Kristallnacht: Night Of Broken Glass

Summary

On November 9-10, 1938, the 'Night of Broken Glass' or Kristallnacht, marked a violent anti-Jewish pogrom across Germany, annexed Austria, and parts of Czechoslovakia. Triggered by the assassination of a German diplomat by a Polish Jew, this event led to the destruction of synagogues, Jewish homes and businesses, and the arrest of thousands of Jewish men. It was a pivotal moment in Nazi policy, escalating to forced immigration and deportation, aiming for a 'Jew-free' Germany. This dark chapter of history must be remembered to prevent such atrocities.

Takeaways

• 📅 'Kristallnacht', also known as the 'Night of Broken Glass', occurred on November 9th and 10th, 1938.
• 🗽 The event took place across Germany, annexed Austria, and parts of Czechoslovakia occupied by German troops.
• 🔍 The name 'Kristallnacht' comes from the broken glass that littered the streets after windows of synagogues, homes, and Jewish businesses were smashed.
• 🔫 The assassination of Ernst vom Rath, a German diplomat, by Herschel Grynszpan, a 17-year-old Polish Jew, was the immediate trigger for the violence.
• 🗣️ Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels played a significant role in inciting the violence and ensuring it was not hindered by the Nazi party.
• 🏭 The pogrom led to the destruction of 267 synagogues and the ransacking of approximately 7,500 Jewish-owned businesses.
• 🚒 Local firefighters were instructed to only prevent the fire from spreading to non-Jewish properties, not to extinguish the flames in Jewish areas.
• 👥 At least 91 Jews were killed, and up to 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps.
• 💵 The German government imposed a fine of $400 million on the Jewish community and began expelling Jewish children from schools.
• 🏛️ The events marked a pivotal shift in Nazi policy towards forced immigration and the eventual 'Final Solution' of deporting Jews to the east.

Q & A

What event is referred to as 'Kristallnacht' or the 'Night of Broken Glass'?

Kristallnacht refers to a wave of violent, anti-Jewish pogroms that occurred on November 9th and 10th of 1938 throughout Germany, annexed Austria, and areas of Czechoslovakia occupied by German troops.

How did the name 'Kristallnacht' originate?

The name 'Kristallnacht' comes from the shards of shattered glass that resulted from the destruction of synagogues, homes, and Jewish-owned businesses, leaving broken glass on German streets.

What was the immediate catalyst for Kristallnacht?

The immediate catalyst was the assassination of Ernst vom Rath, a German embassy official, by Herschel Grynszpan, a 17-year-old Polish Jew living illegally in Paris, in response to the expulsion of his parents and thousands of other Jews.

What role did Joseph Goebbels play in the events of Kristallnacht?

Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda minister, was a chief instigator of Kristallnacht. After his speech, he suggested that world Jewry had conspired to commit the assassination and ordered that any demonstrations should not be hampered.

What actions were taken by Nazi paramilitary units during Kristallnacht?

Nazi paramilitary units, including the SA and Hitler Youth, destroyed Jewish-owned homes and businesses, confiscated Jewish artifacts, and arrested many Jewish men, filling local jails.

How many synagogues were destroyed during Kristallnacht?

A total of 267 synagogues were destroyed throughout Germany, Austria, and the Sudetenland.

What was the death toll of Jews during Kristallnacht?

At least 91 Jews lost their lives during the pogrom.

What measures were introduced by the German government following Kristallnacht to further marginalize Jews?

The German government imposed a fine of $400 million on the German Jewish community, expelled Jewish children from schools, and enforced Aryanization policies, transferring Jewish-owned enterprises and properties to Aryan ownership.

How did Kristallnacht mark a turning point in Nazi anti-Semitic policy?

Kristallnacht represented a significant turning point as it marked the shift in Nazi policy towards forced immigration and eventually towards the 'Final Solution' involving the deportation of Jews to the east.

Why is it important to remember and teach about Kristallnacht?

Remembering and teaching about Kristallnacht is crucial to understanding the Holocaust and ensuring that such atrocities are not repeated. It serves as a lesson in the dangers of unchecked hatred and prejudice.