Survival in AuschwitzSurvival in AuschwitzAs told by Primo LeviAs told by Primo Levi

By: By: Courtney Novotny, Courtney Novotny,

Russel Thomas, Brian Briggs Russel Thomas, Brian Briggs

Primo LeviPrimo Levi Born in 1919; died in 1987Born in 1919; died in 1987 Arrested during the Second World War as a member of the anti-Arrested during the Second World War as a member of the anti-

Fascist resistanceFascist resistance Primo Levi was a chemist.Primo Levi was a chemist. Levi was betrayed by one of his own number and was deported to a Levi was betrayed by one of his own number and was deported to a

Nazi concentration camp.Nazi concentration camp. He spent 10 months at Auschwitz.He spent 10 months at Auschwitz. He was left behind at the camp because he had fallen to scarlet He was left behind at the camp because he had fallen to scarlet

fever.fever. He retired in 1977 and continued to write until his death on April 11, He retired in 1977 and continued to write until his death on April 11,

1987.1987.

The JourneyThe Journey

Primo Levi was captured by the Fascist Militia on December Primo Levi was captured by the Fascist Militia on December 13, 1943, at the age of 24.13, 1943, at the age of 24.He was Italian-Jewish.He was Italian-Jewish.

He was then sent to a detention camp called Fossoli. He was then sent to a detention camp called Fossoli. When roll was called at the camp, for every person that When roll was called at the camp, for every person that

wasn’t there, ten were killed.wasn’t there, ten were killed.The weather was very intense and cold.The weather was very intense and cold.

The SS Army forced all the young men off the train and The SS Army forced all the young men off the train and grouped them together.grouped them together.

All their watches and money were taken by the SS.All their watches and money were taken by the SS.

On The Bottom On The Bottom

At Fossoli, he was given nothing to drink and no showers for four At Fossoli, he was given nothing to drink and no showers for four days.days.

When the men were taken off the train, they were forced to take When the men were taken off the train, they were forced to take off their clothes and separate them into two piles.off their clothes and separate them into two piles.

Then their heads were shaved.Then their heads were shaved. They were kept in big groups and forced to shower together while They were kept in big groups and forced to shower together while

standing in two inches of cold water.standing in two inches of cold water. After this harsh treatment, they were given clothes and shoes and After this harsh treatment, they were given clothes and shoes and

put to work.put to work. The men were tattooed with numbers, their way of getting food.The men were tattooed with numbers, their way of getting food.

InitiationInitiation

Slept very poorly Slept very poorly The conditions of the barracks were poor. The conditions of the barracks were poor.

At the time, bread was the only source of At the time, bread was the only source of money and trade.money and trade.

The washroom had mud-covered floors The washroom had mud-covered floors and undrinkable water.and undrinkable water.

On the wall in the washroom, “Survival in On the wall in the washroom, “Survival in Auschwitz” was written.Auschwitz” was written.

While Levi was at the camp, he had to While Levi was at the camp, he had to translate the Italian for the other translate the Italian for the other prisoners.prisoners.

Ka-BeKa-Be While he was in the camp, he tried to avoid work as much as possible, but it While he was in the camp, he tried to avoid work as much as possible, but it

didn’t always work.didn’t always work. The prisoners were made to carry cast-iron supports on their shoulders.The prisoners were made to carry cast-iron supports on their shoulders. Levi was made to walk at the front of the line and carry the supports, which Levi was made to walk at the front of the line and carry the supports, which

was most of the support weight; this was very unsafe.was most of the support weight; this was very unsafe. His ankle was cut by one of the supports and little could be done to heal the His ankle was cut by one of the supports and little could be done to heal the

wound.wound. Taken to the infirmary called Krankenbau (Ka-Be) for the wound.Taken to the infirmary called Krankenbau (Ka-Be) for the wound. There were two clinics, Medical and Surgical.There were two clinics, Medical and Surgical. He was then examined and kept in a room with many others.He was then examined and kept in a room with many others. Kept in Ka-Be for twenty daysKept in Ka-Be for twenty days The wounds on his feet, even after being at Ka-Be, still remained unhealed.The wounds on his feet, even after being at Ka-Be, still remained unhealed.

Our NightsOur Nights

• As the winter season came, the amount of sleep that the prisoners were allowed increased.– Less daylight for work

• Had to share a bunk with another prisoner– Very little room

• All prisoners dreamed of eating and telling their families about their suffering.

• Often woke up to use the latrine– When it overflowed, the prisoners had to empty it.– Spilled it on themselves

The Work Manual labor

The Nazis took advantage of the most physically fit Jews and used them for the war effort.

Moved a cast-iron cylinder through mud and snow Created a smooth path Moved the cylinder using levers

Went to the latrine as a way of resting One hour lunch break

Ate soup within a few minutes Slept for the rest of the hour

A Good Day When winter was over, all the prisoners were

ecstatic.• Few clothes

Felt more hungry when they didn’t have to worry about the cold

Spoiled soup that civilian workers discarded was found• The Kapo of Primo’s Kommando allowed a prisoner

to fetch it for the rest of the Kommando

• Civilians’ soup was much better than the prisoners’

• Enough for larger rations than usual

This Side of Good and EvilThis Side of Good and Evil

Prisoners and civilians bartered goods.Prisoners and civilians bartered goods.– Bread, soup, vegetables, tobacco, shirts, gold Bread, soup, vegetables, tobacco, shirts, gold

teeth, spoons, brooms, shoe polishteeth, spoons, brooms, shoe polish– Traded within the camp, also smuggled in and Traded within the camp, also smuggled in and

out of Bunaout of Buna Theft and trade accepted by both SS and Theft and trade accepted by both SS and

civilianscivilians– SS punished those who traded within the campSS punished those who traded within the camp– Civilians punished those who traded in BunaCivilians punished those who traded in Buna

Punished by both SS and civiliansPunished by both SS and civilians– Jews sent to coal mines, civilians lived with Jews sent to coal mines, civilians lived with

Jewish prisoners for several monthsJewish prisoners for several months

The Drowned and the SavedThe Drowned and the Saved

►The weakest were called “musselmen.”The weakest were called “musselmen.” No useful connections or secretsNo useful connections or secrets

►Those who were clever were respected.Those who were clever were respected. Had good jobs, extra rationsHad good jobs, extra rations Became cruel when given powerBecame cruel when given power

►Prisoners gave up morals and beliefs in Prisoners gave up morals and beliefs in order to fight to live.order to fight to live.

