6. Reichkristallnacht

Question 1

When was the Reichkristallnacht?

Answer 1

9-10th November 1938

Question 2

Fuhrerprinzip

Answer 2

Principle of working towards the fuhrer - number of leading NAzis wanted to please Hitler

Question 3

Who was the leading figure behind the Reichkristallnacht?

Answer 3

Geobbels

Question 4

Another name for Reichkristallnacht

Answer 4

Night of broken glass

Question 5

What took place at the Reichkristallnacht?

Answer 5

Nazis gathered in Munich for the anniversary of the Munich Putsch and SS soldiers (with Hitler’s permission) went out onto the streets of Munich to persecute Jews

Question 6

Consequences of Reichkristallnacht

Answer 6

91 Jews officially reported dead by the Nazis but it’s more like over 800 Jews
Over 200 synagogues destroyed
Hitler’s popularity didn’t suffer whatsoever as the non-Jews didn’t sympathise with the Jews

Question 7

How was Reichkristallnacht justified?

Answer 7

Nazi propaganda accounted that ‘the national soul has boiled over’, arguing it was an uncontrolled outpouring of anti-Semitic feeling
Argued it was due to the under of Ernst vom Rath (minor German official) by a Jewish man

Question 8

According to the Nazi’s, how many Jews died due to Reichkristallnacht?

Answer 8

91

Question 9

Instructions given to the police and firefighters during the Reichkristallnacht

Answer 9

Police ordered not to intervene against the demonstrations
Firefighters did nothing as the synagogues burnt and only put out fires if they thought they’d spread to non-Jewish buildings

Question 10

Reaction of German public to Reichkristallnacht

Answer 10

Didn’t receive universal approval in Germany
Some ordinary citizens joined in the violence
Many German people horrified by the destruction
Hitler not blamed for the attack

Question 11

Decree of Restoration of the Street

Answer 11

Made JEws pick up the costs of the repairs instead of insurance companies
Jewish communities made to make a 1 billion Reichmark cointriubution in compensation for disruption to the economy

Question 12

How does the Reichkristallnacht differ from previous Jewish persecution?

Answer 12

Turning point for anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism became fully developed and embedded in German culture
Goering said ‘now the gloves are off’

Question 13

What decree was made after Reichkristallnacht that signalled an acceleration of the Aryanisation of Jewish businesses (removing all Jews from business)?

Answer 13

The Decree Excluding Jews from German Economic Life (12th November 1938)