The politics of the camps superceded the general war effort time and time again, showing us how basic human dynamics outweighed the propaganda shoved down the throats of the respective militaries ("Illusion").
Special interest prisoners were held in higher regards as well. Any prisoner who had something unique to offer the Germans were taken care of. The young boys who were molested were kept well fed, as well as the younger, more attractive women of the camp. Considering the fact that the German soldiers were usually surrounded by men, anyone who could satisfy their sexual urges were made sure not to die. In the illustrated book "Maus", the author describes his experiences in Auschwitz and how he was able to survive. As a goldsmith who was trained in crafting intricate jewelry, he bribed prison officials with his handicraft in order to maintain a more comfortable living atmosphere. His skill kept him alive, well fed, and sheltered from the other prisoners, who might have killed him out of jealousy had they learned about his extraordinary privileges. The politics in the camps, while minimalist, were more influential on the prisoners than the broader scope of the war (Spiegelman, 47).
The value that the Jews placed on items was drastically changed during the war as well. At home, they valued security, nourishment, and shelter, but they took it for granted, never thinking that it would be stripped away. Their focus lied in material objects that were unnecessary for survival, such as rugs, lamps, jewelry, and other temporal matters. Near the begginning of the book, right before the Jews were shipped away from their homes, a small flea market had taken place. One merchant had been selling handwoven rugs, a much sought after commodity, as they were very expensive and beautiful to look at. These people were so optimistic of their well being they never considered that all of their earthly comforts were unimportant in the grand scheme of the war.
