ROMAN CHOJECKI


Testimony recorded on 20 July 1945 based on the words of Roman Chojecki, son of Antoni, born on 4 August 1897, employee of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers [Prezydium Rady Ministrów], at Krakowskie Przedmieście Street 46/48.


Citizen Roman Chojecki testifies that in October 1943, being on duty next to the building seized by the occupiers for the purposes of a “German house,” he was present when property belonging to the Presidium was taken. This property was sent in several instalments to Siedlce, to the Siedlce County governor “Mr Sejma.”

Items were taken away from various rooms, namely: wardrobes, tables, armchairs, paintings, brass and crystal chandeliers, sofas, beds from the prime minister’s rooms, and various cabinets, carpets and other small items.

The abovementioned property must have remained in the offices of the Siedlce County authorities and should be brought back, since the deputy county governor was a Polish citizen.

In 1939 and 1940, various items were taken away again, mostly valuable things, to the castle in Krakow, among others the entire contents of the prime minister’s office from the ground floor and the carpets. These items were transported in Hartwig company wagons; the company is probably in possession of the relevant consignment notes. In November 1939 all the furnishings from the prime minister’s bedroom were transported to Litewska Street 10, together with silverware and carpets. The items were transported in cars under [guard armed with] revolvers, for the purposes of furnishing Gestapo flats.

In March, various items were taken away in cars, small items and carpets belonging to the presidium. Everything was packed by the occupiers in boxes and taken to Koszykowa Street 45, to the flat of a female friend of a Gestapo man, Reszkomer. The house still stands, the matter needs to be investigated, since it is rumored that this female friend is still in Warsaw.

From 1942 up to October 1944, [a female resident?] of the presidium hotel, a German from the SS, Charlotte Hüttemann, resident of Bonn and right-hand woman of the Gestapo man Fischer, would systematically rob the presidium of various items, loading them into trunks and sending them to her home town, that is to the city of Bonn.

It is impossible to determine exactly what she took away due to her position and [our] fear for [our] lives. Citizen Chojnacki [sic] saw porcelain, carpets, curtains, and various antiques, which she packed in parcels and sent via post.

In February 1940, cabinets (in large numbers) from the offices of the Marshal Piłsudski Culture Fund [Fundusz Kultury im. marsz. Piłsudskiego] were taken away by Dr. Weiss to Rakowiecka Street 6 or 8.

Citizen Chojecki agrees to go to Krakow, Siedlce and to Litewska Street to identify the items he saw being taken away.

At that the above testimony was concluded and signed by citizen Roman Chojecki.