Summary

Chapter 19 jumps to 1943 and puts the reader back at Auschwitz-Birkenau where chapter 2 left off. Christopher is inwardly appalled at the happenings at Auschwitz, mainly the brutality of treatment from the guards to the prisoners. He works hard to hide his true feelings of discontent and disgust with the Reich’s mission and methods. Despite what he must do to protect himself and by extension Rebecca, Christopher tells one of the female prisoners to spread the word that now that he is in charge, things will be changing for the better. The female prisoner is skeptical but Christopher follows through on his promise to make the camp procedures and standards more humane. Christopher learns that his section of Auschwitz is nicknamed Canada, the land of untold riches.

Christopher institutes a ban on summary executions, citing a need for strict discipline and good workers, which...