When the Nazis occupied Poland Zofia became active in the Resistance. In 1943 she was arrested by the Gestapo. She was interrogated, tortured and moved around between several different camps.

During the final stage of the war Zofia was in the Beendorf concentration camp. When the Allied forces approached all the prisoners were forced onto a train of cattle trucks. During the ten days the train moved about the prisoners were given scarcely any food or water. The train became known as the Train of Death.

The Red Cross heard about the train and was given permission to take care of the survivors. They were taken via Denmark to freedom in Malmö. Zofia regained hope for the future.

Together with other Polish refugees she was taken to a refugee centre in Glimminge in Österlen. After she recovered she moved to Stockholm and trained as a physiotherapist.

In 1947 she married Maximilian Wilczek. He had fled to Sweden with the help of Norwegian Resistance fighters. They met at a scout camp which Folke Bernadotte also attended.