Events in the Holocaust Flashcards
What is another name for the Kristallnacht?
The Night of the Broken Glass
When was the Kristallnacht?
Night of November 9th, 1938
What was the “official” reason for the Kristallnacht?
The German people’s revenge for the murder of a German diplomat in the hands of a Jew.
What was the actual reason for the Kristallnacht?
Just a directed offensive against the Jewish population.
Was the Kristallnacht spontaneous?
No, it was a planned event. Police and fire departments were told not to interfere. The idea of a public punishment has been around for a long time.
What happened during the night?
The SA and SS wore civilian clothes and entered synagogues, destroyed the furniture and set things on fire. Others broke windows, stormed them and spoiled it completely. They also stole everything. Thousands of Jews were murdered and abused. The Gestapo arrested 25 - 30,000 Jewish men who were sent to concentration camps.
Was Hitler directly tied with the Kristallnacht?
No.
Who are the SA?
SA were street fighters of the Nazi party, also known as the Brown-Shirted Stormtroopers. They were never a serious force, but there were a large amount of them.
Who were the SS?
SS were the elite Nazi armed forces basically bodyguards, originally Hitler’s body guards starting with 300 people.
Who are the Gestapo?
Gestapo were Hitler’s secret police, the most feared group.
What were the consequences of this event?
- Jews were now separated from the rest of German society
- Many Germans though were against the violence
- The Nazis decided the Jews were to pay for the damages
- All Jewish businesses were to cease
- Jews prohibited from attending German schools
How many people lived in the Warsaw Ghetto?
450,000 after transfer of refugees to the ghetto.
How many people died in the Warsaw Ghetto?
More than 80,000.
What were Jews allowed to take to the ghetto?
A small briefcase and an instrument, limited money.
How were people deceived into going to death camps?
They were told to bring their tools and clothing because they were going somewhere better than the ghettos.
