One labor camp commander .
near Auschwitz was well known for treating his inmates properly. When a prisoner asked .
him why he was kind to them, since all prisoners would eventually be murdered, he simply .
replied, "I hope there will be enough among us to prevent that. " .
When the Jews first arrived at camp, they were either sent to the right or to the left by .
an SS selection officer. If they were sent to the left, they were immediately executed. If they .
were sent to the right, they were spared for the moment but were sent to a living hell. New .
arrivals were first shaved head to foot. If females were lucky, their hair was cut off with .
electric clippers. If not, it was cut off with scissors. The prisoners were next "disinfected. " .
Disinfection was just a way of humiliating and degrading the Jews. They had to stand naked .
while stinky, sticky sludge was sprayed on them. They were allowed to shower it off. After .
the showers, they were given clothes to wear. The men were given pajama-like trousers and .
shirts, while the women wore dresses of a blue-and-gray striped material with matching caps. .
For shoes, the men and women were provided with wooden clogs. However, if the camps .
were crowded, prisoners had to wear leftover clothing from previous prisoners that had been .
killed. These clothes ranged from ball gowns to army uniforms. Each and every prisoner's .
clothes had a triangular piece of colored cloth identifying his or her category. Jews had two .
triangles making a Star of David. Prisoners were also assigned a number that was tattooed .
on the left forearm. Occasionally, it was set on the back or the chest. A limit was set on the .
numbers used for the tattoos. When the limit was met, the SS used the numbers of prisoners .
that had already died. The tattoos were applied under nonsterile conditions and most of the .
tattoos that were put on became infected. .
The prisoner's daily routine was also full of pain and humiliation.