Maus II- Chapters 3-5

The Russian army's front line was close, and afraid as they were, the Nazi's evacuated everyone from Auschwitz. They gave them each a small blanket, and a small amount of food, and they made them march. They marched for miles and miles, day and night, all they way to Germany. Those who walked too slow or who got tired, were shot and killed. They pushed them all into a train, and they had no idea of where they were going. The train stopped, however, they were not let out for days, and people began to die from starvation. Finally, the doors were opened and the soldiers told them to get rid of the dead. After they were cleared out, the living were put back into the train carts. They went to another camp, Dachau, where all Vladek's troubles had really began. There was lice everywhere, and if you had lice then you did not get any soup. Vladek had gotten an infection in his hand and he had the "privilege" or going to the infirmary. Here, he could have three meals a day, and a real bed. He met a Frenchman who was not a Jew, so the Nazi's would allow him to receive red cross packages. In these packages he would receive sardines, biscuits, and chocolate, and would share them with Vladek. This is what would save his life. After a few weeks, Vladek came down with Typhus and could not eat. He was sent to the infirmary, and finally his fever broke. Soon an announcement came that everyone strong enough to travel would be traded as war prisoners at the Swiss border. This time they were all put onto a passenger train, a real train to Switzerland. Anja had been sent to different camps, and had made it back to Sosnowiec faster than Vladek. The war had finally ended, and they were put back on the train to be met by Americans. Vladek and an old friend, Shivek, from before the war, stuck together and hid. They hid in a house until one day the Americans finally came. A few months later, they moved him, and was diagnosed with Diabetes. He made his way back to Anja, and the book finally finishes with him being buried next to her, and Artie's book finally being finished.