Witold Pilecki

(13 May 1901 – 25 May 1948) Polish soldier, founder of the resistance movement Secret Polish Army (Tajna Armia Polska).

• During the first 3 years, at Auschwitz there perished 2 million people; in the next 2 years—3 million.
  • Raport Witolda

14 May 1947 in the X Block of the Motokow prison, Polecki wrote a poem "Dla Pana Pułkownika Różańskiego" (For Mr. Colonel Rożański), which ended:

"Dlatego więc piszę niniejszą petycję,

By sumą kar wszystkich - mnie tylko karano,

Bo choćby mi przyszło postradać me życie -

Tak wolę - niż żyć, a mieć w sercu ranę".

This is why I write the following petition,

So sum of all sentences - only to me applied,

So even if I were to forfeit my life -

I prefer this - to live, and have a wounded heart

• If Cyrankiewicz learns about me being here, I will be killed.
  • In prison (1948)

• I was not a resident, only a Polish officer. I have been carrying out orders until I was arrested. I had no feeling I was spying and I ask this to be taken into an account while deciding on the sentence.
  • During his trial (1948)

• So they didn't take anybody else. I can't live like this, I have been finished. Because Auschwitz was easy.
  • After his death sentence was announcend (1948)