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Elie Wiesel is thirteen when he meets Moishe the Beadle. He studied for most of his time and was very religious.
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All foreign Jews are expelled from Sighet, including Moshe the Beadle. They are soon forgotten.
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One day Elie Wiesel encounters Moshe the Beadle sitting on a bench near the entrance of the synagogue. Moshe tells Elie about all that has happened. He tries to get the Jews of Sighet to listen to him.
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Life goes back to normal. Elie continues with his studies. The Jews of Sighet are hopeful as they hear news from London radio.
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The Jews of Sighet are not worried about the Germans, as they are hopeful that the war will end soon. Three days after they say that the Germans won't come that far, German vehicles arrive.
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On the seventh day of Passover, the Germans arrest the leaders of the Jewish community. A series of edicts follows. Eventually they are required to live in ghettos.
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Elie's father gives the news that the ghetto was to be liquidated and transports were to start the next day. They don't know where they are going.
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The Jews of Sighet are deported. Elie's family moves to the small ghetto. They are deported the next day.
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After a terrifying night, they stop at the Auschwitz station. They are given information about the camp, and are more hopeful.
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The train finally arrives at Birkenau. They see the flames that Mrs. Schachter had been screaming about. They are told to get out and leave everything inside.
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Elie tries to stay with his father. They head for the crematorium, but at the last minute are told to go to the barracks. This night affects Elie greatly.
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Elie and his father are expelled from their barracks in Birkenau to Auschwitz.
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They remain in Auschwitz, trying to stay together and avoid transports. They meet their relative, Stein, who is looking for news of his wife. He continues to visit them until he learns the real news.
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After all the skilled workers are gone, the rest of the prisoners leave with the next transport to Buna. Elie gets accustomed to his life there.
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Elie goes to the dentist to have his gold crown removed. He avoids it by pretending to be sick, and later the dentist is arrested for dealing the gold teeth for his own benefit.
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In the warehouse, Elie works next to a French woman. One day, when he is beaten, she speaks to him in perfect German, which surprises him.
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Franek, the foreman, beats Elie's father until he agrees to give him his crown.
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Elie witnesses Idek and a young Polish girl. Idek punishes Elie for what he saw by giving him twenty-five lashes.
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Before the bombing, a man tried to steal some soup, and was immediately shot. He was the only casualty, and the prisoners were hopeful after the bombing.
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Elie witnesses a series of executions. The one that impacts him the most is that of a young boy.
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The Jews observe the last day of the year. Elie has lost his faith in God.
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The selection takes place. Elie and his father avoid being selected.
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They had recorded Elie's father's number during the selection without him noticing. Elie is worried all day about his father. When he returns to the camp, he finds his father still alive.
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Akiba Drumer was selected. He had lost his faith and his will to live. He asks the prisoners to say Kaddish for him, which they forget to do.
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Elie has an operation for his injured foot and stays in the infirmary for a few weeks until the evacuation.
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The camp is emptied, and Elie leaves the infirmary so he isn't separated from his father.
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The prisoners are forced to run all the way to the Gleiwitz concentration camp. Many people die due to the cold weather and from exhaustion.
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The prisoners end their long journey to Gleiwitz.
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After playing his violin through the night, Juliek is shot and killed.
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The prisoners board a train. Elie's father narrowly avoids being thrown out, as they think he is dead. There is no food or water.
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Bread is thrown into the wagon, and a battle follows. The prisoners fight and kill for a crust of bread.
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The prisoners take a cattle car to Buchenwald and many of the Jews die from starvation.
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After days of sickness and suffering, Elie's father dies of dysentry and physical abuse from the other prisoners.
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The prisoners are told that the Germans plan to shoot them. The underground resistance of the camp made the decision not to abandon the Jews and to prevent their liquidation. The evacuation begins.
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The SS flees the camp and the resistance takes over. The Americans arrive at Buchenwald. Elie and the other prisoners at the camp are liberated by the American army.
