Kristallnacht, also known as the "Night of Broken Glass," was a violent and coordinated series of attacks against Jews throughout Nazi Germany and Austria on November 9-10, 1938. Orchestrated by the Nazi regime, Kristallnacht is considered a turning point in the persecution of Jews during [[The Holocaust]], as it marked a shift from economic and social [[discrimination]] to widespread, state-sponsored violence and terror. The pretext for the violence was the assassination of Ernst vom Rath, a German diplomat in Paris, by Herschel Grynszpan, a 17-year-old Polish Jew. The [[Nazis]] used this event as an opportunity to incite [[antisemitism]] and launch a large-scale, organized attack on Jewish communities. ## Paramilitary violence During Kristallnacht, SA (Sturmabteilung) paramilitary forces, along with German civilians, targeted Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues. The attackers destroyed and vandalized Jewish-owned property, smashing windows and setting buildings on fire, resulting in the "broken glass" that gave the event its name. The consequences of Kristallnacht were devastating: 1. Approximately 91 Jews were killed, and hundreds more were injured. 2. Around 7,500 Jewish-owned businesses were damaged or destroyed. 3. Over 1,000 synagogues were burned or vandalized, many of which were historic and cultural landmarks. 4. Approximately 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps, including Dachau, Buchenwald, and Sachsenhausen, where many were subjected to brutal treatment and death. Following Kristallnacht, the Nazi regime under [[Adolf Hitler]] implemented further anti-Semitic measures, including expelling Jewish children from public schools, confiscating Jewish-owned property, and imposing a hefty fine on the Jewish community for the damages incurred during the attacks. Kristallnacht marked a turning point in Nazi Germany's persecution of Jews, paving the way for more severe and systematic actions, culminating in the [[genocide]] of [[The Holocaust]]. Today, Kristallnacht serves as a stark reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust and the dangers of unchecked hatred and [[discrimination]]. Commemorative events and memorials are held annually around the world to honor the victims and promote awareness of the tragic consequences of [[prejudice]], [bigotry](https://doctorparadox.net/psychology/bigotry-is-bad-thinking/), and intolerance.