Punishment in Auschwitz.

The analysis of 275 extant punishment reports and 110 punishment rulings in reference to Auschwitz prisoners reveals a set of infractions (“crimes”) that were typical of concentration camps and that most frequently resulted in punishment under the regulations. The most prominent among them were attempting to obtain food – testifying eloquently to the prevalence of hunger – and shirking labor. Other reasons for punishment included the possession of extra clothing, money, or valuables; changing labor details without permission; sluggishness at labor; smoking; attempted suicide; being late for roll call; sabotage (which usually meant accidental damage); evading camp censorship when sending letters; altering prison clothing; and wearing the wrong insignia.

The prisoners themselves were frequently unaware of why they were being punished. Different punishments were applied for the same “offense.” For absence from the assigned working place, for instance, one prisoner was given five days of penal labor, another five nights in the standing cell, a third ten days of penal labor, while a fourth received a flogging consisting of 25 lashes.