Survival in Auschwitz

1. Survival in Auschwitz Review

2. Review of Background Information • Nazis- disliked Jews due to long-seeded, historical president and state of Germany post-WWII • Anti-Semitism: false idea that Jews are a race, inferior to other races • In America: schools were still segregated; others treated as outsiders • Jews: not the only group targeted by the Nazis (Gypsies, homosexuals, the elderly, etc.) • Hitler: ensured that other countries wouldn’t become involved by making bogus peace treaties

3. Review of Text • Oddity in the novel about the use of language used by the Nazis:: Euphemisms • Bath Houses = Gas Chambers • Cleansing = sent through the death process • Disinfection = gassing to death • Hairdresser = head shaver • Selection = choosing whom to murder • Special action = mass murder

4. Chapter 7: A Good Day • Spring = the purpose of each ‘inmate’ • “I understood how men can worship the sun.” • “The worst is over.” = ironic- WHY? • What events in life can change a person’s mind from desiring wealth and possessions to the basic needs of love, respect, and freedom?

5. Chapter 7: continued • Why does Levi’s description of Buna as gray tell us about this environment (p. 72)? • Buna- supposed to produce synthetic rubber • Levi’s theory of happiness • Talking about food = the MOST annoying habit in the camp (Sigi and Béla) • Multiple theories of hunger resolution (p. 75) • The only thing worse than being hungry = being alone long enough to think about it (…as a free man)

6. Chapter 8: This Side of Good and Evil • Russians coming • Obtaining cloth • How important is the operation of the exchange market in the Lager (p. 78)? • Mahorca & Prize Coupons– What are they? • Supply vs. Demand • Profit Margin (p.81)

7. Chapter 8: Continued • Ka-Be = safe haven for prisoners at times • Smart idea- Learn how to profit from trade. (i.e.- nurses, locals, prisoners); Levi- steals graph paper. • Levi: Poses the dilemma: “How much of our ordinary moral world could survive on this side of the barbed wire?”

8. Chapter 9: The Drowned and the Saved • Is it good to retain a memory of truly horrible events? • No human experience is without meaning. • Lager- a gigantic biological and social experiment. How so? • “In the face of driving necessity and physical disabilities many social habits and instincts are reduced to silence.” (What does this reference?)

9. Chapter 9: continued • Saved vs. drowned (?) • Paradox – “To he that has, will be given; from he that has not, will be taken away.” • Musselman- worthless, backbone • Natural Selection • People begin to de-evolve

10. Chapter 9: continued • Schepschel • 4 yrs. • Mediocre as a person (not tall, not short; not fat, not slim; not nice, not cruel) • ‘snitches’ on friend to avoid a flogging • saved

11. Chapter 9: continued • Alfred L. • Used to be an important executive at a chemical plant • Secret resources • Respectable appearance • Judged others with severity • Saved

12. Chapter 9: continued • Elias • Dwarf • Within the camp, respected man; outside, he was not = happy within the camp • Superstitions surround him b/c of his strength • Saved

13. Chapter 9: continued • Henri • 22 yrs. old • Organization, pity, & theft • Free entry into the Ka-Be • Treats men as instruments- “serpent of Genesis” • Does not want to see him again • Saved