What happened during Kristalinacht?

1 Answer
Jul 28, 2017

On the night of Nov 9-10, 1938, the Nazi paramilitary group the SA and civilians attacked Jews and Jewish homes, businesses, and Synagogues. Many Jews were killed.

Explanation:

A low level German diplomat with Nazi allegiance, stationed in Paris, was killed when a German born Jew of Polish ancestry came to the German embassy with a gun and shot him. The Jew was angry at the forced emigration of his family from Germany.

Nazi leaders encouraged the SA to take revenge against Jewish people in Germany and German occupied areas. There was great property destruction. The smashing of Jewish owned shop windows led to the name "Kistallnacht" (Night of Broken Glass). Arson was also common that night and firefighters could only prevent the spread to other buildings either because of choice or coercion. The Police were clearly encouraged not to interfere or take complaints from Jews. The message didn't always get to the rank and file and there were incidents between emergency workers and the SA.

Many Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps at this time. Previous to this anti-Jewish actions had been less overtly violent. Anti-Jewish laws had been enacted since 1933 but Kistallnacht was a watershed moment and a significant move towards the Holocaust which was authorized in early 1942.

The prewar publicity led to International condemnation.