Father Knotek belonged to the Maryknoll Mission and was ordained on 22 June 1941. He was assigned to Kweilin (Guilin), China. He and his group of newly ordained priests had arrived in Hong Kong just before the Japanese invasion and became trapped in the city and not able to proceed to their inland missions.
He was captured together with Fathers Madison and Tackney. They were manacled and held for three days in a garage on meagre rations, and then interned at Stanley Camp with other priests until September 1942 (see here). After release and having gained permission from the Japanese authorities to enter China, he and his group of fellow Fathers left Hong Kong in January 1943 and safely arrived in Kweilin on 2 February 1943.
Father Knotek remained at Kweilin until 1951 and later was assigned to Formosa (Taiwan).
Source
1. Maryknoll Mission Archives: https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/deceased-fathers-bro/father-wenceslaus-f-knotek-mm/
2. Catholic News Service - Newsfeeds dated 23 June 1941. See here
3. Catholic News Service - Newsfeeds dated 2 February 1943. See here
4. The Shanghai Evening Post and Mercury dated 5 February 1943. See here
5. Brooklyn Daily Eagle dated 5 February 1943. See here