Commemorative event for November 9th: Remembering the November pogroms

Commemorative event for November 9th: Remembering the November pogroms

November 9th is approaching and with it a significant commemoration: The district commemorates the November pogroms of 1938, also known as Kristallnacht. On this day, various events dedicated to remembrance work take place in St. Wendeler Land. An important occasion to raise awareness of the darkest chapters of our history, how easy it seems to look into the past with a dissonant word in a certain place. But this is exactly where a great responsibility lies.

On the night of November 9th to 10th, 1938, a wave of organized violence broke out across the Jewish population in the German Reich. Far from being spontaneous but carefully planned, these pogroms resulted in unprecedented levels of destruction. Around 1,400 synagogues, prayer rooms and meeting rooms as well as thousands of shops and apartments were devastated. Between November 7th and 13th, several hundred Jews lost their lives; the total number of deaths is estimated at between 1,000 and 2,000, as Wikipedia describes in detail.

A planned crime

The November pogroms mark the gradual transition from discrimination to the systematic expulsion and oppression of the Jewish population. It was not accidental popular anger that triggered the wave of violence, but a targeted action to promote the “Aryanization” of Jewish property. Adolf Hitler and Joseph Goebbels were involved in the planning, which was carried out by SA and SS members. Despite their organized nature, these acts of violence were portrayed as “spontaneous actions.”

The international community reacted overwhelmingly negatively to the pogroms. But many states remained cautious about accepting Jews, which further exacerbated the dramatic situation. And while the destruction in Germany became rampant, the first deportations of Jews to concentration camps began. After the pogroms, at least 30,000 people were affected, many of whom did not survive the inhumane conditions.

A day of remembrance

November 9th has now become a day of remembrance for the victims of the pogroms. Events and remembrance initiatives are taking place all over Germany so that the horrors of the past are not forgotten. The St. Wendel district is making its contribution to this with the planned event, which commemorates the victims of the pogroms and at the same time calls for courage, civil courage and human dignity. Remembrance Day is important to bring up the lessons of history. Because awareness of the entanglements of prejudice and hate is more relevant than ever before.

In summary, it can be said that the November pogroms of 1938 are not only a dark chapter in German history, but also a call for everyone to actively work against anti-Semitism and any other expression of discrimination. The responsibility lies in our hands, and commemorating these terrible events should sharpen us to take a clear stand for justice and humanity. We are all called upon to pass on our knowledge and remember those who were harmed by injustice and ignorance, as WNDN reports.