The conditions that Levi faced at Auschwitz and how he handles shows the struggle of the basic survival instinct. The entrance sign that was at Auschwitz had the phrase on it “Arbeit Macht Frei” which roughly translates to “work will set you free.” This phrase has been seen in almost every documentary about Auschwitz. It was to inspire hope in the arriving prisoners, but it was nothing more than a lie to keep them motivated to work. Near the end of Levis days at Auschwitz, he and the remaining prisoners are left to fend for themselves as the Soviets approach. It was the winter season and with conditions rapidly deteriorating at the camp, many began to die from illness. When scene, however, easily depicts the main theme of survival from Levis …show more content…
Bardach provides us with personal information regarding how his Jewish heritage made him feel unwelcome among the locals in Poland. He felt as if they weren’t as trusting, always referred to him as a “nice Jewish boy” when he was young various other activities. (Bardach 19) He was an outsider from the beginning due to his heritage, even among his townspeople. Levi does provide us with accounts of anti-sematic actions taken against the Jewish population in the camp, but it’s largely unknown if he had to deal with it in his personal life before being sent away to Auschwitz. Another important factor in contrast was how Hitler and Stalin organized these camps. Stalin saw a huge benefit in slave labor. He careful organized many gulags around the USSR with the purpose of using this free resource of slave labor to build the Soviet infrastructure. This is seen in the sentencing of Bardach, when given ten years of penal service in a gulag to atone for his crime. Hitler had a different plan were the entire Jewish European race would be wiped out and would be the prime accomplishment of the Third Reich. This is evident during Levis visit to the clinic. He meets a non-Jewish pole that exclaims in broken German after examining Levi physical anatomy that “Du Jude, kaput. Du schnell Krematorium fertig” (Levi 49) What he said was “You Jew, finished. You soon ready for crematorium” which really sets the tone for these death camps. If you found yourself there, you’re good as