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Wiesel Family in Sighet
Elie Wiesel was born and raised in Sighet, Romania. He was raised Jewish and took it upon himself to go to the synagogue to pray every day after school. -
Period: to
Timespan
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Jewish citizens lose rights and are deported.
Nazi Germany took control over the Jewish community in Sighet. The Nazis forced Jewish families into two separate ghettos to later be deported to a concentration camp in Auschwitz. -
Arrived in Birkenau- 1st Concentration Camp
The train carrying Elie and his family stopped at the Birkenau camp in Auschwitz. There was a test to see who would be qualified to work at the working camp. Elie and his father passed. Later that day they were given their "names" which would only be a set of numbers and letters. Elie's number was A-7713. The others who did not pass the test were sent to the crematorium and burned. After staying in Auschwitz for three weeks they were chosen to go to Buna. -
Arriving in Buna- 2nd Concentration Camp
After the long ride to Buna, the prisoners had to do the normal routine, Strip of everything they had, go through a hot shower, and be assigned to their new block. After Elie and his father went through the routine procedures, Elie was called for a medical examination. A dentist was hired to find gold teeth and pull them out. Elie had a gold crown, but after creating excuses, he agreed to give him his crown. Elie lost the crown for nothing due to the doctor being transferred to another camp. -
Buna- Air raid and the Execution
A few weeks after Elie lost his gold crown, there was an air raid. During the raid, there was two soup cauldrons filled with soup just sitting there. One man was desperate enough to get food; he walked over to the soup and was killed later for stealing extra food. Later that day all of the blocks were called to the middle of the camp to witness the execution of a young boy. This was a reminder to all of the prisoners, you could the smallest things and you would end up killed for it. -
Buna- Rosh Hashanah
During Rosh Hashanah, the camp held a service for all of the Jews to celebrate the New Year. Elie's father only shed one tear during the service and Elie couldn't believe it. Elie has changed from January; he lost all hope and faith. He is just a body, he doesn’t believe in religion anymore. On Yom Kippur, he didn't fast. One reason was to please his father by eating, and the other reason is because he doesn’t believe in religion anymore. -
Buna- Hostpital/ Evacuation
Elie 's right foot was infected and he was forced to go to the camps infirmary to get treated. While in the hospital, the front line was advancing and the camp was forced to evacuate. The Jews were forced to run 20 kilometers to a small run down village. It was snowing and most of the prisoners were wearing barley anything due to trying to keep up on the run. This was when Elie realized the people around him changed. People would do anything to stay alive; sons would turn against their fathers. -
Train to Buchenwald- 3rd Concentration Camp
After evacuating Buna, the Jews were sent on a train to Buchenwald. Each cattle car had 100 Jews in the car. Officials would throw pieces of bread into the car and people would fight over it and some were beaten to death to get a crumb. The officials came back when they were about to arrive at Buchenwald. This was when all of the corpses were thrown out of the cars. Elie saved his father from being thrown out of the car by proving he was still alive. Only 12 Jews got out of the car at Buchenwald -
Elies father dies in Buchenwald
Elie's Father was sick with dysentery and had internal flaming. For days he was beaten and Elie had to stay with him to help. He gave him his soup rations, he got him stuff he asked for and he stayed by his side. One day the other prisoners were beating Elie's father. That night he passed away. The next day Elie felt no pity over his father and he even felt "free." -
Elie was liberated from Buchenwald
On April 5th, the Jews had to head to the appellplatz were they were to be killed. Since the American front was approaching, the leaders decided each day 10 blocks were to be released. April 11th, the Resistance Movement decided to act, at noon the SS fled. With the Resistance Movement in charge at 6:00, the first American tank stood at the gates of Buchenwald, and the rest of the Jews were liberated.
