On this topic broadly, read the autobiographical "Survival in Auschwitz" by Primo Levy. If I recall correctly, out of his original convoy of 700 souls, three su

On this topic broadly, read the autobiographical "Survival in Auschwitz" by Primo Levy. If I recall correctly, out of his original convoy of 700 souls, three survived. One insane detail I remember from that book is that there was a hospital in Auschwitz where some (lucky?) prisoners could convalesce before subsequently being worked to death. Levy himself was able to survive due to his skills as a chemist which the Nazi's put to use in a laboratory and was therefore able to work in relatively sheltered conditions.