Radzim: beating to unconsciousness and continued torture of prisoners

A camp in a seized estate

The Germans established a camp on the Seyd family estate. Its guard staff consisted of local Selbstschutz members, and Werner Erich Sorgatz became commandant. Overcrowded cellars and appalling sanitary conditions formed part of the prisoners’ experience. The IPN study also notes beatings during interrogations conducted by SS men arriving at the camp. [2]

Marian Grochowski

According to Mazanowska, the official from Sępólno was repeatedly beaten brutally. During one such episode he was ordered to count the blows. When he lost consciousness, he was doused with water and the beating resumed. The author identifies Emil Daas as a particularly active perpetrator of the violence. Grochowski was later taken to a forest and shot. [1]

Father Roman Barra

The parish priest from Lutowo was held in a palace cellar, maltreated and insulted. He was forced to demonstrate liturgical activities. He then had to dig a grave with other prisoners before the execution. In his case, physical violence was combined with religious humiliation. [1]

How to understand the number exhumed

Mazanowska cites 1947 exhumation records for the remains of 109 people from nine graves. Difficult terrain prevented a full investigation of the area, so this is not a closed count. Prisoners transported to Rudzki Most to be killed must be considered separately. Jews were also murdered in Radzim; the source does not give their exact number. We therefore do not present the entire total as a number of ethnic Poles. [2]

Limits of the findings

Two publications by the same researcher are not independent confirmations. The available excerpt of the monograph was read, not the complete book or the cited files. The number exhumed does not establish the nationality of every victim. [1] [2]

Sources and notes

Footnote markers identify the basis for specific findings. Bibliographic records remain in their original language; the notes indicate how each source is used.

The bibliographic record and source-use note are retained in Polish to preserve the original scholarly citation.

1. Izabela Mazanowska. Egzekucje Polaków w obozie w Radzimiu — fragment monografii „Radzim 1939. Zbrodnie w obozie Selbstschutz Westpreusen”. Instytut Pamięci Narodowej, 2022; fragment udostępniony przez Histmag.org.

   opracowanie naukowe · Publikacja 12 IX 2022; akapity o Marianie Grochowskim oraz ks. Romanie Barrze · Dostęp: 2026-09-05.

   Use of this source: Torturowanie Grochowskiego, udział Daasa, poniżanie i maltretowanie księdza Barry przed egzekucją.

2. Izabela Mazanowska — część historyczna. Nowa praca naukowa „Zbrodnia pomorska 1939 – Radzim”. Instytut Pamięci Narodowej, Oddział w Gdańsku.

   opracowanie instytucjonalne · 21 I 2021; część „Zbrodnia pomorska 1939 – Radzim”, podpisana przez autorkę · Dostęp: 2026-09-05.

   Use of this source: Załoga i komendant, warunki, bicie podczas przesłuchań, protokoły ekshumacji, żydowskie ofiary, Rudzki Most i zamknięcie obozu.