Siberian Garrison (Szibériai garnizon, 1927–1928) by Rodion Markovits is a powerful semi-autobiographical account of captivity during World War I and the upheavals of the Russian Revolution and Civil War. Based on the author's own experiences as an Austro-Hungarian prisoner of war, it blends memoir, reportage, and fiction into what Markovits called a "collective reportage." 

The story follows an unnamed Hungarian soldier captured by Russian forces on the Eastern Front and transported to prison camps deep in Siberia. As years of captivity stretch on, the prisoners endure hunger, disease, brutal weather, forced labor, and crushing uncertainty. Rather than focusing on a single heroic protagonist, the novel presents a broad portrait of thousands of prisoners from different nationalities, emphasizing their shared struggle to preserve dignity and hope under extreme conditions. 

The narrative then shifts to the collapse of the Russian Empire and the chaos of the Russian Revolution. With the old prison system disintegrating, the captives find themselves stranded in a vast, war-torn country. Some attempt the long journey home, others join the Bolsheviks or the anti-Bolshevik White forces, while many simply struggle to survive amid famine, violence, and political turmoil. The dream of returning home proves more difficult than captivity itself. 

A major theme of the novel is the dehumanizing effect of war. Markovits depicts how military rank, nationality, and social class gradually lose significance in captivity, reducing individuals to anonymous survivors. At the same time, he highlights moments of solidarity, humor, and resilience that enable prisoners to endure years of hardship. The work also offers a critical examination of militarism, nationalism, and revolution without presenting simple moral judgments.