Witness Halina Jamroż
Prosecutor: What happened on 23 September 1942?
Witness: It started in Rożki. Five Poles were traveling on a train to deliver weapons to partisans. The train was searched and there was shooting. That’s when “Andrzej” died. That was his pseudonym, he was the captain of the Polish Army. I knew him personally because he was a friend of my brother Jan, who was an officer. Mr. Kapela was taken then, and Mr. Grabosz was injured and escaped. He was later killed on [illegible] Street, during a shooting which [took place while] he was being chased. That’s when someone on the train shouted the name: “Grabosz!”
Military policemen [illegible] this house and the arrests began. When I went to the Grabosz household, the Gestapo were already there. I was arrested, but I explained that I was looking for the tailor and I was released. I had to flee home the next day.
A few days later, in October 1942, the Gestapo came and arrested my whole family. They took my mother, and two of my brothers, whom they handcuffed. My brother had come with my sister-in-law and they were also arrested. The youngest of my brothers, who was 14 years old, was also handcuffed. The Gestapo men waited until 11.00 p.m. They were waiting for me, but I didn’t return home. The reason for the arrest could be that someone from the Grabosz household had mentioned my name.
My brothers were executed in Rożki on 12 October, and on 15 October my mother and my sister-in-law – who was pregnant – were hanged in Rożki. My brother Józef was in prison for five months. He was called out and taken from the cell by a red-haired German. Józef hasn’t returned since then and there has been no news about him.
Marianna Grzywacz was our servant. She was taken to Majdanek. She returned and she’s currently in Radom. Tadeusz Kozorski was arrested with his brother Henryk on Kozieniecka Street. He was executed near the factory in Radom. 10 people were hanged on that occasion.
My sister, when she found out about the family being arrested, came to save my mother and my sister-in-law, who was pregnant. She went to see a certain woman, who was in touch with Böttcher. That woman then told her that Böttcher was in a bad mood and that she should come back in a few days and bring 40 thousand zlotys. The next time my sister came, it was already too late, as she came on the day of the execution. This woman was Helena Kucharska, she was from Radom.
Prosecutor: Was your sister-in-law far enough into pregnancy that it was visible?
Witness: Yes. Mrs. Rogalewska can confirm that.
Prosecutor: Did Mrs. Kucharska declare that she knew Böttcher in person?
Witness: Yes.
Prosecutor: Did the defendant know the worker of the Municipal Council, Mrs. Kucharska?
Defendant: I don’t know that name.
Presiding Judge: (to the sworn translator) Please summarize to the defendant that the witness has recounted the history of one family, partly hanged and partly shot, in which one woman was pregnant. That was in October 1942.
Presiding Judge: (after the summary): What units were active?
Witness: I don’t know.
Prosecutor: Will your sister be here at court? Please tell her to contact me.
Defendant: I would like to ask for a translation of those parts of the testimony in which she has mentioned my name.
(after the translation) I have no questions to the witness.
Presiding Judge: I would like to call to the stand Mrs. Kucharska.
The presiding judge declares that the defendant [?] should provide her address.