On 21 November 1947, Judge M. Pytlewski from the Magistrates’ Court in Iłża heard the person named below as an unsworn witness. Having been advised of the criminal liability for making false declarations and of the provisions of Article 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the witness testified as follows:
Name and surname Józef Lis
| Age | 37 years old |
| Parents’ names | Jan and Marianna |
| Place of residence | the village of Podsuliszka, Zalesice commune, Radom district |
| Occupation | farmer |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Criminal record | none |
| Relationship to the parties | none |
On 14 August 1944, the Germans took all the men from the village of Podsuliszka, including myself, and marched us to the manor in Modrzejowice. There they chose 28 of us and numbered us with red paint. The rest were placed in a shed, and later some were locked in the basement. We stayed there until the next morning.
Before sunrise they led us into the Pakosław Forest, where a grave had already been dug up. They arranged us in threes. We realized that we were to be executed. One of us, Józef Latała, shouted, “guys, we’re going to die!” and flung himself at the machine gun. We seized the opportunity and broke into a run. Some of the escaping men were shot dead by the Germans. I ran into the forest, and later towards the pond, where I hid in the reeds. The Germans killed 12 men, and two more died from their wounds. The murdered men were buried in the forest, and then the families uncovered their bodies and buried them in the cemetery in Alojzów. Before the execution, the Germans set fire to the village.
Two weeks later the Germans took the village leader from Podsuliszka, but I don’t know what happened to him later.
The execution was carried out by a unit with death’s heads on their caps and shoulders.
The Germans were guided by Bronisław Kopania, a Volksdeutscher and a former resident of Podsuliszka; he was present in the village during the manhunt, wearing a uniform.
I know nothing else.
The report was read out.