Every year, we commemorate Kristallnacht as a reminder of the atrocities of the Nazi Holocaust. This state-sponsored riot took place on November 9 and 10, 1938. It was not something unexpected. Hitler began his propaganda campaign after he became Chancellor in January 1933. Though antisemitism in Germany rose, the greater majority of Jews had not left by 1938. Approximately 70% of the Jewish population still remained. Why didn’t more Jews leave?
Sadly, it was the global refugee quotas and strict immigration policies of countries like the United States, Canada, and Great Britain that kept many out. How sad to read that in 1938, 32 nations met, but almost all refused to change their immigration limits. It is important to note that many German Jews before 1933 were deeply assimilated into German society and were seen as very successful. How could they have imagined something like this? This turns our attention to Ezekiel 38 when we read about Israel’s sense of security with her “unwalled [or unprotected] villages. This same blindness to warnings will unfortunately repeat itself during the Tribulation.
No one should be forgotten
We commemorate Kristallnacht to preserve the truth about the human heart and the extent to which evil can manifest itself, particularly antisemitism. No victim of such atrocities should be forgotten.
The Events of Kristallnacht
On these two evenings, a systematic, coordinated attack by Nazi leaders, paramilitary groups, and Hitler Youth caused the burning of hundreds of synagogues, and thousands of shop windows were shattered. The following day, they continued to destroy shops, enter private Jewish homes, and physically assault many Jewish individuals. During those 48 hours and over the next week, nearly 30,000 men were arrested, either dragged from their beds or pulled from their workplaces. Only on November 16th, when they felt they had reached their quota, did the Germans slow the arrests. These men were directly transferred to the concentration camps of Dachau, Buchenwald, and Sachsenhausen. This trauma of reducing the Jewish population by 30,000 set the community into great fear and forced many families to surrender what they had in an attempt to flee the country.
November 10th 1938, was Marin Luther’s 455th birthday. Nazi propagandists took this occasion to make a symbolic connection of Kristallnacht and the burning of synagogues as a fulfillment of Luther’s 1543 infamous treatise, On the Jews and Their Lies. Having been angered by Jews not willing to convert to Christianity, Luther called for the burning down of synagogues, the destruction of Jewish homes, the confiscation of holy Jewish literature, and the forbidding of rabbis to teach under the threat of death. Shortly after Kristallnacht, German Lutheran bishop Martin Sasse published excerpts from Luther’s anti-Jewish writings. In his foreword, he pointed to the burning of synagogues on Luther’s birthday and invoked Luther’s words to justify the attacks.
Local and International Press
How did the world receive and respond to this news? The German public was kept completely out of the loop regarding the true reports of violence, and German newspaper propaganda reported that these Jewish communities brought about their own destruction by blaming them for hostility toward the German government. The mass deportations, brutal assaults, and home invasions were deliberately omitted from the news.
What about the international press? Many reported these events with a clear sense of the brutality and cruelty that took place. Many foreign newspapers mentioned the devastating and chilling events, such as sobbing children being pulled out of their beds while their homes were being systematically ransacked and looted.
The US Response
The US government did react quickly after Kristallnacht. President Roosevelt recalled the American ambassador from Germany, and there were fierce denunciations of Hitler. And while many countries offered strong verbal condemnation, little was done in concrete ways to help the victims. Few countries increased immigration allowances. Sadly, countries like Britain did not impose economic tariffs on Germany, nor did they cut any diplomatic ties at this point.
Why didn’t more help? Antisemitic and anti-immigrant sentiments perhaps forced politicians not to take a chance in their own electorate if they opened the borders.
We are all Responsible to Speak
All of this wrenches the heart. We commemorate Kristallnacht to preserve the truth about the sickness of the human heart and the extent to which evil can manifest itself, particularly antisemitism.
What are we called to do? Speak up!
Proverbs 24:11-12:
“ Deliver those who are being taken away to death,and hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
If you say, ‘See, we did not know this,’does He not consider it who weighs the hearts?”
Even though it was a state-sanctioned Holocaust, we are called to stand up against government if wrong is being done. Think of the midwives in Egypt who did not kill the baby boys. They feared God and not the king of Egypt. Are we religious without the true mark of righteousness, affirming and defending God’s promises and plans? Are we doing good, seeking justice, and pleading for those marked out for destruction?
We know from Scripture that more than Kristallnacht will happen again.
ARE WE PRAYING?
ARE WE TAKING THE STAND OF WATCHMEN?
ARE WE WARNING OTHERS?
Romans 12:2:
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove [discern] what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Let our minds be conformed to God’s will, not to propaganda and world opinion. Let us act as spiritual compasses for others. Let us never forget God’s heart and promises.
Link to the Article: Psalm 83 – Eternal Hatred versus Eternal Love
Link to the Video: The Normalization of Antisemitism: A Sign of the Last Days?