The Role and Impact of Kristallnacht in the Holocaust

What was the purpose of Kristallnacht? This infamous event, occurring in 1938, has been a pivotal moment in the escalation of the Nazi regime's campaign against the Jewish community. Kristallnacht, or the 'Night of Broken Glass,' was more than just an act of violence; it was a watershed moment that symbolized the loss of all legal protections for Jews in Nazi Germany and foreshadowed the horrors to come.

Historical Background of Kristallnacht

Coming after the remilitarization of the Sudetenland, Kennedy noted that the emboldened Nazi party initiated the Holocaust, and the events of Kristallnacht were a brutal demonstration of this. For the first time, the destruction and violence against Jews were publicly sanctioned by the Nazi regime. While today, such events might be called parades or enrichments, they would still convey a message of hostility and discrimination.

The Assassination of Ernst vom Rath and the Spark that Ignited the Flames

The proximate cause of the Kristallnacht pogrom was the assassination of Ernst vom Rath, a German diplomat in Paris. The culprit, Herschel Grynszpan, a Polish Jew born in Germany in 1921, who had illegally immigrated to France at the age of 15, felt driven to avenge the deportations of his family back to Poland. The shooting marked a tragic event that would set the stage for the horrific events of Kristallnacht.

The Role of Propaganda and Political Leadership

Joseph Goebbels, the Reich Minister of Propaganda, was among the most rabidly anti-Semitic leaders in the Nazi regime. On the eve of Kristallnacht, Goebbels used the assassination as a pretext to stage a widespread campaign of anti-Jewish violence. His famous "Enough is enough" diary entry and inflammatory speeches provided the spark that ignited the violent demonstrations.

Government Orders and Chaos

Goebbels issued orders to the Sturmabteilung (SA) and the police to encourage and allow violence against Jews and their property. Hitler himself ordered the police to allow the demonstrations to proceed. While some accounts suggest that Goebbels received explicit orders from Hitler, others argue that he used his influence as a high-ranking Cabinet minister to act independently.

Aftermath and Government Reaction

Hitler authorized the arrest of 20,000 Jews, and about 30,000 were actually detained. Despite calls for a halt to the violence, the government quickly addressed the extensive property damage, levying a fine of 10 billion Marks on the remaining Jewish community, effectively blaming them for the acts of a high-ranking minister.

Tragic Consequences and Wider Context

The events of Kristallnacht served as a harbinger of the Holocaust, the systematic persecution and extermination of six million Jews. The German government's focus on property damage overshadowed the tragic loss of life, and the fine levied on the Jewish community turned them into scapegoats for the regime's actions.

The controversy over the origin and intent of Kristallnacht highlights the complex interplay between propaganda, leadership, and public response. Despite the chaos and violence, these events were part of a broader campaign of discrimination and hatred that had been building for years.

The question of whether Kristallnacht was an impulsive act or a carefully planned operation by the Nazi party remains a subject of historical debate. Nevertheless, the impact of Kristallnacht on the subsequent actions of the Nazi regime cannot be overstated. It marked a significant and irreversible escalation in the persecution of the Jewish community in Nazi Germany.