Because the Germans needed the Sonderkommandos to remain physically able, they were granted much less squalid living conditions than other inmates: they slept in their own barracks and were allowed to keep and use various goods such as food, medicines and cigarettes brought into camp by those who were sent to the gas chambers.
Por mor de que os alemáns precisaban que mantivesen a súa capacidade física para o traballo, outorgáronselles condicións de vida moito menos sórdidas que outros reclusos: durmían no seus propios cuarteis e permitíaselles conservar e usar diversos bens como comida, menciñas e tabaco traídos ó campamento polos que eran enviados ás cámaras de gas.