaded the main entrance, some remained in the nave of the church and some were hidden in a choir that was difficult to access. Some Banderites surrounded the church and all those who intended to get there were killed with rifle fire. Some of them penetrated the farmsteads, burned them and killed everyone they met. Those who tried to flee from the village to the forest were hit by fire in the fields outside the village. The Banderites got to the church through the weakest point which was the door of the sacristy. They blew them up with a grenade and went inside the church. At the same time, they started shooting at the choir rooms that were difficult to reach. In the choir there was quite a large group of Poles with Fr Wojciech Rogowski. The Banderites brought several bundles of straw to the church with the intention of setting the pews and altars on fire. Then the sister–in–law of Father Rogowski spoke from the choir, that she is Ukrainian and let her go down and leave the choir. The Banderites ordered the choir door to be opened, but no one wanted to. Probably a key was lost. So they made them jump from the choir to the floor. After some time, the Bandera followers broke down the door and ordered everyone to go down to the square in front of the church. Everyone who came down was killed. Several people from the local self–defense took refuge in the attic of the church, they had rifles but were unable to shoot. There, however, fearing for their lives, the Bandera followers did not go and left the attic of the church alone. Then they started to expel people from the church, those who did not want to go out were hacked with axes in the pews. After everyone was taken out of the church, the Bandera followers began searching inside the altars and confessionals. They discovered a few people there and took them away. Some people were taken to the rectory, where they were beaten and tortured, and then several people were taken to the square in front of the church and murdered. The second group of Banderites outside the presbytery by the well next to the fence began murdering with axes. Czesław, 12, the priest's nephew, was one of the first to die. The mother, seeing the death of her son, became hysterical and started calling out bandits from the bandits, for which she received an ax blow from the bandits. A group of residents leaving the church, seeing what was happening, began to run towards the ponds behind the presbytery's barn. This group included Father W. Rogowski with his second nephew Stefan, 8 years old, and Stanisława Gumienna. This group managed to escape behind the barn, but their path was blocked by another bandwagon who pulled a burst from an automaton, killing the boy, seriously injuring the woman and the priest, who died after a few hours as a result of his injuries. Only a few people managed to escape from this group. According to witnesses, a group of Ukrainian girls and women dressed in men's costumes participated in the murder. Estimates show that 118 people died in the church and its vicinity, and 58 were murdered inside the village, in burnt buildings and shot in the fields during the escape. In total, 178 people were killed.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – January 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Polański Dionizy, „I was a witness”; in: „In the Outlands”, in: No. 21/1997

The bandits were well organized. Dressed in white masking sticks, they surrounded the village on all sides. Most of them came from the nearby Tudorów, Oryszkowców and Skorodyńców  […] That night also died 22‑year‑old Bronisław Nakoniczewski, whom the Ukrainians tracked down when he left his fiancée, Janina Olejnik. They took him and murdered him outside the village. We never found his body. Early in the morning, when most of the inhabitants of the village had been murdered and Polish farms plundered and burned, the UPA left the village. Terrified and desperate people started to come out of their hiding places, cellars, sheds and barns. After a few days, those who managed to survive dug a hole next to the church, in which the bodies of several dozen people were buried, while the bodies of the other murdered Poles were lying in various parts of the village. Almost 180 people were killed in two bestial attacks by the OUN–UPA. One of the few survivors was my sister Marysia, who hid under the altar in the church.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – January 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Szewczuk Eugeniusz; in: portal: Eastern Borderlands — web page: kresy.info.pl [accessible: 2017.07.08]