Kielce, 31 March 1948, 9.00 a.m. Marian Poniewierka from the Criminal Investigation Section of the Citizens’ Militia Station in Kielce, on the instruction of the Prosecutor from the District Court in Kielce, with the participation of court reporter Stanisław Kostera, heard the person named below as a witness. Having been advised of the criminal liability for making false declarations and of the wording of Article 140 of the Penal Code, the witness testified as follows:
Name and surname | Szczepan Śmiglarski |
Parents’ names | Szczepan and Agnieszka, née Baran |
Age | 38 years old |
Date of birth | 12 December 1910 |
Place of birth | Domanowice |
Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic |
Occupation | shoemaker |
Place of residence | Zagórze, Dyminy commune, Kielce district |
I cannot say when the "Granat-Hasag" camp at Młynarska Street in Kielce was established, because when in June 1942 I was taken to the camp from the prison, the camp had already been operational. The above-mentioned camp was closed in May 1943. There were both Poles and Jews in the camp, but the latter were kept separately. There were no foreigners in the camp.
On average, there were about 40 Poles and some 500 Jews in the camp. During its period of operation, about 2,500 people passed through the camp. Upon its liquidation, the Poles were marched to the prison, and the Jews stayed behind.
The prisoners worked at the railway line, unloading and loading iron-ore and steel, and the Jews worked on the factory floor. The prisoners were fed in the following way: they received swede, and a soup thickener made of flour and cabbage leaves.
There was no infirmary in the camp, but the Jews had their own doctors. No prisoner died in the camp. There were also no executions and in effect, no burial sites.
There was no crematorium in the camp. No material evidence survived.
I recall the following surnames of people who were in the camp:
1) Cedro Stanisław,
2) Stępor Jacenty,
3) Misiec Antoni,
4) Szaliński, miller from Ruda Strawczyńska,
“Slicht,” a German, was the camp director.
The prisoners were supervised by:
1) Józef Kalwat, residing in Kielce at Zagórska Street 186,
2) Czarnecki from Poznań.
Both of them were Poles.
The above-mentioned men had a rather negative attitude towards the Polish prisoners; the Germans used to nag them and they took it out on us. I saw Kalwat beat prisoners, but he didn’t turn anyone in.
I cannot add anything as I don’t remember more.
At this point the report was concluded, read out and signed.