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The Night of Broken Glass
Historical Background
Destruction and Violence
Survival and Hope
This picture represents the damage and destruction that Kristallnacht had on Jewish homes, businesses, and synagoges.
A portrait of resilience, hope, and determination to rebuild lives in the wake of the Night of Broken Glass.
- The Night of Broken Glass, also known as Kristallnacht, was an incident in November of 1938, where Nazis torched synagoges, vandalized Jewish homes, and captured Jewish people in Germany, Austria, and parts of Czechoslovakia to send to concentration camps.
- The name Kristallnacht comes from the shards of shattered glass that lined German streets.
Reasons behind Kristallnacht
Rememberance
The Night of Broken Glass
Kenneth Arter
On November 7, there was a shooting in Paris. German diplomat Ernst vom Rath was shot by Polish-Jewish student Herschel Grynszpan, who was angry with the Nazis for exiling his parents to Poland. When this news reached Hitler, he pushed for violent reprisals. Police all over Germany were ordered to take action against Jewish citizens. The next day, German officials annouced the reason for the destruction being an outburst of public sentiment in response to the assassination of Ernst Von Rath.
The Night of Broken Glass is solemnly remembered through memorials, educational programs, and historical documentation to honor the victims and educate future generations.
Significance
The Night of Broken Glass had a long lasting impact on the lives of many Jews in German conquered lands. Hundreds of synagoges were destroyed, as well as other Jewish intitutions. Even though the intended plan was not to kill Jews, the Night of Broken Glass took many Jewish lives. Mobs of SA men forced Jews to commit public acts of humiliation. Police records show 91 deaths, however this number is likely to be much higher. Records also show a high number of rapes and suicides in the aftermath of the violence. This night marked the beginning of the Holocaust, and the forced emmigration of Jewish peoples.