Sigi had just turned 15 and living a carefree life in Poland when World War II was declared. Within days, Germany crossed the Polish border and randomly, to assert their intentions, exterminated Jews and Poles. The Siegreich family relocated further into Poland, to Bedzin, hoping the war would pass quickly. It was not to be. Their train enroute to their new home was attacked and they lost many of their belongings and some friends. Within days of setting up in Bedzin, while out shopping for food Sigi was picked up by German soldiers and taken off with other Polish citizens where he was forced to dig a large trench. The German soldiers then shot the Polish men, one by one. In the first miracle of his life, Sigi was saved by a man who grabbed him and threw him into the trench before him. And Sigi's new life of horror, pain, drudgery, miracles, and adventures began.