The specifics of Private Wotruba’s military career are not
known. However, there’s a very good chance he might have been
one of those who played a fascinating (and often overlooked)
part in the World War I Eastern Front. The 62nd infantry served
in Europe (reaching France as the armistice was signed). During
the latter part of August, 1918, some five thousand men and
nearly one hundred officers were transferred from the 8th
Division to the American Expeditionary Force in Siberia (AEF).
The AEF had two purposes: rescue 40,000 Czech Legion soldiers
attempting to make it through Bolshevik lines to Vladivostok and
to protect the military supplies originally sent to assist the
now-toppled Czarist monarchy. Another part of the AEF was sent
to protect the ports of Murmansk and Archangel in what’s known
as the Polar Bear Expedition. Was Wotruba one of these soldiers?
Perhaps, but without knowing his career details we can only
guess. Two possible factors do lend credibility. Wotruba is
either a Byelorussian or Bohemia