Kristallnacht

Definition

Kristallnacht, also known as the Night of Broken Glass, refers to a series of violent anti-Jewish pogroms that took place in Nazi Germany on November 9-10, 1938. This event marked a significant escalation in the Nazi regime's campaign against Jews, transitioning from social discrimination to physical violence and widespread destruction. The night is a pivotal moment in the history of antisemitism and signifies the dangers of unchecked hatred and intolerance.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Kristallnacht resulted in the destruction of over 7,500 Jewish-owned businesses, hundreds of synagogues, and numerous homes across Germany and Austria.
2. Approximately 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps during this event.
3. The pogrom was sparked by the assassination of a German diplomat by a Jewish teenager in Paris, which the Nazis used to incite violence against Jews.
4. The aftermath of Kristallnacht led to increased emigration among Jews as they realized that remaining in Germany was becoming increasingly perilous.
5. This event is often seen as the beginning of the Holocaust, demonstrating how government-sanctioned violence can lead to widespread societal acceptance of antisemitism.

Review Questions

• How did Kristallnacht serve as a turning point in the Nazi regime's treatment of Jews?
  • Kristallnacht marked a critical shift from antisemitic rhetoric and social ostracism to open violence against Jews. This pogrom showcased the Nazis' willingness to publicly endorse and incite violence against Jewish communities, drastically increasing fear and uncertainty among Jews. It was a clear signal that Jews could no longer safely live in Germany, as their lives and property were no longer protected by law.
• In what ways did Kristallnacht impact Jewish emigration efforts in the years following the event?
  • Following Kristallnacht, many Jews recognized that their situation had become untenable in Nazi Germany, leading to a significant increase in emigration efforts. However, this was met with various challenges such as restrictive immigration quotas and a lack of international support for Jewish refugees. Many countries were unwilling to accept large numbers of Jewish emigrants, leaving thousands trapped in an increasingly hostile environment.
• Evaluate how Kristallnacht foreshadowed the larger scale atrocities of the Holocaust.
  • Kristallnacht foreshadowed the larger scale atrocities of the Holocaust by illustrating the extent to which the Nazi regime was willing to resort to violence against Jews and how societal norms could shift towards acceptance of such brutality. The coordinated nature of the pogrom indicated state complicity and set a precedent for future actions against Jews. It laid the groundwork for more systematic oppression and ultimately contributed to the ideologies that would justify the Final Solution.

Related terms

Pogrom: A violent riot aimed at the massacre or persecution of an ethnic or religious group, particularly Jews in Eastern Europe.

Nuremberg Laws: A set of laws enacted in 1935 that institutionalized many of the racial theories espoused by the Nazis, stripping Jews of citizenship and basic rights.

Final Solution: The Nazi plan for the extermination of the Jews during World War II, which was formalized in the early 1940s.