Welcome to Sleepytime History — true stories from the pages of history for a full night's rest.

In this episode, we explore the remarkable true story of Sławomir Rawicz — a young Polish cavalry officer who, after being captured by Soviet forces during World War II, was sentenced to twenty-five years of hard labour in a Siberian Gulag.

But Rawicz escaped. With eight others, he slipped away under cover of darkness on a moonless night. Ahead of them lay no path, no maps — only vast, unforgiving wilderness and a single compass needle pointing south. Over the next eleven months, they would walk more than 4,000 miles on foot, through frozen forests, the scorching Gobi Desert, and across the Himalayas — all in search of freedom.

Along the way, they survived on roots, bark, and even snakes, passed sun-bleached bones in the desert, and, near journey’s end, Rawicz would claim to see two towering fur-covered figures moving upright through the snow, never to be seen again. After nearly a year without shelter, they finally rested in a goat cave high in the mountains, the first roof over their heads since fleeing the camp.

This story is not only one of isolation and endurance, but also of belief, loyalty, and the quiet, complex strength it takes to live by conviction — even when all signs suggest the world has changed.

Let this gentle story of solitude and resilience guide you into a peaceful night’s sleep.If you're new here, share where you're tuning in from or request a story for a future bedtime episode. And if you enjoy these peaceful history stories, please like and subscribe — it helps us continue sharing calm, true tales from the past.