STANISŁAWA GÓRECKA

Warsaw, 9 March 1950. Trainee Judge Irena Skonieczna, acting as a member of the Main Commission for the Investigation of German Crimes in Poland, interviewed the person named below, who testified as follows:


Forename and surname Stanisława Górecka, née Dominik
Date and place of birth 21 April 1906, Grodzisk Mazowiecki
Names of parents Stanisław and Aniela, née Zagrajek
Father’s occupation laborer
State affiliation Polish
Religious affiliation Roman Catholic
Education elementary school
Occupation housewife
Place of residence Byczyńska Street 11
Criminal record none

Throughout the Warsaw Uprising I stayed in the house at Byczyńska Street 11. The school at the corner of Byczyńska and Boremlowska streets had been occupied by German SS-men more or less since 1941. In the summer of 1944 they set up field kitchens in the school, which provided food to the front line. I did not hear about these Germans committing any crimes in our area during the Uprising.

We were forbidden to walk in the streets after 6.00 p.m.. Patrols of SS men constantly walked around our area. On 22 August blue policemen accompanied by some “Mongols” in German uniforms led out all of the men and young women from our area, more or less from Gocławek right up to Wiatraczna Street. From the assembly point that the Germans had set up at the XVII Precinct at Grochowska Street, the men were marched off to the Eastern Railway Station, and from there deported to Germany in cattle wagons. After the men had been taken, the Germans conducted a very detailed search in the houses, looking for anyone who was hiding.

The Germans plundered the premises of cows and pigs, which they needed for daily consumption, and also stole the better items of furniture, etc.

On 3 September 1944 the Germans once again deported the populace of our area. They left only the elderly and mothers with small children. However, I was sent back from the assembly point, for my daughter, Stanisława, who was ill with pneumonia, fainted, and the Germans ordered me to take her home.

Just before the entry of Soviet forces, the Germans committed a great many rapes on young women.

I did not witness any rapes myself, nor do I know any surnames of these rape victims.

I did not hear about any other crimes committed in our area.

As regards the men whom I knew and who were deported to Germany, I can say that none of them were executed. The majority returned to their homes following the Uprising.

Wehrmacht units were stationed in the school at Kordeckiego Street (I do not know the number). As I heard, the German soldiers treated the local populace more or less kindly.

At this point the report was concluded and read out.