What was Kristallnacht?

Kristallnacht, also known as the Night of Broken Glass, refers specifically to a violent pogrom against the Jewish population in Germany on November 9-10, 1938. During this event, synagogues were set on fire, Jewish-owned businesses were vandalized and looted, and many Jews were arrested and sent to concentration camps. This incident marked a significant escalation in Nazi Germany's campaign against Jews, transitioning from economic and social discrimination to open violence and terror.

The event was organized and encouraged by the Nazi regime, representing a crucial turning point in the treatment of Jews, as it revealed the Nazi government's willingness to engage in widespread violence against a minority group. Kristallnacht served not only as a direct attack on Jewish life and property but also as a precursor to the more extreme measures that would follow in the Holocaust.