Differing specifications exist for the Habsburg Empire, but it is assumed that more than two million soldiers were in the custody of Austria-Hungary during World War One. Classified according to nationalities, the largest group of enemy soldiers consisted of Russians (around 1.27 million), followed by Italians (around 370,000), Serbians ( approximately 155,000) and then Romanians (around 53,000). The number of prisoners from Montenegro, Albania, Great Britain, the USA and France were relatively low. Lower Austria was especially suitable in World War I for setting up POW camps because the region was situated for from the fighting fronts. In addition to the Spratzern camp, further camps for POWs were also built in Erlauftal (Purgstall, Wieselburg) and Sigmundsherberg. As part of the Spratzern camp construction that the Austro-Hungarians began at the end of 1914, a total of eight groups of camps each with 16 barracks were also built. In 1918 the camp was dissolved and removed.
During World War One the Russian Orthodox chapel was built by Russian POWs in the Spratzern POW camp near to St. Pölten where they were housed. The original location can no longer be precisely identified.
After the camp was dissolved the chapel, which was no longer required, was disassembled, transported to the town of Zagging with horse carts and re-erected there. Inauguration took place on 22 October 1922 by the St. Pöltner Bishop Antonius Buchmayer.