The Drowned and the SavedThe Drowned and the Saved SchepschelSchepschel

Stole and bartered goodsStole and bartered goods Sang and danced for non-Jewish prisoners for extra rations Sang and danced for non-Jewish prisoners for extra rations Tried to appear vicious in order to get a better jobTried to appear vicious in order to get a better job

Alfred L.Alfred L. Impressed the SS by being neat and disciplinedImpressed the SS by being neat and disciplined Given an easy jobGiven an easy job

EliasElias Physically extremely strongPhysically extremely strong Worked harder than most prisonersWorked harder than most prisoners Given skilled workGiven skilled work

HenriHenri Used pity to get goods from the English prisoners-of-war Used pity to get goods from the English prisoners-of-war

and people in high positions in the campand people in high positions in the camp

Chemical Examination

Primo was assigned to the Chemical Kommando. Carried sacks of chemicals to

warehouses Took a chemistry examination

Wanted to work in a laboratory Did not find out the results for a long

time

The Canto of Ulysses Primo was given the job of bringing lunch to

his commando with another prisoner, Jean. Opportunity for a slow walk with no burden

Recited parts of The Divine Comedy “Think of your breed; for brutish ignorance Your mettle was not made; you were made men,

To follow after knowledge and excellence” (qtd. in Levi 113).

Opportunity to remember his humanity Felt that it related to his experience

October 1944October 1944

• It became colder.It became colder.

• Levi had survived for a relatively long Levi had survived for a relatively long time.time.

• He became a bit more self-confident.He became a bit more self-confident.

• He spoke of words like “fear” and He spoke of words like “fear” and “hunger,” but said they were “free” “hunger,” but said they were “free” words, words of a free man.words, words of a free man.

• He survived another death selection.He survived another death selection.

Kraus

This chapter took place in November 1944. The rain made the men bitter and cold. Levi commented that the only way to escape

the rain and the death of life is to touch the electric fence or throw oneself under the train as it moved.

Levi complained of how Kraus, a new prisoner, has not learned to work slowly. Kraus was scolded by the chain leader for it.

Die drei Leute vom LaborDie drei Leute vom Labor Levi finally lost track of time and could not Levi finally lost track of time and could not

remember how long he had been in the camp.remember how long he had been in the camp. He said that when he came to the camp, there He said that when he came to the camp, there

were 96 men, but by the October selection, there were 96 men, but by the October selection, there were 29, and after the selection, 21.were 29, and after the selection, 21.

Levi was selected for laboratory detail, and he Levi was selected for laboratory detail, and he was happy to see that he would not be cold that was happy to see that he would not be cold that winter.winter.

He started to steal petrol and to sell it on the He started to steal petrol and to sell it on the camp’s black market for more rations to split with camp’s black market for more rations to split with his friend Alberto.his friend Alberto.

The Last One

Levi worked in the laboratory for most of the winter and walked back to camp with his friend Alberto. They discussed random things of little importance.

The one thing that was important to them was that their friend Lorenzo was getting many pints of soup each day and needed a way to carry it.

They traded rations with a tin smith in camp to make a zinc pot, and then transported the soup.

They also became better friends with their hut mates as the season went on.

They witnessed the public execution of a man who had connections to the rebels who blew up a gas chamber in another camp.

The Story of Ten DaysThe Story of Ten Days• Levi contracted scarlet fever and was sent to Ka-Be.• He got a bunk of his own and was in a room with twelve other sick men. He

was supposed to have been there for forty days.• When the barber came, he received news of something happening out

west, but he was not sure what it was.• That day, the prisoners were told that they were being evacuated by the

Germans and would have to march twelve miles, most likely to their deaths.

• Alberto and Levi shared goodbyes and Alberto left while Levi was stuck in the hospital.

• Levi and the other patients in his room were left for dead when the others left.

• They cooked potatoes and tried to survive.• They ventured into the SS camp for supplies and found soup and beer.• While they were at the SS camp, some SS came back and killed eighteen

Frenchmen in the mess hall.• They found a cache of potatoes outside of the camp, and were not starving

to death anymore.• The Russians finally came and the prisoners were rescued.

Works CitedWorks Cited

Bauer, Jerry. Bauer, Jerry. LeviLevi. 12 Sep 2004 . 12 Sep 2004 <http://www.inch.com/%7Eari/levi1/html><http://www.inch.com/%7Eari/levi1/html>

Levi, Primo. Levi, Primo. Survival in AuschwitzSurvival in Auschwitz. New . New York: Touchstone, 1958.York: Touchstone, 1958.

Penhall, Susan. Penhall, Susan. The electrified border fence The electrified border fence at Auschwitzat Auschwitz. 12 Sep 2004 . 12 Sep 2004 <http://www.web.<http://www.web.

ukonline.co.uk/auschwitzpoland/ukonline.co.uk/auschwitzpoland/gallery.htm>gallery.htm>