While at the Buna work camp just after New Year's, 1945, Elie is stricken with a swollen foot caused by the cold of the bitter winter weather. When he goes to the infirmary, the kindly Jewish doctor tells him he needs an operation. The operation is successful but the doctor informs him he will need two weeks to recover. During this time he is in a bed next to an extremely emaciated man with dysentery...
While at the Buna work camp just after New Year's, 1945, Elie is stricken with a swollen foot caused by the cold of the bitter winter weather. When he goes to the infirmary, the kindly Jewish doctor tells him he needs an operation. The operation is successful but the doctor informs him he will need two weeks to recover. During this time he is in a bed next to an extremely emaciated man with dysentery who preaches doom and gloom. He keeps telling Elie that the selection is worse in the hospital and the Germans don't want any invalid Jews.
While Elie is resting in the hospital, news that the Russian army is closing in goes around the camp. Guns are heard nearby. The camp is ordered to be evacuated, but those in the infirmary are told they will stay behind. The man with dysentery tells Elie that they will all soon be shot and another man believes the camp will be mined. Elie has a difficult decision. He and his father can stay behind or be evacuated. The father leaves it up to Elie and he decides to leave. It is a fateful decision. Later, Elie discovers the infirmary was liberated by the Russians only a few days later. At Buchenwald, where they eventually end up, Elie's father dies.
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