“Auschwitz. A Monograph of the Human”. Part 7. Laught and Joy

Transcription of the podcast

The book ‘Auschwitz. A Monograph on the Human’ is the first of its kind in the world to try to depict human emotions within the reality of Auschwitz camp. Its author, Museum Director Dr. Piotr Cywiński, draws on fragments of memoirs and testimonies from more than 450 Survivors. It is the words of these direct witnesses that form the basis of this reflection on the human condition amid the process of dehumanization at the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz. In the podcast, we present ten chapters of this unique story about humanity facing the most extreme test.

Part 7. Laughter and Joy
Read by Grey Stafford

Continuing the subject of behaviours and reflexes inconsistent with the intentions of the creators of the concentration camp system, we should also consider laughter, elation, wittiness, irony and other similar reactions that allowed prisoners to distance themselves from the realities of the camp. It is very clear that laughter had no right to exist in Auschwitz, since such behavior was contrary to the policy of dehumanization. Nonetheless, there was also room from that type of reaction to the everyday brutality.

Jerzy Brandhuber
“The worst experiences prevailed in the lives of prisoners, but occasionally there were some cheerful moments”.

Viktor Frankl
“… one could find a sense of humor there as well; of course, only the faint trace of one, and then only for a few seconds or minutes. Humor was another of the soul’s weapons in the fight for self-preservation”.

Public laughter, mockery, various forms of humiliation were among the attributes of prisoner functionaries. To beat up and kick a prisoner was usually not enough, it was almost a ritual to crown the beating with laughter of self-satisfaction. Ordinary prisoners, by contrast, very rarely laughed in public. An overt expression of happiness could provoke the irritation of a functionary or SS man and put the prisoner in serious danger.

Engelbert Fajkosz
“Only prominents were allowed to laugh. For ordinary prisoners it was not permitted and to do so was almost sacrilegious”.

The private humor of individuals was quite another matter. There are very few specific examples in prisoners’ accounts, probably for fear of being understood literally, or rather misunderstood. Nevertheless, there are consistent accounts mentioning the emergence of gallows humor in the camp, which in normal circumstances would arouse distaste or even outrage. However, this should not be surprising since specific types of humor normally emerge in some communities that is only understood within those communities. For instance, as there is a specific sense humor among surgeons or undertakers, so too a very specific sense of humor emerged in the very different world of the concentration camp to help prisoners abreact to its reality.

Engelbert Fajkosz
“Of course, the humor in the camp was specific, brutal and often cruel. Mirth was aroused by scenes that in normal circumstances would arouse only horror or disgust”.

Adolf Gawalewicz
“… in this macabre block [block 7 in Birkenau, Isolierstation] there existed in conformity with its atmosphere a gallows humor, or rather “gas chamber” humor. This type of humor is quite incomprehensible to people living in the normal world”.

Abraham Kajzer
“I looked—and still did not understand. The trail of grey smoke obscured the rest of the horizon before me. I looked hard, but apart from smoke I could see nothing. In the air I felt the sickening smell of something being burnt. I was so befuddled by my last experiences that it was difficult for me to collect my thoughts. The kapo looks at me and starts laughing like an animal. Chocking with laughter, he asks me: “What would you prefer? Burn in the oven, or fry out here in the open air?” I immediately understood, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over my head. I must have had a fierce expression on my face because the kapo paused for a moment, but then he continued his satanic laughter”.

Such humor was, of course, mainly enjoyed by prisoners who were in better physical and mental condition. Similarly to derisive laughter, so too camp jokes were mainly appreciated by more privileged prisoner groups.

Pierre Berg
“He came back with a smile and a few packs of Navy Cut, a British brand of cigarettes that an English POW had traded with the cook. “Gee, they smell delicious,” I told the Kapo. “You’re too young to smoke,” he said. “But not too young to burn.“ He laughed and handed me one”.

Accounts of such moments of good humor, like happiness, though beyond the realm of dreams and touching memories, are rare. But when they appear, the sheer contrast to the constant tension and fear in the camp, make them particularly memorable. They could be prompted by a letter or parcel received from home, news that someone close whom the prisoner thought was dead turned out to be alive in another part of the camp, being transferred to a Kommando with lighter indoors work or unexpectedly finding or organizing something that could significantly improve the prisoner’s chances of survival.

Edwin Kuffel
“On the first day in the Schreibstube—warm, with heating, no especially loud shouting, relatively mild treatment by the SS men—and with the prospect of a second bowl of camp dishwater, I was perfectly satisfied. And then, when in the evening I also received a parcel from home with a warm sweater, underwear and slippers, I virtually lacked nothing to complete happiness. I do not remember if ever in my life I was as close to total joy—neither before nor afterwards—as I was that evening. Yes, but happiness is a very relative concept”.

Viktor Frankl
“One evening, when we were already resting on the floor of our hut, dead tired, soup bowls in hand, a fellow prisoner rushed in and asked us to run out to the assembly grounds and see the wonderful sunset. Standing outside we saw sinister clouds glowing in the west and the whole sky alive with clouds of ever-changing shapes and colors, from steel blue to blood red. The desolate grey mud huts provided a sharp contrast, while the puddles on the muddy ground reflected the glowing sky. Then, after minutes of moving silence, one prisoner said to another, “How beautiful the world could be!”.”

With the few above mentioned examples, as in the cases of culture and learning, one must be aware that these were individual and particularly exceptional situations, seemingly within the margins of a statistical error, and yet they existed, they were remembered and confirmed in the accounts. The camp was a place incarcerating people of flesh and blood.

Zofia Kossak
“Having always a cheerful face in the camp requires more courage and strength of character than to die swiftly and beautifully”.

This was the seventh episode of the podcast based on the book by Dr Piotr Cywiński ‘Auschwitz. A Monograph on the Human’.
Read by Grey Stafford

The voices of the survivors were provided by volunteer narrators of the Auschwitz Memorial:
Toon Dreessen
Sarah Edwards
Greg Littlefield
Mike Skagerlind
Michael Takiff
Tom Vamos
Kate Hannah Weinrieb
and Therese McLaughlin

Adaptation for the podcast: Agnieszka Juskowiak-Sawicka
Introduction words: Paweł Sawicki
Music: JivexMusic

Testimonies and memoirs used into the podcast:
Jerzy Brandhuber (87122), Account in: Testimonies, vol. 76, p. 141.
Victor Frankl (119104), “Man’s Search For Meaning”, p. 54.
Engelbert Fajkosz (37629), „Byłem numerem 37629”, p. 157.
Adolf Gawalewicz (9225), „Reflections”, p. 70-71.
Abraham Kajzer (n.n.), „Za drutami śmierci”, pp. 32-33.
Pierre Berg (172649), “Scheisshaus Luck”, p. 120.
Edwin Kuffel (2237), Account in: Testimonies, vol. 29, p. 99.
Victor Frankl (119104), “Man’s Search For Meaning”, pp. 51.
Zofia Kossak (64491), “Z otchłani”, p. 249.