‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ Recap: ‘Episode 5’

6/6/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ -- Episode 105 -- Pictured: Jonah Hauer-King as Lali Sokolov in Auschwitz -- (Photo by: Martin Mlaka/Sky UK)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

When the world is embroiled in conflict against evil, it is easy for the general public to gauge how much longer evil will survive. For news reports will speak to what’s happening and showcase the failures of the bad guys. Giving the world hope, and understanding that soon conflict will end, and this is most certainly true of how things went in World War II. Since the news informed and educated folks about the success of Operation: Overlord, commonly known as D-Day, alongside reporting how the German War Machine was faltering as the Allies gained ground. But what we rarely hear or think about in such moments… are the people in the midst of the madness. Do they know they will soon be free? And if not, how then do they gauge whether or not evil is near collapse?

Well as it turns out, the next episode of The Tattooist of Auschwitz takes the time to explore the answers to those questions. For this next chapter in the story, took place during the summer and winter of 1944, wherein the Allies invaded Fortress Europe, and began their trek toward Berlin and showed incredible force at the Battle of the Bulge. But the folks inside Auschwitz, knew nothing of this. They merely went about their horrible day and placed hope in the possibility that some escaped prisoners would speak to the world and tell them of the horrors happening within the walls of Auschwitz. For… there was no news coming in, and that was all they could cling to. But they did get a sense that the end was nigh for the Third Reich while the assault on the Nazis continued far away.

Because when evil begins to crumble, begins to falter, it gives off its own stench of weakness. One that motivates people to challenge it, and that certainly happened here. Since Lali was able to help one of the escapees, who sadly was brought back, by hiding their original tattoo so there would be no punishment for escaping. Something that should have been caught, but worry was the order of the day in Auschwitz for the Nazi scum in charge. In fact, there was so much worry about the Allied advance that Gita and the other women were able to protect a life. For one of the women in their complex was pregnant and eight months along. But through kindness and care, and even the sacrifice of a life, that baby made it and gave everyone hope for a better tomorrow. All of which were stunning challenges to the system, and successful because truly, things were falling to pieces high up.

But while that makes it seem as though Lali and Gita’s stories were going to end in a beautiful manner, with the Reich collapsing around them, history informs us that was not the case. For the Nazis knew they were losing ground, and they resorted to desperate measures to maintain control and harbor leverage. Which meant moving prisoners into the interior of the country in the hopes of using them in that manner. That brought about a farewell to Auschwitz for Lali and Gita, and likely a farewell series wise for Stefan. Since Lali left him behind during his exit in a distressed state. For Stefan was filled with fear because he was cognizant of the horrors of his own actions. But what mattered more in this segment, is that Lali and Gita never finished their marches, for they each escaped into the world, leaving us to wonder what came next for them since Gita just keep going into the woods and Lali, made tense friends with the Russian Army.

All of which made for another fascinating episode from this series. Since this story didn’t end as so many in this vein do. For there was no liberation and poignant reflection. Just more tough days, and more lack of knowledge, and a fight ahead, and outright realism. For this undoubtedly was how so many prisoners in these death camps experienced the final days of the Reich, and it was wonderful to learn that resistance was at an all-time high and that those who showed a measure of humanity received no agency or forgiveness. For their crimes and complacency far outweighed one shred of kindness, and well… now that Lali and Gita are out into the world at last, it will be interesting to see what they experienced in the final days of the Third Reich… and how they finally came together to be husband and wife. Until next time.

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