Read Online The German Fifth Column in Poland by Aleksandra Miesak Rohde - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Aleksandra Miesak Rohde
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Germans could not go unpunished. The angry population denounced these Germans to the Polish soldiers. It is only just that they were shot. The Protestant church at Szwederowo (a suburb of Bydgoszcz) was burned down, a machine-gun having been fired from its tower. The pastor at Czyzkówek suburb, who allowed a machine-gun to be mounted on his church, was shot. Close on 150 rebels altogether perished at this time. (This figure was given by the men who took the bodies to the cemetery.)
“ The Germans’ vengeance after they had taken Bydgoszcz knew no bounds. It would be difficult to say how many Poles were shot. But it was over 5000.”
A cavalry officer states: [14]
“On September 3rd about ten in the morning I had to conduct General Skotnicki to the command of the 15th Infantry Division at Bydgoszcz. We drove in two cars to Bydgoszcz, from our quarters at Myślęcinek. But we could not drive along the main street, namely, Danzig Street, for we were greeted with numerous single bursts of machine-gun fire. One machine-gun was mounted on the tower of the Protestant church, on Liberty Square. Thence it dominated the centre of the town. It is necessary to state that that day our front line was at least fifty kilometres from Bydgoszcz, and that there was no garrison whatever at this town, beyond a small battalion of our National Guards.
“ Being unable to enter Bydgoszcz by Danzig Street, our cars made their way round the town close to Bielawka in order to enter by the road from Fordon. While we were making this detour we were greeted with isolated shots coming from a large German factory, of which I have forgotten the name.
“ I know from my non-commissioned officer, W., who had reached the centre of the town, having left before us to find petrol, that accounts were settled solely with Germans who had been taken in the act of firing or who had had weapons. I declare that returning in the afternoon of the same day, September 3rd, from the Divisional Command, situated at Foch Street, to our quarters, I went right along Danzig Street. This was after the suppression of the German rising, and I noticed only a few bodies in civilian clothes before the ‘Under the Eagle’ hotel.
“ As Danzig Street was the centre of the disturbances, stories which tell of the numerous executions of which the German population have been victims are pure invention, for I was on the spot immediately after these incidents, and the traces of what had occurred could not have been removed so quickly.”
A baker, F. A., a foreign citizen, testifies: [15]
“Anyone who witnessed the events which occurred in Poland after the outbreak of hostilities and afterwards followed the story of these events only in the German Press is able to realize all the extent of the misfortune which Poland has so cruelly suffered.
“ The German invasion not only caused the deaths of Poland's best sons, the physical torture of those who remained alive and the destruction of material goods. The Germans have not hesitated before the foulest of defamation to represent the Poles as such a barbarous nation that they have behaved with the utmost cruelty towards the unarmed German population. And Poland could only be silent in reply.
“ It is not long since I returned to my country (Jugoslavia), where I have been able to testify as an eye-witness to the incidents which occurred at Bydgoszcz on September 3rd, 1939, the day called ‘Bloody Sunday.’ In the Press here and also the European Press I have found only information on the subject of ‘Bloody Sunday’ which in no way corresponded to the truth. That is why I have decided to tell what I saw or what was seen by witnesses whom I know to be trustworthy.
“ In the night of Saturday to Sunday (2nd to 3rd September) the Polish troops fell back along Danzig Street, the main street of the town. The troops were followed by civil population fleeing from neighbouring villages. According to these people the German troops were
“ The Germans’ vengeance after they had taken Bydgoszcz knew no bounds. It would be difficult to say how many Poles were shot. But it was over 5000.”
A cavalry officer states: [14]
“On September 3rd about ten in the morning I had to conduct General Skotnicki to the command of the 15th Infantry Division at Bydgoszcz. We drove in two cars to Bydgoszcz, from our quarters at Myślęcinek. But we could not drive along the main street, namely, Danzig Street, for we were greeted with numerous single bursts of machine-gun fire. One machine-gun was mounted on the tower of the Protestant church, on Liberty Square. Thence it dominated the centre of the town. It is necessary to state that that day our front line was at least fifty kilometres from Bydgoszcz, and that there was no garrison whatever at this town, beyond a small battalion of our National Guards.
“ Being unable to enter Bydgoszcz by Danzig Street, our cars made their way round the town close to Bielawka in order to enter by the road from Fordon. While we were making this detour we were greeted with isolated shots coming from a large German factory, of which I have forgotten the name.
“ I know from my non-commissioned officer, W., who had reached the centre of the town, having left before us to find petrol, that accounts were settled solely with Germans who had been taken in the act of firing or who had had weapons. I declare that returning in the afternoon of the same day, September 3rd, from the Divisional Command, situated at Foch Street, to our quarters, I went right along Danzig Street. This was after the suppression of the German rising, and I noticed only a few bodies in civilian clothes before the ‘Under the Eagle’ hotel.
“ As Danzig Street was the centre of the disturbances, stories which tell of the numerous executions of which the German population have been victims are pure invention, for I was on the spot immediately after these incidents, and the traces of what had occurred could not have been removed so quickly.”
A baker, F. A., a foreign citizen, testifies: [15]
“Anyone who witnessed the events which occurred in Poland after the outbreak of hostilities and afterwards followed the story of these events only in the German Press is able to realize all the extent of the misfortune which Poland has so cruelly suffered.
“ The German invasion not only caused the deaths of Poland's best sons, the physical torture of those who remained alive and the destruction of material goods. The Germans have not hesitated before the foulest of defamation to represent the Poles as such a barbarous nation that they have behaved with the utmost cruelty towards the unarmed German population. And Poland could only be silent in reply.
“ It is not long since I returned to my country (Jugoslavia), where I have been able to testify as an eye-witness to the incidents which occurred at Bydgoszcz on September 3rd, 1939, the day called ‘Bloody Sunday.’ In the Press here and also the European Press I have found only information on the subject of ‘Bloody Sunday’ which in no way corresponded to the truth. That is why I have decided to tell what I saw or what was seen by witnesses whom I know to be trustworthy.
“ In the night of Saturday to Sunday (2nd to 3rd September) the Polish troops fell back along Danzig Street, the main street of the town. The troops were followed by civil population fleeing from neighbouring villages. According to these people the German troops were
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