After the Russian invasion of Poland in 1939, Adam Wielgat was captured and sent to a work camp in Siberia’s Arctic Circle. He worked constructing railroad tracks. The Russians had reserves of oil, gas, and rare metals in Siberia which were much needed for their war effort. The rail lines had to be constructed as quickly as possible.

However, when the Germans invaded Russia in 1941 and were nearing Moscow, Stalin and the Polish Prime Minister Sikorski reached an accord on the release of all Polish prisoners from Siberia.

These men went on to form a Polish Army which would be sent to fight against the Nazis. Adam Wielgat was one of these men who went on to fight throughout the Italian campaign, including the Battle of Monte Cassino, which resulted in devastating losses for the Polish Free Army. Adam survived the war and later emigrated to the United States.