Survival in Auschwitz (If this is a man) Chapter 14 Summary

Kraus

  • It's now November, and it's been raining a lot, so the camp is like a swamp.
  • The prisoners are miserable, working without any protection from the weather and digging a big hole in the mud in the cold rain.
  • Primo is working with a guy named Kraus, who is Hungarian and doesn't understand German or French. He also works way too fast, and is in danger of exhausting himself.
  • As the group starts to march back to the huts, marching to the beat, Kraus loses time because he's trying to chat in German with Primo.
  • To help keep Kraus in time, Primo tells him of a dream he's had: that they're both together at Primo's place in Italy, and they're warm with plenty of food to eat.
  • Kraus chatters to him in Hungarian (which Primo doesn't understand). He seems to be more energized.
  • Primo has made up this entire dream. He doesn't think Kraus will last very long in camp.