Man's Search For Meaning - Viktor E. Frankl

MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANINGcuriosity to see whether their coats or shoes were notbetter than one's own. After all, their fates weresealed. But those who stayed behind in camp, whowere still capable of some work, had to make use ofevery means to improve their chances of survival.They were not sentimental. The prisoners saw themselvescompletely dependent on the moods of theguards - playthings of fate - and this made them evenless human than the circumstances warranted.In Auschwitz I had laid down a rule for myselfwhich proved to be a good one and which most of mycomrades later followed. I generally answered allkinds of questions truthfully. But I was silent aboutanything that was not expressly asked for. If I wereasked my age, I gave it. If asked about my profession,I said "doctor," but did not elaborate. The first morningin Auschwitz an SS officer came to the paradeground. We had to fall into separate groups of prisoners:over forty years, under forty years, metalworkers, mechanics, and so forth. Then we wereexamined for ruptures and some prisoners had to forma new group. The group that I was in was driven toanother hut, where we lined up again. After beingsorted out once more and having answered questionsas to my age and profession, I was sent to anothersmall group. Once more we were driven to another hutand grouped differently. This continued for some time,and I became quite unhappy, finding myself amongstrangers who spoke unintelligible foreign languages.Then came the last selection, and I found myself backin the group that had been with me in the first hut!74