"Due to the late hour, I was led to the national
Commissariat of the police. In the protocol, they registered that I
had been arrested in order to hand me over to the Gestapo, since I was
a Jew. They took my suit, my coat, and all of my belongings, including
my cigarettes. I was later locked in a solitary police cell, and a guard
was placed by the door. The agents informed the officer on duty that
I was to be taken to the Gestapo the following morning at 7 a.m.
I began to converse with the man guarding me, and during
the conversation, I learned that the on duty sergeant had been replaced
by another. I asked the guard to get me permission to keep a few of
the cigarettes from the pack that had been taken from me. He fulfilled
my request. I turned to the guard and asked him to permit me to speak
with the new on duty sergeant, and to allow me to leave the cold cell
and go into the hall to warm up. He returned after a moment and took
me from the cell into the hall, where the new sergeant, Waclaw Nowinski,
was sitting, along with a number of other policemen. I began to speak
with Nowinski, and our conversation continued unabated until 2:00 a.m.
He then informed me that "I must save you! I will end my duty and
go to the supervisor." He returned at 6:00 a.m. and informed me
that my problem had been solved, and that agents would be arriving in
an hour, and I was to give them a sum of 5,000 zloty. Waclaw Nowinski
gave me the money, and declared that I need not return it to him. At
7:00 am two German security service agents appeared and declared that
a mistake had indeed occurred and that I was Aryan. I was led outside,
where I acted in accordance with Nowinski’s instructions, and
gave them the money. The following day I returned to the jail, appeared
before Nowinski and attempted to return the money to him, along with
2,000 additional zloty for his efforts. He became very angry at my suggestion,
and it was only with great difficulty that I was able to persuade him
to accept the 5,000 zloty, hoping that the money might serve to save
another Jew. From this point on, a friendship developed between me and
Nowinski, who continued to take care of me. At any moment I could obtain
help and assistance from him. He did his best to keep me informed of
impending searches, and helped me find places to hide. I know that he
hid many other Jewish families, thus risking himself and his family.
He did this all without receiving any payment or reward."