Primo Levi
Primo Levi is the main character of the story and author the memoir. The story takes place when Levi, an Italian Jewish man, is 24 years old. He is arrested by Italy’s Fascist government and…
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Alberto
Alberto is an Italian Jewish man and Levi’s best friend. Alberto arrives at Auschwitz in the same convoy as Levi and the pair spend as much time as they can together, working in the…
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Lorenzo
Lorenzo is an Italian citizen who smuggles food and clothing to Levi at Auschwitz each day. Although such contact is illegal and strictly punished, Lorenzo risks helping Levi anyway out of simple compassion, receiving no…
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Null Achtzehn
Null Achtzehn is a young Jewish man who works briefly with Levi at Auschwitz until he drops a large piece of metal on Levi’s foot, seriously injuring him. Null Achtzehn has ceased to be a…
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Kraus
Kraus is a young Hungarian Jewish man who briefly works alongside Levi at Auschwitz. Although Levi can see that Kraus must be an excellent civilian since he is earnest, hard-working, and honest, Levi knows that…
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Get the entire Survival in Auschwitz LitChart as a printable PDF.
Henri
Henri is a young, frighteningly astute Jewish man who survives Auschwitz by learning how to manipulate various people, eliciting their compassion and making them believe he is their most genuine friend. Levi describes Henri to…
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Alfred L.
Alfred L. is an older Jewish man, who, though thin and weak-looking, manages to survive and set himself apart from his comrades at Auschwitz by keeping himself as groomed and proper-looking as it is possible…
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Schepschel
Schepschel is a Jewish man who survives Auschwitz by demeaning himself for others’ amusement—and their reward—and betraying his comrades to gain favor in the eyes of his Kapo. Levi describes Schepschel’s method of survival to…
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Elias Lindzin
Elias Lindzin is a Jewish man who is short, stout, powerful, and potentially insane. Seemingly untiring and several times stronger than most of his fellow prisoners at Auschwitz, Elias’s strength distinguishes him from his peers…
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Resnyk
Resnyk is a large Polish Jewish man who shares a bunk with Levi at Auschwitz and works for a time in the same Kommando. Although most prisoners, including Levi, occupy themselves with lessening their…
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Alex
Alex is a German prisoner, a “professional delinquent” who is placed in charge of the Chemical Kommando at Auschwitz, though he himself is not a chemist nor particularly intelligent. Alex proves to be a coward…
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Jean Levi
Jean is a young Jewish man and member of the Chemical Kommando at Auschwitz alongside . Jean is an assistant to Alex and works diligently to keep Alex from following through on his worst urges…
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Doktor Pannwitz
Doktor Pannwitz is a German administrator at Auschwitz who tests Levi on his knowledge of chemistry so that he might work as a chemist in the camp’s laboratory. Although Levi speaks well and is clearly…
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Sómogyi
Sómogyi is a Jewish prisoner who dies in the infection ward on the day before the Russians arrive in Auschwitz. When Levi sees his emaciated corpse lying crumpled on the ground in the morning, he…
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Arthur
Arthur is a Frenchman whom Levi meets in the infection ward in the ten days between the Germans’ evacuation of Auschwitz and the Russians’ arrival. Arthur helps Levi and Charles to care for those in…
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Charles
Charles is a Frenchman whom Levi meets in the infection ward in the 10 days between the Germans’ evacuation of Auschwitz and the Russians’ arrival. Charles is the healthiest and strongest in the hut, and…
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Minor Characters
Steinlauf
An older Jewish prisoner at Auschwitz who chastises Levi for not washing himself daily. Like Alfred L., Steinlauf believes that preserving one’s body and hygiene is one of the few ways in which a prisoner can retain his sense of humanity and dignity.
