00:00In the general confusion of lining up, Josef's father found a large sack,
00:04and with a stern warning to keep absolutely quiet, placed his child in it.
00:09The sack, containing the father's leather crafting tools and some clothing,
00:14allowed Schleifstein to be smuggled into the camp undetected by the guards.
00:18For a time, Schleifstein was hidden by his father with the help of two anti-fascist German
00:23prisoners, but he was eventually discovered. However, his life was spared, in part because
00:29the Germans valued Israel's craftsmanship, and in part because they took a liking to the child.
00:35The SS guards came to treat Josef as a camp mascot, and even had him appear at morning roll calls,
00:41wearing a child-sized striped uniform. During these roll calls, he would salute the guard
00:46and report, all prisoners accounted for.
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