On 15 November 1947 in Radom, the District Commission for the Investigation of German Crimes with its seat in Radom, in the person of lawyer Zygmunt Glogier, a member of the Commission, heard the person named below as an unsworn witness. Having been advised of the criminal liability for making false declarations, the witness testified as follows:
| Name and surname | Ludwik Smrokowski |
| Age | 42 years old |
| Names of parents | Franciszek and Maria |
| Place of residence | Radom, Sienkiewicza Street 18 |
| Occupation | professor |
| Criminal record | none |
| Relationship to the parties | none |
On 27 September 1943 I was arrested by the Radom Gestapo. Having been arrested, I was marched to Kościuszki Street, where my personal details were taken down, and then I was escorted to the prison. I was placed in the so-called common cell, which held about 80 people. I spent four days in that cell, and then I was assigned to cell no. 3 in the so-called Sonderabteilung [special division], which was overseen by Koch. As far as I can tell, the Sonderabteilung comprised approximately 300 people, but the numbers were constantly changing due to frequent deportations and new arrests. I shared the cell with lawyer Czaplicki, Major Fabryc, Surma and Młodecki. I was summoned for the first interrogation at Kościuszki Street after six days. I was transported there in a group of about 30 people, all of whom were chained. We had to kneel down in the car. Having arrived at Kościuszki Street, we were placed in some cell, from which we were summoned one by one for interrogations that were conducted upstairs, on the first or second floor. We were always chained when we were being taken for interrogation, with our hands either in the front or in the back. We were not unchained during the interrogation.
I was interrogated five times in total, including once in the “garret” on the third floor, where there was a room for special interrogations. During ordinary ones, I was beaten with bullwhips, brass knuckles, and a stick. When I was interrogated on the third floor, I had a noose fastened around my legs and I was suspended head down, hoisted up by a crank. When I was suspended, I had water and spirits poured down my nose and I was beaten with whips. I would also like to emphasize that during interrogations on the second floor I had wood splinters and pins driven under my nails and I had my hands slammed in the door. All these tortures were inflicted by a tall, sturdy redhead and an interpreter who spoke Polish; I think that the latter’s name was Stasio Ganderman, or so he was called. They tortured me the most. I have to stress that the majority of prisoners returning from interrogations were so badly beaten that they required so-called medical aid from their friends. Among those battered by the Gestapo were engineer Żubiński from Ostrowiec, Kazimierz Zając from Radom, and Lao from Kielce. I recall that one of my cellmates, Wierzbowski from Końskie, was kicked by one of the Gestapo men so hard that he developed gangrene. Since he was not allowed to receive medical treatment, he died. Koch took every opportunity to abuse prisoners, beating them for the slightest offences. He especially persecuted one Jew, a former editor from Sandomierz, whom he ordered to jump and sing, drink from a spittoon, hang himself on a rope in the cell and do other similar feats.
On 16 February 1944 I left the prison in a transport of about 600 people. Before the journey we had to lie still in the corridors. We were loaded 60 people to a wagon and taken to Groß- Rosen. I was liberated from Mauthausen on 5 May 1945 by the Americans.
I would like to add that the torture room on the third floor [in the Radom prison] was furnished more or less as follows: in the middle there stood a gallows with a rope and a crank for hauling people up. There was also a table with some liquid, water and spirits, and instruments for beating: clubs, whips and bamboo sticks. Next to it was a dental chair. A chest in which the prisoners were locked – wearing gas masks – stood by the wall.
I confirm that this is my testimony.
The report was read out.