The Exodus from Birkenau

Now the time had come for the evacuation of Buna because of the advances of the Russian army against the Germans, bringing the fighting within hearing distance. Elie and his father had decided to leave the camp along with the other inmates going out. Each Blockälteste distributed double rations of bread and margarine to each inmate for the road. The journey would be long and the skimpy pieces of bread which Elie received certainly wouldn't last until their destination, so he decided to save them for later, thinking the nutrition would be needed for the road.

As Elie lay trying to sleep in his bunk for the last time, he started to bring back memories of all the other "last nights" which he had experienced since the start of his horrid trek. The last night at home, the last night in the ghetto, the last night in the train car, and then the last night in Buna. What an undesirable way to spend your valuable childhood, moving from place to place every few months, never having a true "home" and never knowing where the next stop would bring you. This aspect of Elie's story is one that might be often overlooked, but its significance is great because each place you stayed only represented another inhospitable place to sleep, but not a home, never a place with the love and comfortable atmosphere of a familiar home.

The next morning brought a strange sight, with each inmate who reappeared after entering the storehouse looking like a clown in the ratty, torn, and bulky new garments. Layers upon layers were worn to keep the cold away. As much clothing could be taken as each wanted, but the effectiveness of the inmates' new defenses against the cold quickly showed their flaws. The snow had begun during the night and continued to fall heavily throughout the day. Finally, after hours of waiting, the bell rang sounded the beginning of the march. Hundreds of SS officers appeared with their vicious police dogs from out of the darkness, lining the perimeter of the camp as the inmates processed out. Block by block they were lead out the gate. "Block 53... Block 55... Block 57, forward! March!" Elie and his father were on their way, leaving behind forever the inhumane living conditions which they endured at Buna and Birkenau.