The Librarian of Auschwitz

Dita wonders, not for the first time, why the Family Camp exists and why they are still alive. If only she could listen against the walls of the officers’ mess, she would hear Mengele and Schwarzhuber discuss the reason for the existence of the camp. Their conversation, full of condescension and cruelty toward each other, reveals that the camp exists in case the Red Cross inspects Auschwitz. It’s a dummy camp to show the Red Cross that the prison isn’t killing people and treats them well under the circumstances of war.

In his capacity of registrar, Rudi learns that the September transport, which includes his girlfriend, Alice, is due for “special treatment,” which means death. He enlists Alice to find out how many people are in that group. When she tells him, he begins to plan an uprising. Meanwhile, Hirsch tells Dita, who is confused by the sudden movement of people, that not everything in Auschwitz is as it seems, and there will come a time when the truth will be known. He tells her he can’t be there to help her win the game but to never lose hope.

The morning dawns, and the people from the September transport are gathered together.