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 wouldnt
  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 persons mind
  from desiring wealth and possessions to the basic
  needs of love, respect, and freedom?

5
Chapter 7 continued

• Why does Levis description of Buna as gray tell
  us about this environment (p. 72)?
• Buna- supposed to produce synthetic rubber
• Levis 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)

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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)

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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?

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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?)

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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

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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

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Chapter 9 continued

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

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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

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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