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He was an 17 year old Jewish Assassin. On the night of November 7, 1938 he shot and killed Ernst Vom Rath. He shot him in the stomach twice and he died two days later. The death of Ernst triggered Hitler to do the Kristallnacht: The night of broken glass. The reason for killing Ernst was his family's deportation back to Poland. He was wanted in France for stealing a streetcar but many unsuccesful attempts to catch him. Until that night when he walked in there and shot him. He was born of March 28, 1919
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What was the night when German Nazis smashed Jewish shop windows and burned Jewish temples?
Kristallnacht or the Night of Broken Glass was an anti-Jewish pogrom in Nazi Germany and Austria on 9 to 10 November 1938. It was triggered by the assassination in Paris of German diplomat Ernst vom Rath by Herschel Grynszpan, a German-born Polish Jew. In a coordinated attack on Jewish people and their property, 91 Jews were murdered and 25,000 to 30,000 were arrested and placed in concentration camps. 267 synagogues were destroyed, and thousands of homes and businesses were ransacked Kristallnacht -i.e. "Crystal night". Comes from night of broken glass. Broken glass of shop windows resembled crystals in the moonlight.
What were the causes of Kristallnact?
Kristallnacht, literally meaning the Night of Broken Glass, but is now known by the politically correct term, Reichspogromnacht, happened in the 2-day period of Nov. 9-10, 1938. It was ostensibly sparked by the assassination of the Third Secretary to the German embassy in Paris, Ernst vom Rath. Nazi Propaganda Minister Goebbels initiated a rampage of destruction which saw the burning of synagogues, the destruction of Jewish businesses,homes, and the manhandling of Jews. The Nazis used Kristallnacht as an opportunity to proceed with the total exclusion of Jews from society and the removal of their remaining freedom, while expulsion of Jews from Germany was accelerated. The causes of this event were partly economic, but had a great deal to do with racial hatred and antisemitism on the part of Hitler and the Nazis, whose goal was a racially pure German nation.
What does the phrase Night of Broken Glass come from?
The term Night of Broken Glass (German: Kristallnacht) came into being following a pogrom (concerted attack against Jews, Jewish homes and Jewish businesses) on 9-10 November 1938. Following the assassination of Nazi Ernst Vom Rath by Jewish Herschel Grynzspan, the Hitler Youth, SS, Gestapo and supportive citizens carried out the attacks which left 91 Jews dead, 267 synagogues destroyed and saw 25,000 to 30,000 Jews arrested and placed in concentration camps (they were released after three months, but 2000 died while incarcerated). Countless Jewish homes and businesses were ransacked and so many windows shattered that broken glass lay in piles in the streets - hence the name.
Why was Kristallnacht seen as a turning point in the persecution of the Jews in Germany?
Well, you see, Kristallnacht was a very sad and dark time in history. It was seen as a turning point because it marked a significant escalation in the violence and persecution against the Jewish people in Germany. The destruction of synagogues, businesses, and homes during Kristallnacht showed the world the extreme hatred and cruelty that was being directed towards the Jewish community. It was a moment that brought attention to the urgent need for change and compassion.
Why did European leaders choose to appease Hitler?
Because they had the belief that, not unreasonably, Peace was preferable to war. If Hitler could be appeased then there would not be a conflict. With Hindsight its obvious that Hitler wasn't going to be persuaded to act other than in the way he did. In fact the peceived weaknesses of the western leaders only encouraged him further, but then they didn't know that at the time.The leaders of Europe (and of England in particular) desperately wanted to avoid having to fight another world war. They well remembered WW I which was horrible beyond belief, and which had ended only in 1918, which was really not that long before the rise of Hitler in the 1930's. They never wanted to have to go through something like WW I again. Therefore, they hoped that they could make a deal with Hitler which would make him happy, and avoid war. Of course, as we now know, these leaders completely misjudged Hitler, and the consequences were very tragic.
