 According to article by Witold Kulesza published in "Komentarze Historyczne" by the Institute of National Remembrance, German Regiment "SS-Leibstandarte "Adolf Hitler"" of the 17th Division arrived in Złoczew on September 3, 1939 on motorcycles and on bicycles.The burning of the town and mass killings began the same night.According to eye-witness Janina Modrzewska, who survived the pacification of Złoczew, the soldiers were killing everyone they saw.