Serene Seven
Directions: Read & annotate the following passage. This is a nonfiction source, which means we
are annotating for the author's claim. As you read, keep an eye out and highlight where you see
nonfiction strategies being used.
Resistance at Auschwitz: Oral History Transcript
Below is a transcript of an interview with Magda Herzberger (MH), a Holocaust survivor, who was taken from her
home in Cluj, Romania in 1940 and forced into the Cluj Ghetto, and soon after sent to Auschwitz. In this excerpt
from and extensive interview with Sara Leuchter (SL), Magda discusses her experience at Auschwitz and what helped
her survive. The interview was conducted by archivist Sara Leuchter on July 21, 22, and August 27, 1980.
1. SL: Do you recall any resistance that may have taken place while you were there? What was
your feeling on resisting?
2. MH: Now, as far as resistance, in order to have a resistance you need weapons. I think if we
would have had weapons, there would have been a resistance. Now, I don‘t know what
happened in the other camps because, you see, between the camps there were gates. You could
not go out by yourself through the gates. The only people who could go out through the gates
were the ones who were carrying the food. So if you were not in that group, you couldn‘t go.
Even if you carried the food, you were accompanied by guards. I mean, what can you do? So
if you didn‘t go out, how could you get access to any weapons? In order that we should not
have any weapons, do you know what [utensils] we had for food? Did you ever see the things
that the army has here? It was a natural [metal] container and it was square, like that, and then
you could attach it to your clothing [with a string]. I don‘t even know if we had a spoon. No,
we had to drink our food from the container, so that you did not get any utensils, like a knife.
Who would give a knife? If we would have [had] knives, I think we would have made a
revolution, even with a knife.
Opening Claim
3. But we knew that the only way to survive in Auschwitz was, if you keep your mouth shut and
you take everything, because otherwise you were dead. If we would have [had] weapons, we
would have started shooting. Probably I would have started shooting. I don‘t know how I
would have reacted, but who knows, if you have a weapon?
4. For instance, when I was in Auschwitz and I tried to keep my sanity. How did I keep it, after
the initial stage from deep depression? And that was terrible, all the things that you had to take
there, you feel that you have no way out. As long as you feel that you have no way out and
you are trapped, you are depressed. If you don‘t shake off that feeling, then you are going to
die there.
Subclaim
5. So it was very hard on the other hand to shake off that feeling, because that was the reality.
So there again, it was my imagination. I had to live in a kind of a fantasy land, and this is what
Ms. Wharton - 7th Grade Writing
Serene Seven
is nice about spiritual freedom. That was the only freedom we had there. No one could control
my thoughts, and thoughts can be very strong. Thoughts can change your attitude.
Subclaim
LLP: It was important for prisoners to keep their mental and spiritual freedom so not to be
trapped by depression.
6. So, I had an idea. I said to myself, ―There must be a way of escaping from here. And naturally
the only weapon you had was this metal thing [lunch container]. But I thought, "Why can‘t I
take down this metal thing, somehow go nearer to the guard, hit him on his head, [dress]
myself in his clothes, take his gun. I never was using a gun but I was bold. But they would
have caught me in no time, you know. But I thought I can take his cap and escape.
7. And I was so preoccupied with that [fantasy], that it really helped me, so that I don‘t feel the
pain. Just like, for instance, [when] you are involved in something and you forget about time,
or for a moment you are so much involved that you can take even pain. And I carried this idea
and I was looking at the camp, [thinking], how would it be possible [to escape]? And that [is
what] was going on really with me. All the time that I was in Auschwitz I thought I must plan
my escape, there must be a way.
8. Because if I would tell to myself there‘s no way, I would die, and I would lose my desire to
fight, my desire to live, under those circumstances.
9. So there were very few cases that [prisoners] could [escape]. I don‘t think [there was any]
resistance. I didn‘t experience any revolution in Auschwitz while I was there. I don‘t know
what happened in the other camps. There were instances when people tried to escape from
Auschwitz, and then it was a big thing. [If] somebody was missing, then we had to stand in
line for hours. They were searching, the dogs went there, it was a horrible thing.
10. I was thinking, my God, if they catch the person [men or women prisoners, and] sometimes
they did, they were hanging [them] in public, they were beating them. All were beaten to death.
It was horrible to escape. When you have seen that, I think they made their point, because it
just proved to you that if you escaped you are going to be mutilated or die, and [be] tortured
before that even, just to give a good example. But I heard that there were instances when
really, very rarely, somebody did escape. Now [they] must have had inside help. Without that,
there was absolutely no chance. How many people had access to inside help? So it was a
situation where really there was no way to resist.
Subclaim
LLP: Similar to Wiesel’s memory, prisoners who rebelled were put to death publicly as a
warning to others
11. Then another thing. Not only did you need weapons in resisting, you also had to have the
strength. And we were not that strong maybe, physically; or maybe physical strength means
you are strong mentally, that you have physical strength. But so many of the people were sick.
They had scarlet fever, you know, and typhus, and were dying, and others had to work and dig
there and drag corpses, and being beaten and pushed around. Having no weapons, I don‘t see
how you could make a revolution in Auschwitz. I don‘t know what happened [in other places],
again.
Ms. Wharton - 7th Grade Writing
Serene Seven
12. But you see Auschwitz was a terrible camp. I don‘t think I could have escaped in my second
camp either, or in my third one. I didn‘t see any way. It was suicidal. I don‘t see how I,
personally, without any inside connections, without any weapons, could ever have had the
resistance. And the others were in the same predicament. So that‘s it.
13. SL: With so little chance of successful resistance and escape, how did you survive?
14. I chose life, I made a sacred promise to the Almighty, my Creator, that I would fight fiercely
to stay alive and I asked God to give me strength and the courage to overcome my doubts and
fears, to be strong enough to continue to bear my suffering and keep on fighting for my life.
Strangely, after my resolve to choose life, a peaceful feeling descended upon me, and although
my situation didn't change at that time, my faith in God gave me hope.
Subclaim
LLP: Faith gave Magda optimism, hope, and strength which she attributes to her survival.
Author’s
Claim
LLP: Herzberger, an Aushwitz survivor, recalls the devastation in not being able to stand up
or escape, but believes her spiritual freedom and faith in God kept her hopeful and
optimistic about survival.
What is the author’s purpose? How do we know? What strategy does she use to advance her
purpose?
Ms. Wharton - 7th Grade Writing