KAMILA PROKOP

On 11 December 1945, in Radom, Kazimierz Borys, Investigating Judge from the Second District of the District Court in Radom, based in Radom, interviewed 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 Kamila Prokop
Age 36 years old
Names of parents Józef and Antonina
Place of residence Radom, Okopowa Street 7
Occupation widow of a locksmith at the Arms Factory
Religious affiliation Roman Catholic
Criminal record none
Relationship to the parties none

My husband, Jan Prokop, born on 11 April 1907 in Śniadów, Kowala commune, Radom district, a locksmith at the Arms Factory in Radom, arrested by the Germans on 24 September 1942, was executed on 15 October 1942, on the gallows set up by the Warsaw road in Radom.

I witnessed the execution. On 14 October 1942, the Germans executed fifteen people on the gallows set up near the Arms Factory. I was there, looking for my husband, but I didn’t find him. Having learned that the gallows had also been erected by the Warsaw road, I went there the following day. The Germans began to arrive at the execution site early in the morning. The Poles to be hanged were brought at around 8.00 a.m. There were six men and four women. The Germans lined them up and tied their hands behind their backs. All of the convicts had successive numbers written on their backs in white chalk. They were hanged in turns. The hangman, masked, wore civilian clothes. Among the people executed by the Germans, I recognized, except for my husband, who was hanged second, Jan Sikorski, Dorasiewicz, I don’t know his name, Edward Rogalski, Irena Szostakówna and old Winczewska. I don’t know if Szostakówna’s name was Irena or Aurelia. She was called Lilka. I don’t remember if I saw her among the victims. I knew her personally. I can’t recognize her in this photograph.

Dorasiewicz was hanged first. When my husband, led second to the gallows, stepped on the platform, I screamed. At that moment he must have passed out because his body leaned towards the ground. The Gestapo man, who was there, grabbed him by his jacket and pulled him up. Then the hangman put a noose around his head and my husband was hanged. I passed out. After I was brought round, all the convicts were already hanging.

The bodies were left hanging from 8.00 a.m. until 4.00 p.m. Then they were taken to Firlej.

Next to the gallows the Germans set up a board. A notice posted on it explained that the convicts had been executed for the help and shelter they had given to bandits. There was also a warning that any non-compliance with German orders would result in the hanging of entire families.

I don’t know what my husband and all the other convicts were arrested for.

Some time after my husband’s death I received his death certificate from the police directorate. In issuing the certificate, the police responded to my request. I don’t have this certificate now.

Having been shown a photograph of the people executed by the Warsaw road in Radom, the witness testified as follows:

I recognize the man hanging first from the right. He is Dorosiewicz. My husband is hanging second from the right and Jan Sikorski third from the right. Old Winczewska is hanging first from the left or last from the right.

The report was read out.