Commission for the Investigation of German Crimes in Warsaw
Testimony given by citizen Dall Zygmunt, born on 12 December 1909, resident in Miedzeszyn,
Wiślana Street 2.
Concerning: the arrest and crimes perpetrated in the apartment at Chmielna Street 24,
flat 4.
On 19 September 1943, at 5.00, a few Gestapo men – both in uniforms and civilian clothes – arrived by motorcar at Chmielna Street 24, flat 4, and started pounding on the door. In total, their group numbered some 20 persons. The apartment was occupied by engineer Bolesław Majewski (a counsellor at the Supreme Audit Office), his wife, Dr Stefania Majewska (a dentist), their son, Piotr Majewski, aged 7, counsellor Antoni Jasiński (the appointed administrator of items of real estate secured in Warsaw), and Jasiński’s wife.
Those present did not want to open the door, and instead called a blue police precinct and the Rapid Anti-Bandit Brigade, thinking that a robbery was taking place. At this point the Gestapo men placed a hand grenade under the door, damaging it; they were then able to break it down and force their way into the apartment. Counsellor Majewski had opened a window onto the street and started calling for help. One of the Gestapo men then shot him. The second killed the wife of counsellor Jasiński, who was running to the kitchen (the kitchen staircase was also being covered by Gestapo men).
Dr Stefania Majewska, her 7-year old son Piotr, and counsellor Jasiński were arrested and taken to aleja Szucha. In the meantime, the blue police and gendarmes appeared on the scene, and after verifying the authenticity of the Gestapo officers they left. The apartment was sealed, while the bodies were removed onto the stairs and left there.
After a few minutes, the Municipal Department of Sanitation arrived and took the corpses to the mortuary.
A couple of days later, the arrestees were transported from aleja Szucha to Pawiak. It should be added that Piotr was wounded in the foot in the apartment at Chmielna Street. In consequence, he was placed in the Pawiak hospital.
After a week (during which the interviewee delivered a food parcel to Majewska) a car arrived at Pawiak and took Dr Majewska and her 7-year old son (removed from the hospital) in an unknown direction. A conversation held with a female prison guard allowed me to conclude with complete certainty that both were shot dead.
Counsellor Jasiński was transported to Oświęcim or executed by firing squad at Pawiak. This has not been fully determined to date.
A month later, everything was taken from the apartment (in three motorcars), leaving only the bare walls. The apartment was furnished with priceless furniture that had been collected by engineer Majewski: antiques, crystals, etc. According to German reports, the case centred on the non-Arian descent of Dr Stefania Majewska, but also had a political overtone: Dr Majewski and counsellor Jasiński were accused of hiding and assisting members of underground organisations.
Dr Majewska had been blackmailed, but the blackmailers had been arrested following the intervention of the blue police.
I testify truthfully. I have read the report before signing it.
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