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In German it means " Night of the broken glass" - a reference to the smashed windows of Jewish-owned shops.
In the context of the pogrom of 9-10 November 1938 Kristallrefers to the broken glass resulting from the deliberate destruction of Jewish businesses, especially shops. Like most shops, many of these had high quality lead crystal glass windows (shop fronts). In German Nacht mean night, and so Kristallnacht is generally translated into English as the night of the broken glass.

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βˆ™ 13y ago
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βˆ™ 13y ago

The Nazis didn't call it Kristallnacht. According to the Jewish politician Adolf Arndt, who was a lawyer in Berlin in 1938, the expression (Reichs)Kristallnacht originated amongst Berliners and their gallows humour as an expression of their powerlessness against, and disgust of, the Nazi apparatus and its attrocities. The term was not used by the Nazis until June 1939.

Nazi propoganda referred to Kristallnacht as Judenaktion(campaign against the Jews), Novemberaktion (November campaign), Vergeltungsaktion (reprisal campaign) or Sonderaktion (special campaign). The town gatherings that were ordered by the Nazis the following day referred to the attacks as antijüdische Demonstrationen (anti-Jewish demonstrations) or gerechte Vergeltungskundgebungen (justified manifestations of reprisal). Members of the SA, SS and Hitler Youth who took part called it die Nacht der langen Messer (Night of the long knives, as they had the Röhm Putch).

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βˆ™ 13y ago

it's German

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Q: Why do Kristallnacht mean night of broken glass?
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What took place during Kristallnacht?

Jews living in Germany were harassed and beaten, and many of their businessesvandalized. The term is translated from German to mean "Night of the Broken Glass" referring to shop and residence windows.


When did Kristallnacht take place?

Although the main incident took place on the night of November 9-10, 1938. Nazi attrocities against Jewish citizens and their property began in November 7 and continued until 13 November 1938. In its wake over 1,400 Jewish synagogues and prayer houses were attacked and destroyed and thousands of Jewish businesses and homes ransacked and looted. It is assumed today that some 400 Jewish victims lost their lives at the hands of Nazis (official Nazi figures listed 91 dead and 267 synagogues destroyed). Approximately 30,000 Jews were arrested and sent to the concentration camps at Dachau, Buchenwald and Sachsenhausen. "Kristallnacht" literally translates as "Crystal Night" but is known in English as "Night of Broken Glass". The arrested Jews were eventually released after giving an undertaking that they would surrender all their wealth to the Nazi state and leave the country. To add insult to injury, the Nazis introduced a bill forcing the Jewish population to pay a punitive levy of 1 billion Reichsmarks for their "hostility towards the German people" as well as confiscating any insurance payments for the damage caused and forcing them to clear up the damage at their own expense.


What does Kristallnahct mean?

kristallnahct means the night of broken glass.on this night in 1938 the Nazis walked around and threw bricks and stones through all the Jewish shops.


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It meant nothing.


What does devestating mean?

devestating means to be heart broken or angry

Related questions

What does kristallnacht mean in english?

I think you mean Kristallnacht. Crystal night. A particular night in Nazi Germany where most Jewish owned businesses had their windows smashed.


What kristallnacht mean?

The term kristallnacht means the night of the broken glass. It was the night Jewish shops and synagogues were attacked by the Nazi's leaving the streets covered in glass.


What do the terms Kristallnacht and Endloesung mean?

1. Kristallnacht - Night of the Broken Glass 2. Endloesung - Final Solution (of the Jewish question).


What does kristallnacht mean?

The "Night of the Broken Glass" happened in November 1938. Over two nights, Nazis destroyed homes, schools and businesses held by Jews and killed over 100 people.


Does the German word Krsyallnacht mean night of broken glass?

Kristallnacht (note the correct spelling) means Night of Broken Glass and refers specifically to the night of 9-10 November 1938. Please see the related question.


What took place during Kristallnacht?

Jews living in Germany were harassed and beaten, and many of their businessesvandalized. The term is translated from German to mean "Night of the Broken Glass" referring to shop and residence windows.


What does kristalnacht mean?

The Night of Broken Glass


What does the term kristallancht mean in English?

Night of Broken Glass


How does the night of the storm troopers help us to understand World War 2?

First of all, I'm guessing you mean Kristallnacht. That means Night of Broken Glass in German. It was a huge purge of Jewish people from cities across Germany and putting them into Ghettos. Jewish stores were also closed and burned.


What does Krystallnacht mean?

Krystallnacht was 'the night of the broken glass'. It was a major pogrom which marked the overt beginning of large-scale physical violence against the German Jews.


What does shattering a light bulb mean?

the glass is broken into pieces


What does a broken glass mean on the side of the box?

Fragile. Handle with care.