What does Elie smell burning in the air at birkenau?

At Birkenau, Elie Wiesel smells burning in the air, which is the scent of bodies being incinerated in the crematoriums. This horrific realization underscores the brutality of the Holocaust and the mass extermination taking place. The smell serves as a haunting reminder of the loss of life and the grim reality faced by the prisoners. It marks a turning point in Elie's experience, as he confronts the terrifying truth of their situation.