The freedom to make choices, like picking our clothes, meals, or charities to support, is something we often take for granted. However, in the camps, nothing could be assumed. The power to decide took on a whole new meaning. Many choices in the camps meant life or death, and prisoners were often scared to make them. For instance, they might be ordered to go to another camp, but they were kept in the dark about the true purpose of the transfer. Guards called these “rest camps,” but prisoners couldn’t be sure they weren’t headed to the gas chambers.

When prisoners realized they were being moved, some desperately tried to change this decision. They hoped that working harder for their captors, like volunteering for extra shifts, might help. However, there was uncertainty about whether the new camp would bring relief, and many prisoners chose not to intervene in their fate.

Others were determined to hold onto their freedoms and seized any chance to make decisions. Despite their miserable conditions, they tried to live by their values. Their spiritual life remained intact, and they upheld high moral standards. For example, some shared their bread with those in greater need, even when they were hungry themselves.