Poznań, 11 November 1948
To the Commission for the Investigation of German Crimes
in Poznań
Zakręt Street 26
During the occupation in the Rogowo Commune, Rypin District, two German tormentors applied barbaric Nazi methods against the local community:
1. Gustaw Pryl,
2. Meller (no data available).
Gustaw Pryl, as a VD [Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz?], took over one of the largest properties, belonging to the Napiórkowski family in the village of Rogówko, Rogowo Commune, Rypin District. Since he was a trusted man of the Gendarmerie of the Rogowo Commune, he closely cooperated with them, mistreating and abusing the local population. That flunkey actively contributed to the killing of eighteen Poles in the Rogowo Commune. For four years, he did everything he could to find out the addresses of Miss Garbarczyk, Mrs. Świniarska, and myself. I was a teacher in Rogów until 1938. As it became clear during the occupation, Gustaw Pryl, whom we all treated as well as possible, was already then an active Nazi, cunningly infiltrating Polish organizations (for example he was the most active member of the Riflemen’s Association [Związek Strzelecki] and the Education for Adults [Oświata dla Dorosłych]). Pryl also cooperated with the Gestapo and the Gendarmerie in order to catch Poles.
This criminal and his colleagues from the VD, as part of a general operation to exterminate people, contributed to a horrible massacre of teachers in the Rypin District, who were tricked into attending a district conference in Rypin and who were all murdered (October 1939) – about two hundred people.
All residents of the village of Rogówko, Rypin District, Rogowo Commune, and the nearby villages witnessed (being forced by the VD) what that villain did next.
I am attaching a report of the testimony of Julian Żebrowski, resident in Żołnowo, Rogowo Commune, providing indicative information concerning his whereabouts.
If that villain were brought in and punished, it would contribute to the capture of his colleague, a rogue named Meller, who was the greatest terror of the district and is responsible for all the suffering of the local community (over a dozen killed).
These two lackeys, although seemingly insignificant, abused and murdered people in the Rogowo Commune, Rypin District.
I am giving this testimony as one of those who accidentally escaped the fate of our murdered colleagues.
Witnesses in the case of Gustaw Pryl:
Maria Kowalska, Rogówko
Zygmunt Pietrusiński, Rogówko
Tadeusz Jędrzejewski, Rogowo
Ludwik Napiórkowski, Rogówko
Edwin Żbikowski, Rogówko
Władysław Ludwiczewski, Rogówko.
The witnesses in the case of Pryl can also testify in the case of Meller, as well as, literally, the whole Rogowo Commune.
He personally shot Aleksander Rocal, and he and gendarme Feld shot a Russian partisan dead. He issued a list according to which eighteen people were executed in the Rogowo Commune.
That criminal participated in all the executions and will denounce many, many more criminals.
I submit the report of the case to the Rogowo Commune Administration Office.
District Recruiting Commandant
[Rejonowy Komendant Uzupełnień]