Despite previously complying with the Jewish Code instated in Slovakia prior to his expulsion, he soon grew a thirst for rebellion. Following a government announcement that all Jews would be rounded up and sent to "reservations", he ripped off his state-mandated yellow star, got a taxi, and fled across the border. He was caught and sent to Novaky.

Walter was bought by a higher-ranking prisoner, Frank, and assigned to work in the food store. During his time there, he witnessed countless brutalities, including the beating and eventual killing of a prisoner for missing a button on his uniform.

In August, Walter was moved to cleanup, and recounted terrible stories of having to clear out trucks of new arrivals, with most being dead.

According to Walter, "The whole murder machinery could work on one principle: that the people came to Auschwitz and didn't know where they were going and for what purpose. The new arrivals were supposed to be kept orderly and without panic marching into the gas chambers."

After almost two years in the camps, he decided it was time to escape.

The report provided groundbreaking information and evidence for Allied forces regarding Auschwitz, and was responsible for putting an end to Hungarian deportation of Jews. It is estimated that over 200,000 lives were saved as a result of the report.

After WW2, Vrba moved to Great Britain, where he began to work with the Neuropsychiatric Research Unit in Surrey. He moved to the University of British Columbia in 1967, and later became a professor of Pharmacology. He wrote more than 50 research papers as an academic, with many new discoveries regarding brain chemistry and cancer.

Rudolf remarried to Robin Vrba in 1975, and had one child, a daughter. Rudolf Vrba died on March 27th, 2006 in Vancouver. He was 81 years old.