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Your cart is empty.After seizing power, the Nazis began their crusade against Jews with discriminatory laws and the looting of property; they turned to violence openly in what has come to be known as Kristallnacht: The night of broken glass. In November 1938 German soldiers set on fire some 400 synagogues and destroyed 7,000 Jewish stores and businesses. More than 90 people were killed, 600 committed suicide, and over 26,000 men were deported to concentration camps. Through rare footage, photographs and documents, the Night of Broken Glass reveals the background to this orgy of anti-Semitic violence, which - while masterminded by the Nazi regime - is shown to have been largely accepted by the German public.
captainklever
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2016
I thought they would go into more detail about the "Night of Broken Glass" considering this is the name of the documentary. It was very redundant, and revolved around the burning of a synagogue. Then had multiple witnesses say the same thing, "the fireman stood around and watched it burn"...It could have been 10 minutes long.
Lest We Never Forget
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2015
A must see, very powerful documentary. We truly need more doco's like this one. You will see many images that have not been seen before and information that has not be covered in other movies. You will see some shocking scenes in this program. We must never forget what was done in the past. I recommend this for all to see.
Honey Solomon
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2014
For those who do not know the history of the infamous 'Night of Broken Glass' and the early years of Nazi Germany's antisemitism, this is a beginning. The beginning of mass genocide that was to become the Holocaust. Well documented with original footage and interviews, it is an easy way to follow the events surrounding this timeline.Recommended for beginners and those who are students of history. None of the footage is graphic in the extreme. It presents an interesting overview that allows a better understanding of the insidious way it began and of the people involved. Well worth the time . . . some of the documentation and footage is not usually included in documentaries. Take the time to view this one. It is devoid of sensationalism!One reviewer mentions a quote to the effect that this was the first incident of antisemitism . . . it was one of the first overt actions by the German populous dictated by the Nazi government against the Jews. Antisemitism was, for most German Jews, an anticipated way of life. For so many, it was simply the norm outside the Jewish community.[Smooth streaming and crisp audio.]
Charles W.
Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2014
This is about the Kristallnacht "the night of broken glass". After a Jewish man in France killed the German ambassador, the Nazis whipped up a media frenzy against the Jews in Germany and in one night most of the Jewish shops and Synagogs were damaged, burned down, or otherwise destroyed. Beginning at the same time the Nazi's began systematically rounding up the Jews in Germany and beginning their planned genocide.The video is well made and has plenty of actual film footage of the aftermath as well as modern day interviews with survivors. This horrible chapter in world history is well covered.
Puckish Writer
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2014
There is a lot of very good information, first hand accounts and archival footage. The only weakness is the impression given by the documentary that Kristallnacht was the beginning of the persecutions of Jews in Nazi Germany. As early as 1933 Jews were aware that they were being targeted. Rather than being the "first shot", Kristallnacht was the last warning to Jews to get out if they could. Not long afterward the Nazi state withdrew exit visas, making it all but impossible for those remaining to get out.
Rudy
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2013
The subject matter is positively appalling but definitely part of history. Five stars for content and presentation of a truly outrageousevent. I believe you will come away with a better understanding of what is an often played cycle in history. But, one lesson does come through loud and clear: Those who don't learn from history are condemned to repeat it. Any government has the potential to become despotic if the citizens in general are too apathetic to stand up for their rights and freedoms. Not exactly enjoyable but well worth seeing--giving good food for thought.
Princess Bride
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2013
I have become extremely interested in World War II and Hitler. This documentary through visual content as well as historical accounting reveals a perspective many of us may have not considered: How did those on the ground respond to the manic delusions of terror that was occurring daily? The Germans, military personnel, business owners, parents, teachers, human beings saw the terror, how did they respond? Very good documentary that shows so many people sacrificed their lives attempting to stop the madness of Hilter.
3mistyrivers
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2013
Good documentary but with one Caveat, during the opening credits one Jewish survivor said "the was the first sign of [problems] towards the jews." -in referring to the 1938 Night of Broken Glass. Not True.Ever since Hilter took power his public speeches repeately forewarned the Holocaust, with violent anti-semitism. In 1935 the Nuremburg laws were enacted, that segregated the Jewish people in Germany from going to schools, took away their legal and property rights, and instituted many anti racial laws. I am amazed that anyone living at that time could have just passively listened to all this, and put up with the Nuremburg restrictions, as so many Jewish people did. Many interviewed continually repeat the same amazing self-denials towards these horrific and ominous predecessors to the Holocaust, saying"we had problems before, we thought Hitler would just go away, the problems would go away." By the time of the CrystallNach 3 years later, it was already too late for many Jewish people to be able to leave Germany. And even then, when notices were delivered ordering them to show up at a train station with just a suitcase, leaving everything behind, thousands just did. Who would not wonder about a notice like that? And so the concentration camp system rolled into action with Jewish people showing up en masse to the train, passive, accepting. Much footage of the time shows this, with women and people showing up to the station with smiles on their faces, complacent, passive, arranging their bags. Unbelievable.For such intelligent people to sit idly by and not make efforts to leave Germany much earlier than 1938, and even up to the deadly end of transportation to death camps, just shuffling right in, is unbelievable.
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