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The Tragedy of Kristallnacht

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The Tragedy of Kristallnacht Kristallnacht was a very tragic night during the Holocaust. Nothing was ever the same between the millions of Jews getting killed, their homes getting destroyed, and their race being slowly eradicated by Hitler. The aftermath led to even more severe damage. However, the death of one person started it all. The Night of Broken Glass was an intensely devastating occurrence which took place due to the assassination of Ernst Vom Rath and brought upon various consequences to the people. Kristallnacht took place on the night of November 9, 1938. This disastrous event was also called the "Night of Broken Glass," for the shattered glass from the store windows that littered the streets. 'Kristall' refers to the lead crystal glass used in shop windows and display cabinets. This event was unplanned and had many consequences. Research states, “Over 250 synagogues were burned, over 7,000 Jewish businesses were trashed and looted, dozens of Jewish people were killed, and Jewish cemeteries, hospitals, schools, and homes were looted” (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum 1). Kristallnacht presented itself as a "spontaneous public outburst". The morning after this happened, 30,000 German Jewish men were arrested for the "crime" of being Jewish and sent to concentration camps. Some Jewish women were also arrested and sent to local jails. “Businesses owned by Jews were not allowed to reopen unless they were managed by non-Jews. Curfews were placed on Jews,

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