Year of Germany: Remembering Kristallnacht

Recently I attended a service for remembering Kristallnacht at my small liberal arts college.  This year is the year of Germany, so many of the school sanctioned events focus around events and issues that have historically been a part of that country.  This remembering Kristallnacht event was something that all who attended benefited from, not just by gaining historical knowledge, but also to know more about a country far away from the one we live in.

Kristallnacht is roughly translated in German to "The Night of Broken Glass".  This historically monumental event in German history happened on the night of November 9, 1938.  Throughout the event which was led both by students and a pastor, the event-goers were educated about the terrible events that took place and how the events leading up to and following this event were important not just to Germany, but also to the whole world.  30,000 Jews were not just arrested, but put into concentration camps.  275 synagogues were burned, as well as 7,500 businesses being destroyed through various means.  As we were being told these facts, the students intermixed reading accounts written by firefighters that were on the scene during burnings, and other people who had witnessed or taken part in that night.  Not everyone in Germany agreed with the terrible crimes that their country was committing, but that didn't mean that they could openly disagree without fear of retribution.

While the event was short, is was tasteful, with a symbolic lighting of candles at the end in remembrance of those that lost freedom and at times life during that event.  While we lit the candles, I was reminded that human life is something that should be revered globally, uniting us all in a way which can never be broken.

This event was not just educational, but thought provoking.  In regards to what I've learned about the effects of globalization today, it's clear to see that historically we've been on the track to this point for a long time.  The events in Germany that night helped lead to a series of events that threw most of Europe into turmoil.  Countries thousands of miles away were forced to choose sides and eventually the United States threw their hat into the ring in the hopes of minimizing human loss in the terrible and never forgotten world war.  Kristallnacht may only be about one night, but it's after effects can be, and at times, will still be felt today.