Over 300 Poles were murdered in the German–Ukrainian pacification, many of the victims burned down together with the buildings. In addition, 40 men were arrested and shot on May 12 and 13 in Lublin.

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

source: Jastrzębski Stanisław, „Ukrainian nationalists genocide against Poles in the Lublin region in 1939-1947”, in: Nortom Publishing, 2007, p. 157 — web page: sbc.org.pl [accessible: 2021.02.04]

In Szczecin, around 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. the buildings were shelled by artillery and machine gun fire. Two groups of Germans and The Ukrainians entered the burning village and systematically murdered all Poles, regardless of age and sex, going from house to house. Deserted houses were plundered and set on fire. Inhabitants trying to hide in makeshift underground shelters were killed in flames or suffocated by smoke. Entire families were killed in the massacre; there were cases of murdering babies in front of their mothers, throwing children and adults alive into burning buildings, and finishing off the wounded with blows of rifle butts. A group of women with children was led to the edge of the forest, where the Germans announced that older boys (school–age or slightly younger) could walk away slowly. When the boys started running into the forest, they were shot in front of their mothers. The Germans also intended to shoot women with smaller children, but two soldiers assigned for this task faked the execution and allowed the would–be victims to escape. After some time, the German command ordered the slaughter to be stopped and all the surviving inhabitants gathered at the rallying point in the middle of the village. Then they were driven to Gościniec, murdering all those who did not have the strength to go further or who delayed the march. People capable of working were taken to the arrest in Kraśnik, and then deported to work in Germany or deported to concentration camps. Nearly 40 men from Szczecin were transported to the prison at the Lublin Castle, thirty–eight of whom were executed on May 12, 1944 in an execution at the Majdanek camp. The number of those murdered is estimated in the range from 265 to 368. After the war, the names of 221 murdered people were identified. The youngest identified victim was 3 months old. The Germans burned down the school and 142 farms with livestock.

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