RYSZARD ZIEMIAŃCZYK

On 10 January 1968 in Warsaw, Eugenia Czubowa, assistant prosecutor for the District Prosecutor’s Office for Warsaw-Żoliborz, heard the person named below as a witness, without an oath. After being informed about the criminal liability for false testimony, the witness testified as follows:


Name and surname Ryszard Ziemiańczyk
Age 46
Parents’ names Franciszek, Marianna née Kiepkiewicz
Place of residence Warsaw, Mistrzowska Street 15
Occupation hauler
Criminal record none
Relation to the parties none

I have lived in Żoliborz ever since I was born, in the so-called Piaski [the Sands], an area demarcated by Włościańska, Ogólna, Kiełpińska [and] Żelazowska Streets. An underground group was active in this area, to which Władysław Andrzejak, Eugeniusz Nasiadek, Władysław Osipczuk and others belonged. Romanowski was [also] with them, I don’t know his first name. After he was arrested, he switched sides and began cooperating with the Germans, wore a German uniform and gave many people from the underground up to the Germans.

I know that during some construction works, or rather while they were digging in order to lay foundations, seven skulls were unearthed on Gąbińska Street. If some kind of execution had taken place there, I didn’t hear about it. During the Uprising, some fighting broke out there because partisans from Kampinos were passing through, but I don’t know the details.

Two weeks after the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising, I was detained by the Germans. Some more detailed explanations about the operation might be provided by Stanisław Balcerzak, residing on Ogólna Street; Sztrejmer, residing in Żoliborz; and Edward Litowski, whose brother Henryk lives on Cegłowska Street, on the corner of Zjednoczenie Avenue.

I know that about half a year before the Warsaw Uprising, in their own apartment on Gąbińska Street, Edward Konczewski and his mother were shot by the Gestapo. I know that Konczewski had some contact with Romanowski. It was said that Konczewski committed some robberies under the auspices of the underground. A box of grenades was found at his place.

I am aware of the fact that about six months before the Uprising, a group consisting of Tadeusz Kity, Adolf Tyszka, Edward Lutomski [and] Zdzisław and Edward Balcerzak shot a German officer on the tram, and then escaped via the [so-called] hills at the back of the current bus station. They were surrounded by the Germans and shot in this area. Only Lutomski and Balcerzak managed to escape, wounded, and only Edward Lutomski is still alive. All those who died at that time were buried in Powązki. I personally transported them to the military cemetery in Powązki.

I would like to mention that on the Burzycka estate there was a burial ground from time of the Swedish War, and a large number of skeletons were discovered during excavations. Maybe Burzycka would be able to say something about the skulls that were found on her estate.