The Holocaust was a step back for mankind because of the treatment of a certain race and as a result of the Nazis" inhumanity, millions of Jews were killed.
Jews were sent to horrific concentration camps, where they were treated horrifically. "Although only Jews and Roma (Gypsies) were gassed routinely, several hundred thousand other Auschwitz inmates died from starvation, disease, or shooting. To erase the traces of destruction, large crematories were constructed so that the bodies of the gassed could be incinerated." (Encarta Encyclopedia). Jews and many other people had to work extended hours with not much food and were sent to gas chambers if they weren't working as hard as they must. The starvation, disease, and shooting was thought to be erased with the cremations, although this period of inhumanity should never be forgotten. In Night by Elie Wiesel, he describes the camp and his first night, .
"Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky. Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever. Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never." (Night pg. 46).
Wiesel described the horrors of the concentration camps, and how his life had become a long night, waiting to get out of hell. He illustrated how children and adults were treated and how it felt as if God had turned his back on the many in pain at these death camps. The horrendous treatment by the Nazis against the victims was unthinkable, and many asked themselves where was God or anyone to save them.
