Kristallnacht Flashcards
What is meant by Kristallnacht?
‘Crystal Night’ or ‘Night of the Broken Glass’
When did Kristallnacht take place?
9 and 10 November 1938
What was the cause of Kristallnacht?
7 Nov. 1938, a Polish Jew, Hershel Grynszpan, shot Ernst von Rath in the German embassy in Paris. Von Rath died on 9 November and the Nazi leadership spread the word that any acts of revenge against the Jews would not be halted by the government
What did Heydrich, assistant head of the SS, tell local SS groups to do?
Heydrich told them to ‘organise demonstrations’ against the Jews and arrest as many ‘as we can fit into prisons’
What happened during Kristallnacht?
Gangs of Nazi supporters/anti-Semites smashed up Jewish property and attacked Jews
How many Jews were killed during Kristallnacht?
About 100 Jews were killed
What else was damaged during Kristallnacht?
The following were destroyed:
- 814 shops
- 171 homes
- 191 synagogues
How many Jews were sent to concentration camps as a result of Kristallnacht?
20,000
Did Hitler take credit for Kristallnacht?
No, Hitler didn’t take credit because many Germans were disgusted. Instead he blamed the Jews for provoking ordinary Germans. He fined the Jews one billion marks in compensation for the damage caused.
