IZABELLA IDŹKIEWICZ

Warsaw, 15 July 1949. A member of the Main Commission for the Investigation of German Crimes in Poland, Norbert Szuman (MA), interviewed the person named below as an unsworn witness. Having been advised of the criminal liability for making false declarations, the witness testified as follows:


Name and surname Izabella Idźkiewicz, née Staśkiewicz
Date and place of birth 24 July 1924 in Warsaw
Parents’ names Tadeusz and Maria, née Skośkiewicz
Citizenship and nationality Polish
Religion Roman Catholic
Education secondary school leaving exam
Occupation office worker
Place of residence Warsaw, Tamka Street 46, flat 27
Criminal record none

From the very beginning of the Warsaw Uprising I was in Mokotów as a liaison officer in company “B1” of the “Baszta” regiment. My company commenced operations in Odyńca Street, from where on 1 August 1944 an unsuccessful attack was launched on the school at the corner of Kazimierzowska and Narbutta streets. We returned to Odyńca Street, and on 7 or 8 August attempted an attack on German positions at Dworkowa Street. Once this failed, we took up positions in the vicinity of Szustra and Bałuckiego streets.

During the night from 18 to 19 August we moved to Czerniaków, where for two days we occupied the corner of Chełmska and Czerniakowska streets. The Germans attacked us throughout the day, that is, 19 August, and as twilight fell we withdrew to the Czerniakowski Fort, from where on the morning of 20 August we returned to the corner of Czerniakowska and Chełmska streets. During the night from 20 to 21 August we were relieved and withdrew to Mokotów, where we took up positions at the corner of Puławska and Grażyny streets. We stayed there for more than a month, until 26 September 1944. During this time the Germans from Dworkowa Street did not make any forays. In September, if I remember correctly, we tried to the attack the Germans in the Wedel house – without success, however.

During the night from 26 to 27 September I entered the sewers, together with a part of my platoon, through the manhole at the corner of Szustra and Bałuckiego streets. Having spent the night going around in circles, on 27 September at around 10.00 a.m. we found ourselves under the manhole in Dworkowa Street, near the stairs. One of the men, who went out to the Germans, was told that everyone had to leave the sewers by twelve, for after that they would throw grenades and carbide into them. I left the sewers as part of a large group. The Germans divided us into two smaller groups – civilians and insurgents, calling the latter “bandits”. During the search they took all our belongings, and also robbed us of valuables. Following the search, the group was broken up and told to stand with arms raised, and then ordered to lie down on the ground. A few people attempted to escape at that time – the Germans shot them all.

Even before this, just after we had exited the sewers, I saw people running singly and in pairs from the top of Dworkowa Street, where the first manhole was located (closer to Puławska Street) – some towards us, and some in the direction of the clay pit behind Dworkowa Street. These people, too, were shot dead during their attempted escape – I have a feeling that this dash cost the lives of a few dozen people. I think that the Germans sealed the manhole in the afternoon (they had taken my watch), having first thrown grenades into the sewer. We, the insurgents, were arranged in fives and led down Dworkowa Street in the direction of Puławska Street, listening to insults along the way. The civilian population remained underground. I don’t know what happened to them.

While passing the manhole at the top of Dworkowa Street, I noticed male bodies scattered all around it, while next to the barbed wire that separated Dworkowa Street from the field with the clay pit I saw a large group of executed people, numbering a few dozen or so. Another group, comprising around twenty persons, was kneeling facing the walls of houses in Dworkowa Street, their arms raised.

Our group, consisting of a few dozen insurgents, was led along Puławska and Rakowiecka streets to the Mokotowski Fort, where we were attached to the insurgents previously gathered there. From there they led us on foot to Pruszków. On the next day, 28 September, I found myself in a group of forty female insurgents added to a transport of civilians headed for KL Stutthof. While there, we were treated as a separate group (for example, we received Home Army armbands), but also – in line with concentration camp regulations – forced to work and dress in striped clothes, being supervised by aufsehers.

I know that citizen Rudnicki was a witness to the execution at the upper manhole in Dworkowa Street, and I undertake to provide his address to the Commission in the next few days.

At this point the report was brought to a close and read out.