Survival in Auschwitz - The Nazi Assault on Humanity
Twenty five year old Primo Levi, a chemist (and poet) who was an Italian citizen of Jewish Race, was arrested for being a member of the anti-Fascist resistance by Italian fascists and taken from his native Turin in Northern Italy to Auschwitz. Along with about 650 others he was transported by freight train. There were 45 people in Primo's car. Only four of them saw their homes again. The trip took about 4 days and they were not given any food or water, and were not permitted to leave the train for any reason on its many stops. When they arrived at Auschwitz, Poland, they were subjected to the first of several selections into groups. The German SS soldiers divided them into two groups, the ones who could work and the ones who couldn't such as women, children, and older men. Husbands and wives were split from each other with the promise they would be together again later. One hundred and thirty-five on Levi's train went into Auschwitz and the rest straight to the gas chamber. Of the 650 or so people who went on the train with Primo, fifteen men and nine women survived. They were herded into the camp after being stripped naked and having their heads shaved. They
He got the right to a new shirt and underpants and a shave every Wednesday. The next morning the Nazis were gone. It was overcrowded with Haftlinge (prisoners) suffering from communicable diseases such as typhus and dysentery. The higher the number, the shorter the time they had been there. The dwindling numbers and the memories it caused made them quit doing this. Pick the chunks of cabbage, turnips, and potatoes out of the soup and trade it for bread. On January 11, 1945, Primo contracted scarlet fever and was sent back to Ka Be. They would also keep them between their knees when washing for the same purpose. These two days were filled with tedious tasks around the camp and were often the only time available to see to personal hygiene needs. This happens each and every night during every sleeping minute. Primo's number was 174517 (Hundert Vierundsiebzig Funf Hundert Siebzehn). were given old striped uniforms and shoes made of cloth with wooden souls to wear. Again, they were divided into two groups, Jews and non-Jews. Even though he was new to the camp, his own observations and his experience with others told him any protests or disobedience would end swiftly with a beating or death.
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