CHAPTER XII
CHRISTMAS 1944
Auschwitz I
On December 1st, the Germans ordered a glorious fir tree cut down from the woods nearby and brought to the camp’s inner courtyard, where the morning roll call was taking place.
This simple operation did not prove uneventful. Six people left for the woods: a former investment banker, currently a toothless shadow, a higher mathematics teacher and four Russian soldiers from the Red Army. They were all pulling a long, massive sled on wooden tracks. Two SS guards followed, accompanied by dogs. They were angry because it was very cold outside and still snowing, although the snow was already around 12 inches thick. It would be even worse out there in the woods, they were telling each other while pulling their hats over their ears and fixing their thick,
