The Tattooist of Auschwitz: Chapter 22 Summary & Analysis

That summer, Lale spends as much time as possible with Gita. Meanwhile, new prisoners continue to arrive, overcrowding the camp and creating tension, since the prisoners who have been there longest don’t want to share the perks they’ve managed to win for themselves. Because of this, fights break out, though Gita and Lale generally avoid conflict. In particular, Lale stays away from any kind of tension, noticing that he’s able to exist rather peacefully in his life with the Romany prisoners. However, Lale wakes one night to the sounds of chaos outside his block. When he opens his door, he sees that the SS officers are taking the Romany prisoners away. Horrified, Lale sees Nadya and he tells her not to leave, but she says she has no choice, adding, “I go where my people go. Goodbye, my friend, it’s been…” Before she can finish, a guard yanks her away.

The next day, Lale and Leon are tattooing prisoners when Mengele appears and he begins examining the new arrivals. Eventually, he approaches Lale and he says that perhaps today he will take him away, though after a moment he chuckles and moves on. Just as Mengele leaves, a piece of ash from the nearby crematorium lands on Lale’s head. Suddenly, he can’t contain himself. “You bastards, you fucking bastards!” he yells, beginning to cry. Leon tries to silence him, but it’s no use. Immediately, Mengele returns, asking what’s going on. Coming to Lale’s aid, Leon tells the doctor that there’s nothing to worry about, saying that Lale’s tattoo stick merely broke. When Mengele addresses Lale to ask if he wants him to examine him, Lale looks away, prompting Mengele to point out that he could shoot Lale for doing this. Gathering his emotions, Lale apologizes, and Mengele slowly walks away.