Borowski's "Ladies and Gentlemen, to the Gas Chamber"

Upon arrival, the news of their death was kept from the people until the last minute because...

- They wanted to keep them under control, and avoid any rebellions or attempts at escape

- They didn't have the heart to tell them what they were about to do to them

- They needed to make sure the people would bring everything of value with them so that after they were killed, the Germans would be able to collect all of their valuables for their own profits

Note: Officers were described as healthy, well fed and clean because of their lack of involvement from all of the "dirty" work involved

Symbols

1. Red Cross Ambulance - carried the gas to the chambers that would in the end kill them; while the Red Cross is a symbol of health, hope and an international organization of taking care of people)

2. Crematorium - "smoke stack"

   - people themselves turned into the smoke/ashes

   - described like hell

   - described in normal terms "oh theres the door"

3. Women

   -represent humanity - the old woman smiles, the young woman embodies beauty and health and the

    crippled lady shows respect to those above her (calling him sir) even though they are doing terrible

    things to her

4. Lice
   -both the people and the lice are both being exterminated using the Cyclone B
   -Lice present an image of how easily the people can all be exterminated like pests to the "greater race"

Themes

Moral Dilemas - main character and his job

Never Ending Cycles - death, trains, lost hope

     "Whoever has once entered here will never again pass the sentry post, not even as a handful of ashes, will never return to his former life."

Note: Politeness in the story is mocked through the title and through the attitudes of the soldiers.