So by now the prisoners are in the middle of the evacuation, in a snowstorm. The SS guards fire at anyone who cannot keep up. Elie is next to a Polish boy named Zalman, who gets a stomache cramp and falls behind. Elie can only hope the worst for him. It appears as if death is drawing closer, and the only thing motivating Elie is the thought of his father.
After covering tens of miles, they are finally allowed to rest. Many prisoners find their way into a brick factory, including Elie and his father. Elie falls asleep. They are forced back outside, and re-enter a shed. They sit there for a little while. A rabbi walks in, looking for his son. Elie says he hasn't seen his son, but then remembers that he had seen his son purposely run away from him. He prays to God that he doesn't become like the son.
They start to march once more. They walk for hours until they reach Gleiwitz, in which they are thrown into overcrowded barracks where they are forced to lay on top of eachother. But here he heres the voice of his frend Juliek. But the man on top of Elie almost suffocates him and he barely frees himself. He heres the sound of Juliek's violin. The next day Juliek is dead.
After three days in the barracks without food or water, they are forced to march once more away from the advancing Russians. Another selection is made, and Elie's father is chosen. Elie manages to distract the Germans and his father sneaks back over. They wait for the train, eat their bread, and melt snow for water. The trains arrive.
That's a little odd. Elie prays to God for something. What God? The God that he belittled and questioned so much?
Here is what I think. The Russian advancement not only gives hope to the Jews for freedom, but the thought of freedom and hope gives the Jews a revitalization of their faith. Elie manages to keep his father with him. This can only play out as an advantage as things progress (that is, if he can keep out of trouble). It almost seems as if things are getting better perhaps?
After covering tens of miles, they are finally allowed to rest. Many prisoners find their way into a brick factory, including Elie and his father. Elie falls asleep. They are forced back outside, and re-enter a shed. They sit there for a little while. A rabbi walks in, looking for his son. Elie says he hasn't seen his son, but then remembers that he had seen his son purposely run away from him. He prays to God that he doesn't become like the son.
They start to march once more. They walk for hours until they reach Gleiwitz, in which they are thrown into overcrowded barracks where they are forced to lay on top of eachother. But here he heres the voice of his frend Juliek. But the man on top of Elie almost suffocates him and he barely frees himself. He heres the sound of Juliek's violin. The next day Juliek is dead.
After three days in the barracks without food or water, they are forced to march once more away from the advancing Russians. Another selection is made, and Elie's father is chosen. Elie manages to distract the Germans and his father sneaks back over. They wait for the train, eat their bread, and melt snow for water. The trains arrive.
That's a little odd. Elie prays to God for something. What God? The God that he belittled and questioned so much?
Here is what I think. The Russian advancement not only gives hope to the Jews for freedom, but the thought of freedom and hope gives the Jews a revitalization of their faith. Elie manages to keep his father with him. This can only play out as an advantage as things progress (that is, if he can keep out of trouble). It almost seems as if things are getting better perhaps?
We were masters of nature, masters of the world. We had forgotten everything-death, fatigue, our natural needs. Stronger than cold or hunger, stronger than the shots and the desire to die, condemned and wandering, mere numbers, we were the only men on earth.
2 comments:
I love your picture!
It really captures the whole situation in one sight.
People were locked up inside because of what the Germans were doing to them. It was very tough for people to break the chains and stand up for themselves without the fear of being killed.
I agree with Dave C., your picture was great as was your end quote. You captured the section well.
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