Overview
This lecture covers Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass), exploring its origins, the events of November 1938, and its impact on the Jewish community in Nazi Germany.
Rise of Anti-Semitic Policies in Nazi Germany
- Hitler became chancellor in January 1933 and quickly implemented nationalistic and anti-Semitic policies.
- Jews were expelled from civil service and banned from patronizing many businesses.
- Laws prohibited marriages and extramarital relationships between Jews and Aryans.
- Jewish people faced systematic harassment and discrimination.
Events Leading to Kristallnacht
- In October 1938, about 17,000 Polish Jews were expelled from Germany and stranded at the Polish border.
- Among them were the parents of Herschel Grynszpan, a 17-year-old Polish Jew living in Paris.
- Grynszpan, angered by his family's treatment, killed German embassy official Ernst Vom Rath in Paris on November 7, 1938.
Kristallnacht: The Night of Broken Glass
- On November 9-10, 1938, Nazis and German citizens attacked Jewish synagogues, homes, businesses, schools, and cemeteries across Germany.
- Over 250 synagogues were burned, 7,000 Jewish businesses vandalized, and nearly 100 Jews murdered.
- Firefighters intervened only to protect Aryan property; police did not stop the violence.
- The streets were filled with broken glass, giving the event its name, Kristallnacht.
Aftermath and International Response
- The Nazi regime blamed Jews for Kristallnacht, arresting over 30,000 Jewish men and sending them to concentration camps.
- A collective fine of 1 Billion Mark was imposed on the German-Jewish community.
- The world reacted with shock and condemnation, but few countries took action to help German Jews.
- By the outbreak of World War II, over 200,000 Jews remained in Germany under threat.
Kristallnacht’s Significance
- Kristallnacht marked a shift from non-violent to violent persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany.
- It signaled the intensification of anti-Semitic policies and actions as the Nazis escalated efforts to address the so-called “Jewish question”.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Kristallnacht — The Night of Broken Glass, a violent anti-Jewish pogrom on November 9-10, 1938.
- Aryan — A term used by Nazis to describe "racially pure" Germans.
- Pogrom — An organized massacre of a particular ethnic group.
- Concentration Camp — Detention centers established by Nazis to imprison Jews and other targeted groups.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the events leading up to Kristallnacht and its consequences.
- Prepare for a discussion on international responses to Nazi persecution of Jews.