In spite of all the enforced physical and mental primitiveness of the life in a concentration camp, it was possible for spiritual life to deepen.
Sensitive people who were used to a rich intellectual life may have suffered much pain (they were often of a delicate constitution),
but the damage to their inner selves was less.
They were able to retreat from their terrible surroundings to a life of inner riches and spiritual freedom.
Only in this way can one explain the apparent paradox
that some prisoners of a less hardy make-up often seemed to survive camp life better than did those of a robust nature.
In order to make myself clear, I am forced to fall back on personal experience.
Let me tell what happened on those early mornings when we had to march to our work site.
There were shouted commands: “Detachment, forward march! Left-2-3-4! Left-2-3-4! Left-2-3-4! Left-2-3-4!
First man about, left and left and left and left! Caps off!”
These words sound in my ears even now. At the order “Caps off!” we passed the gate of the camp, and searchlights were trained upon us.
Whoever did not march smartly got a kick. And worse off was the man who, because of the cold,
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