The Chapter begins with Spiegelman paralleling the events in the life of Anja and Vladek and his own milestones. It then moves very quickly to the critical and commercial success of ‘Maus’ and the complex questions that its publication presented – questions which Spiegelman is unable to definitively answer.
The clip below explores the origins of Auschwitz and explains how the camp was built and how it worked.
Spiegelman describes the selection process where those capable of still working for the Nazis were spared and others were sent “to the left”
Vladek goes on to describe the Crematoria at Auschwitz and the process through which the Jews were first gassed and then cremated.
Study Questions
- Why does Spiegelman begin this Chapter with a summary of what is to come?
- What does Vladek explain has happened to friendship?
- Vladek explains why the Jews didn’t resist the atrocities in Auschwitz. What are the reasons he gives?
'Maus' - A Survivor's Tail 