The Marian Martyrs of Rosica

62 The Marian Martyrs of Rosica During those last months, the work was very difficult because Soviet partisans were roaming at night and imposing their rule, which was extremely hard on the local population. Meanwhile, during the daytime, the German military staff was conducting a reign of terror. Priests and Sisters could only do some work in the largest posts, and even then with great diffi- culties and in considerable danger. The local military authorities discreetly let Fr. Leszczewicz know that there was imminent danger in this area and that it would be better to withdraw from these posts. Father informed the other priests and our Sisters about it. He also said that Father Superior advised them to withdraw from the work, but that he didn’t make it an order. Therefore, Fr. Leszczewicz decided not to withdraw as he did not want to leave the people oprhaned but to serve them in their misery. Two other priests remained with him: Laszewski and Kaszyra. In January of 1943, Mother General went to talk with the Sisters in these territories. In discussing the matter, she tended to encourage the Sisters to withdraw from their posts. She left it up to them, however, because she knew it would really be regrettable to abandon those people in such a difficult situation. The Sisters made a voluntary choice and decided that they would stay with the Marians in these posts, despite the perse- cution in order to help people stand by God up till the end. However, the Marian priests and our Eucharistic Sisters did not continue to work there for long, because by mid-February of 1943, the German military had arranged a roundup through- out the territory, allegedly against the partisans but in fact against the whole population of the occupied area where our missions were active. The partisans went into hiding, of course, and the troops, who were assaulting the whole area between the former Polish and Latvian borders assaulted the defenseless local population. After a few days, they rounded up people. Young people and healthy adults were taken in great numbers by train to Germany for labor, while the old, sick, and children were led to various barns and houses. There they were shot, doused with flammable liquids, and set on fire.