Oberscharführer Houstek Character Analysis in The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Houstek is the Oberscharführer (a senior-ranking Nazi officer) at Auschwitz-Birkenau. A terse and severe man, he approves of Pepan’s decision to appoint Lale as the assistant tattooist because he’s impressed by the fact that Lale can speak so many languages. Later, he becomes infuriated when Lale not only survives torture and escapes execution after getting caught smuggling food, but also regains his position as the tattooist, though he doesn’t interfere with this turn of events because Schwarzhuber—who outranks him—is the one who made the decision.

Oberscharführer Houstek Character Timeline in The Tattooist of Auschwitz

The timeline below shows where the character Oberscharführer Houstek appears in The Tattooist of Auschwitz. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Knowledge, Uncertainty, and Power Theme Icon

...have time to think about this because Pepan introduces him to an SS officer, Oberscharführer Houstek, who is their boss. Houstek comes up to Lale and he studies him, asking what... (full context)

Unity, Sacrifice, and Empathy Theme Icon

...weeks after tattooing prisoner 4562, Lale comes to work to find that Pepan isn’t there. Houstek tells Lale that he’ll be working alone and that he is now the Tätowierer, ignoring... (full context)

...puts his foot on Leon’s back and he keeps him from standing. At this point, Houstek comes over and he whispers in Baretski’s ear before walking away. Letting Leon stand, Baretski... (full context)

...heroically bending steel with his bare hands, performing for the onlookers. As he does this, Houstek approaches him and he watches for a moment before telling several SS officers to take... (full context)

...Lale can think of no response. Taking out their pistols, the officers march him to Houstek, who asks where Lale obtained so many valuable items. Lale says he received these things... (full context)

The SS officers guarding Lale bring him to Houstek and they explain that Jakub got nothing out of him. This irks Houstek, who instructs... (full context)

...the job—he’s been reinstated as the Tätowierer. He then warns Lale to steer clear of Houstek, who is extremely unhappy to hear that Lale hasn’t been executed. As Lale prepares for... (full context)