Chapters 11 through 16 Summary

The commander of the German Prisoner of War camp where Berel Jastow is interred is trying to balance two sets of orders. His name is Hoess and he is being told to build, using Russian prisoners as laborers, but is also being told to execute enemies of the state—the prisoners who are supposed to be laborers for his building projects. The camp—Auschwitz—is executing thousands and the commander is concerned about efficiency. This camp is to be the "main disposal center," though the commander is careful not to even think about his orders because they are so secret. The commander notes there are to be mass executions and there is a problem finding an adequate method. Shooting is unacceptable because of the cost in ammunition and the effect on firing squads. Massive doses of insecticides seem...