Kristallnacht – The Night of Broken Glass: An Overview

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On November 9, 1938 hundreds of synagogues were destroyed, 91 Jews were murdered, 30,000 Jews were sent to concentration camps and 7,000 Jewish businesses were ruined.

Kristallnacht

Kristallnacht, meaning "Night of Broken Glass," refers to the violent anti-Jewish pogroms that occurred on November 9-10, 1938, in Nazi Germany. The name originated from the shattered glass of synagogues, Jewish-owned businesses, and homes that lined the streets. The catalyst for the events was the assassination of Ernst vom Rath, a German Embassy official in Paris, by Herschel Grynszpan, a 17-year-old Polish Jew. Following the expulsion of his parents and other Polish Jews living in Germany, Grynszpan sought revenge.

Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels, a key instigator, falsely claimed that the assassination was part of a Jewish conspiracy. In response, violence erupted across Germany and its annexed territories. Nazi paramilitary units, including the SA and Hitler Youth, destroyed Jewish-owned properties, confiscated Jewish artifacts, arrested Jewish men, and desecrated synagogues and cemeteries. At least 91 Jews were killed, and 30,000 Jewish males were arrested and sent to concentration camps.

In the aftermath, the German government blamed the Jewish community for the events and imposed a substantial fine. Aryanization policies were introduced to transfer Jewish-owned businesses to non-Jewish ownership. Jewish children were expelled from German schools, and measures were taken to eliminate Jews from the German economic sphere.

Kristallnacht marked a significant turning point in Nazi anti-Semitic policy, foreshadowing forced emigration and the eventual deportation of Jews to the East. Remembering and learning from these events is crucial to prevent their recurrence and to honor the lives affected by this destructive chapter in history.

FAQs:

What was the Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass)?

Kristallnacht, The Night of Broken Glass, happened on the night of November 9, 1938. Violence, coordinated by the Nazi regime, tragically resulted in hundreds of synagogues destroyed, 91 Jews murdered, 30,000 Jews sent to concentration camps & 7,000 Jewish businesses ruined.

What does Kristallnacht mean?

Kristallnacht means "Night of Broken Glass," referring to the shattered glass windows caused by the horrific anti-Semitic violence and attacks on Jewish-owned stores on 9 November 1938.

When was Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass)?

Kristallnacht, The Night of Broken Glass tragically took place on the night of November 9, 1938.

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