by Elisa Garfagna
This investigation aims to systematically and thoroughly examine the factors that led to the Night of Broken Glass (Kristallnacht) on November 9-10, 1938, a pivotal event marking an escalation in the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany.
An analysis of the social context reveals a critical element in the realization of Kristallnacht. The years preceding the event were characterized by a gradual erosion of the social fabric in Germany, creating an atmosphere of fear and conformity. The intensive propaganda and repressive measures of the Nazi regime effectively stifled the population’s capacity for resistance and dissent. This phenomenon of collective acquiescence facilitated the execution of anti-Semitic policies, with much of society assuming the role of passive bystander in the face of escalating persecution.
The investigation also uncovered underlying economic motivations for the event. Kristallnacht was not merely an act of ideological violence but a strategic operation with well-defined economic objectives. The systematic destruction of Jewish businesses and the subsequent “Aryanization” of the German economy allowed the regime to eliminate economic competition and appropriate substantial financial assets and properties. This aspect highlights the multidimensional nature of Nazi anti-Semitic policies, which combined racial ideology with pragmatic economic interests.
The assassination of German diplomat Ernst vom Rath by Herschel Grynszpan on November 7, 1938, in Paris is identified as the immediate catalyst for Kristallnacht. This indicates that the event was instrumentalized by the Nazi regime as a pretext to unleash pre-planned violence on a large scale. Contrary to the official narrative of the time, which depicted the events as a spontaneous reaction from the populace, analysis of available evidence suggests centralized planning and coordinated execution, involving the active participation of the SA, SS, and other Nazi party organs.
The international context played a specific role in facilitating the actions of the Nazi regime. The policy of appeasement adopted by numerous Western nations, in an attempt to avoid a new global conflict, inadvertently provided the Nazi regime with greater freedom of action. The annexation of Austria (Anschluss) and the Sudeten crisis in 1938 exacerbated the situation, resulting in a wave of Jewish refugees. The reluctance of many countries to accept these refugees further complicated matters, creating an atmosphere of international isolation for the German Jewish community.
An analysis of Nazi policies between 1933 and 1938 reveals a progressive tightening of discriminatory measures against the Jewish population. The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 marked a critical turning point, stripping German Jews of citizenship and prohibiting mixed marriages. These legislative actions systematically isolated and demonized the Jewish community, paving the way for future persecutions and creating an environment where large-scale acts of violence could be perpetrated with minimal resistance.
The roots of Kristallnacht run deep in the post-war climate of Germany. The Treaty of Versailles of 1919, with its severe economic and territorial sanctions, engendered a profound sense of national humiliation. This sentiment of frustration created a fertile ground for the rise of extremist movements, particularly the National Socialist Party led by Adolf Hitler. The adept exploitation of popular discontent by Hitler and his party, promising to restore Germany’s greatness while identifying scapegoats for the nation’s problems, laid the ideological groundwork for future anti-Semitic policies.
In conclusion, it is essential to give voice to those who lived through and documented the events of Kristallnacht. The following quote is taken from the writings of Victor Klemperer, a Jewish German philologist and writer known for his diaries that chronicle life under the Nazi regime:
“On the morning of November 10, Kätchen Sara woke us up. We had to get up immediately; the synagogue was on fire, there were riots everywhere. […] In the streets, there was an atmosphere of pogrom. Shattered glass was everywhere. […] Vogel’s shop was completely devastated. […] In front of the synagogue on Zeughausstraße, there was a crowd of onlookers. The building was completely burned down; only the outer walls were standing.”
This testimony from Klemperer provides a direct and vivid account of the events of Kristallnacht. His precise and observant perspective captures the atmosphere of chaos and destruction that engulfed the streets during that fateful night. As a Jewish intellectual who chose to remain in Germany despite the rising persecutions, Klemperer’s viewpoint is particularly valuable for understanding the impact of Kristallnacht on the German Jewish community.