Part One: The Beginning
* The Arrival of the Nazis in Sighet: The peaceful life of the Jewish community in Sighet, Transylvania (now in Romania) is shattered with the arrival of the Hungarian Nazis.
* Ghettoization: The Jewish population is confined to a ghetto, their freedoms drastically curtailed. They are subjected to humiliating regulations and restrictions.
* Deportation: Eliezer, along with his father and other Jewish men, are forced onto cattle cars and transported to Auschwitz. This journey is a harrowing experience, filled with fear, hunger, and uncertainty.
Part Two: Auschwitz
* Arrival at Auschwitz: The horrific conditions of the concentration camp shock Eliezer. He witnesses the cruelty of the guards, the dehumanization of the prisoners, and the constant threat of death.
* Selection: Upon arrival, prisoners are subjected to a brutal selection process where they are judged by the Nazis as fit or unfit for labor. Eliezer's father is deemed fit, but his mother and younger sister are immediately sent to the gas chambers.
* Survival Through Work: Eliezer is forced to endure brutal labor and endures the constant threat of starvation and disease. He struggles to maintain his humanity and faith in the face of suffering.
* The Death of his Mother and Sister: Eliezer learns about his mother and sister's fate, a devastating loss that highlights the cruelty of the Holocaust.
Part Three: Buna
* Transfer to Buna: Eliezer and his father are transferred to the Buna work camp, a subsidiary of Auschwitz.
* The Kapos: Eliezer encounters the brutal reality of the Kapos (prisoner overseers) who are responsible for maintaining order in the camps and often exploit their fellow prisoners.
* The Death of his Father: Eliezer's father, weakened by illness and deprivation, dies in the camp. This event marks a profound turning point for Eliezer, leaving him feeling emotionally devastated and questioning his own humanity.
Part Four: The March and Liberation
* Evacuation and the Death March: As the war progresses, the Nazi regime forces a death march of prisoners out of Buna. Eliezer and the other prisoners are forced to walk for days without adequate food or shelter, enduring unimaginable suffering.
* Liberation: The prisoners are finally liberated by the Russian army, bringing an end to their nightmare.
* After the Liberation: Eliezer is left with the haunting memories of the Holocaust, deeply scarred by his experiences and questioning his faith. He struggles to find meaning in a world where such atrocities were possible.
*It is important to note that the book focuses on Eliezer's personal journey and the events are presented through his lens. While other events of the Holocaust are mentioned, the focus is on his individual experiences and the impact the Holocaust had on him.*