What occupation did elie and his father gave the SS officer at Birkenau?

At Birkenau, Elie and his father told the SS officer that they were a farmer and a shopkeeper, respectively. This was an attempt to present themselves as useful individuals who could contribute to the labor force in the camp. Their response was part of a desperate effort to avoid being sent to the gas chambers, highlighting the survival instinct that drove many to lie about their identities and skills during the Holocaust.