Kristallnacht

What triggered Kristallnacht?

• On 7 November 1938, a 17 year old Polish Jew, called Herschel Grynszpan, went into the German embassy in Paris

• He randomly picked a German, Ernst vom Rath and shot him. He did this because he was angry at the Germans for how they treated his parents. Vom Rath was rushed to hospital

How did the Nazis exploit the murder of the German diplomat in Paris?

They used it as an excuse to attack Jews.

What is Kristallnacht also known as?

Night of the Broken Glass.

Who carried out Kristallnacht?

SS troopers in plain clothes.

What were SS troopers issued with to carry out Kristallnacht?

Pickaxes and hammers.

What actually happened on Kristallnacht?

SS officers ran riot, smashing up Jewish shops and workplaces.

How many Jews were killed, according to the Nazis?

91.

How did the Nazi controlled press present Kristallnacht?

As a spontaneous uprising of Germans against Jews.

Did most Germans agree with Kristallnacht?

No - many were alarmed by it. But few protested and those who did were often killed.

When did Kristallnacht take place?

9-10 November 1938.

Why was Kristallnacht so significant?

It was a turning point. Previously persecution of Jews had largely been political, social or economic. Now it was physical - and often ended in murder.

What do some people argue about Kristallnacht?

They argue that it was the beginning of the Holocaust.

What did historian Max Rein say about Kristallnacht?

“Kristallnacht came…and everything was changed.”

Who did Hitler blame for Kristallnacht?

The Jews.

What did Hitler do to the Jews after Kristallnacht?

He fined them one billion marks (as compensation), banned them from attending Aryan schools, and prohibited them from owning businesses.

Impact on Jewish people (numbers)

underestimated figures show:

814 shops

171 homes

191 synagogues

about 100 jews

By 12 November, 20,000 Jews arrested

what happened after Kristallnacht

January 1939 - All Jewish people to be evicted from Germany

April 1939- Jewish People were evicted from their homes, and their homes and properties were seized by the Nazis