Vladek’s Intelligence and How he Survived the Holocaust

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1. Possessing intelligence was vital for Vladek, since every move he took would mean life or death. Vladek knew if he wanted to survive in the concentration camps, he must make clever actions and have inside information on what the Nazis were planning. Since Vladek knew English, he started teaching it to a Nazi who worked at his concentration camp and befriended him. His Nazi friend informed Vladek on what was going to happen to the Jews, and how he could survive. Vladek’s intelligence is the main reason he survived throughout the Holocaust, and his intelligence also saved the life of his wife. 2. Vladek learned many skills before the Holocaust that guided him throughout his life during the Holocaust. Vladek knew that he could use his skills to help him survive. First, Vladek taught English which resulted in not only survival, but Vladek also acquired clothing of his choice which almost no other person in his concentration had the privilege to do. After teaching English, Vladek found an occupation as a shoe repairman in the concentration camps. Vladek’s wife, Anja, was greatly mistreated by a female Nazi general, and Anja noticed that the general’s shoes were torn. Anja informed the general that her husband could repair her shoes, and after Vladek fixed the general’s shoes, the general was nice to Anja and brought her extra food. 3. Vladek’s life during the Holocaust was gruesome, but regardless of what was happening in his own life Vladek was always thinking about the safety of Anja. Vladek loved Anja dearly, if anything happened to Anja Vladek would not care about his own life, and lose the will to live. When Anja and Vladek were separated in the concentration camp, Vladek found a woman and asked her if she knew if Anja is... ... middle of paper ... ...ho helped Vladek communicate with Anja also received food from Vladek since she was helping him out. Even though Vladek didn’t need to, he still supported his friends and family even when he was the one who was in need of support. 7. Vladek’s skill of being persuasive helped him throughout his hard times. Vladek persuaded Anja’s father to buy him a textile company, which helped Vladek later on. Vladek also persuaded a family to put him into hiding using the money he got from the textile company. When Vladek wanted to escape his current home to move to Turkey, Anja refused. Vladek successfully persuaded Anja, and changed Anja’s answer from defiantly not to let’s do it. Vladek even persuaded a Nazi soldier whom Vladek was teaching English to, to give Vladek and his relative new clothing. 8. Despite Vladek’s good qualities, he also had a nervous outlook on things.

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