Diary of a Boy in Exile: A True WWII Survival Story of a Polish Boy’s Exile in Soviet Kazakhstan

Growing up, we often heard stories of our uncle, the war hero. Well, cousin, technically – and I think of him as a cousin when looking at the young soldier in the photographs, but no doubt if I’d have known him I would have considered him an uncle, as is the case with other relatives of his generation. Roman, though, was my grandad’s first cousin, 10 years his senior, and the only son of Olga (née Goldhammer) and Mieczysław Bader.

Beginning at the family home in the then-Polish city of Lwów, the story follows Roman from his arrest by the Soviet NKVD, his journey to Siberia and subsequent years of internment.

By the time the war had ended, and Roman had become a student at St. Andrews university, he was a Corporal of the 10th Heavy Artillery Regiment of the Polish 2nd Corps. He was decorated with the cross of Monte Cassino as well as Poland’s highest military honour, the Virtuti Militari.

This book was written in 1949, and since then has mostly been in a box of old family documents and photographs that have been consolidated and handed down as the generations have passed. 77 years later, I take great pride in being able to share it, and I’ve tried to add some context and sources where possible.

This book is available now on Kindle, e-book, and paperback.