(Interior view of the destroyed Fasanenstrasse Synagogue, Berlin, burned on Kristallnacht, 1938)
A historical reminder that the brutality and barbarism by Hamas, proxy for Iran, harkens back to the anti-Semitism of Hitler and Nazi Germany. And here is an incident reminiscent of the violent beginnings of the Holocaust just before the beginning of World War II.
Kristallnacht — “Crystal Night” or the “Night of Broken Glass,”
From November 9 to the 10th, 1938, a chilling episode unfolded in Germany, famously known as “Kristallnacht.”
Introduction
The night of November 9-10, 1938, marked a turning point in the history of Nazi Germany and the persecution of Jews within its borders. This tragic event, known as Kristallnacht or the “Night of Broken Glass,” was a violent manifestation of the deeply ingrained anti-Semitism that had been promoted by Adolf Hitler’s regime since its rise to power in 1933. This article will provide a scholarly examination of Kristallnacht, breaking it down into its historical background, the role of Hitler, and the broader implications of anti-Semitism.
During this horrifying event, Nazi forces burned synagogues, subjected Jewish homes, schools, and establishments to ruthless acts of vandalism, and tragically took the lives of nearly 100 Jewish individuals. Following the aftermath of Kristallnacht, which translates to “Crystal Night” or the “Night of Broken Glass,” approximately 30,000 Jewish men found themselves apprehended and transported to Nazi concentration camps.
The persecution of German Jews had begun as early as 1933, coinciding with the ascent of Adolf Hitler as the Chancellor of Germany and the subsequent rise of the Nazi Party. However, it is crucial to note that before Kristallnacht, the Nazi regime’s policies towards Jews had primarily manifested through nonviolent means. Nevertheless, the night of Kristallnacht marked an ominous turning point, ushering in a period where the conditions for German Jews deteriorated rapidly and significantly.
Sound familiar? Sound like the Islamic terrorists aka Modern Nazis who pursued their murderous attack on Jews under cover of darkness.
But today, the world has forgotten history and twisted the narrative to blame the Jews for their own deaths at the hands of Hamas. And clueless college students chant “From the River to the Sea, Palestinians Must Be Free.”
The rhymes of history, hate, and harassment.
The roots of Kristallnacht can be traced back to the escalating harassment and discrimination against Jews in Nazi Germany. Since the early 1930s, Adolf Hitler’s National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party) had enacted a series of anti-Semitic laws and policies that systematically marginalized and dehumanized the Jewish population. These policies included the Nuremberg Laws of 1935, which stripped Jews of their citizenship and legal rights, and the Aryanization of Jewish businesses, which saw the forced transfer of Jewish-owned enterprises to non-Jewish Germans.
Hitler and Anti-Semitism
Adolf Hitler, the dictator of Nazi Germany, played a pivotal role in fanning the flames of anti-Semitism that eventually culminated in Kristallnacht. Hitler’s own deeply ingrained anti-Semitic beliefs were a driving force behind the persecution of Jews. His infamous book, “Mein Kampf,” published in 1925, contained explicit anti-Semitic rhetoric, outlining his vision of a racially pure Aryan state cleansed of Jews. Hitler’s ascent to power in 1933 marked the beginning of an intensified campaign against Jews, as he aimed to implement his radical vision.
Night of Broken Glass
Kristallnacht, or the “Night of Broken Glass,” was a coordinated and state-sanctioned pogrom against Jews and their property. On the night of November 9, 1938, and into the early hours of November 10, mobs of Nazi supporters, along with paramilitary organizations like the SA (Sturmabteilung) and SS (Schutzstaffel), rampaged through cities and towns across Germany and Austria. They vandalized and looted Jewish-owned businesses, synagogues were set on fire, and countless Jewish homes were destroyed. The name “Kristallnacht” refers to the shards of broken glass that littered the streets from the shattered windows of Jewish-owned properties.
U.S. Reaction to Kristallnacht
The international community, including the United States, was shocked by the brutality of Kristallnacht. The U.S. government, under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, condemned the violence and initiated diplomatic measures to protest the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany. In response to the outrage and public pressure, the U.S. government recalled its ambassador from Berlin, and the American press extensively covered the events of Kristallnacht. This marked one of the early instances of international condemnation of Nazi policies towards Jews.
A Wake-up Call to Jews
Kristallnacht served as a wake-up call to Jews in Nazi Germany, signaling the urgency of the situation and the need to flee the country. Many Jewish families who had been hesitant to leave their homes now realized the gravity of their predicament. This event marked a significant turning point in the Jewish exodus from Germany, as thousands sought refuge in other countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, in the years that followed.
Conclusion
Kristallnacht stands as a dark chapter in the history of Nazi Germany, a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked hatred and prejudice. The events of that night, with their roots in Nazi anti-Semitism and Hitler’s radical beliefs, were a prelude to the Holocaust, during which millions of Jews would be systematically murdered. Kristallnacht serves as a solemn reminder of the importance of vigilance against hate, discrimination, and intolerance in any society.