History of Sorts

The photograph above is of a selection in Auschwitz-Birkenau. It looks horrendous enough when you look at it, but if you analyze it, the horrors become so real.

Firstly, it is clear that the line on the left will not show the end of that day. They are doomed to go into the gas chambers. At the very front, a woman is holding a baby; behind her is a young boy. They are both looking to the line on the right; I presume there is a family in that line belonging to them.

Between the two SS men in front of that line, you can see an old woman with fear in her eyes, not knowing what will happen to her.

Then, on the left, next to the row, there are several men in striped outfits, undoubtedly Kapo’s assisting in the selection. You could become angry with them for doing that, but if they didn’t, the SS would murder them, and the outcome for all the women and children in the row would not have changed.

The selections were among the most cynical crimes committed by the Nazis, as victims were still given hope.

Never again.