What happened on Kristallnacht?

Since writing the above, things have greatly worsened. Blind unreasoning hatred of the Jew has burst forth in greater volume and violence than ever. One can scarcely believe it possible that the land of the glorious Reformation, the home of Martin Luther, could witness such frightful atrocities.

The Manchester Guardian Weekly (Nov. 25th, 1938), tells us that in the recent Nazi pogrom against the Jews, as the result of a young Nazi diplomat, Von Rath, being murdered by a young Jewish lad, driven mad by the tortures his parents endured, 9,000 to 10,000 Jews were arrested in Berlin alone. About 35,000 to 40,000 have been arrested in all Germany, not including Austria and Sudetenland. It is learned from a sure source that 70 Jews were executed in the Buchenwald camp on the night of Nov. 8th-9th, that is to say, before the death of Von Rath. Further executions followed to the number of 200 in that one camp.

Innumerable Jews wander about the forests, and wealthy Jews will spend all their time in the trains, wandering from place to place seeking to elude capture.

In Berlin alone 3,000 Jewish shops and stores were destroyed by organised gangs. Some 166 synagogues and temples have been destroyed. Jewish schools have shared the like fate. Homes and institutes for the poor, the aged and the sick have been destroyed. A large Jewish children’s home at Caputh, near Berlin, was demolished by an organised gang. Consumptive patients at Soden were driven out during the night, and their home demolished. Much more could be narrated, but this will suffice to indicate the horrible character of unreasonable hate against the Jews.

Not only so, the German Government imposed a fine of a thousand million marks upon the whole Jewish community, a sum amounting to £83,000,000. Field-Marshal Goering at the same time, with a refined cruelty, ordered the Jews to repair all their damaged property, and all insurance claimed by them to be confiscated by the State. After January 1st, 1939, no Jew is allowed to own or manage any business or pursue any handicraft. The sum total effect of such treatment will be to completely strip them of their money, property, and even personal jewellery, and deprive them of every means of livelihood. Little wonder that thousands of Jews have committed suicide. All this helps to drive Jews to Palestine.

Hitler’s harsh decrees against the Jews in a night altered the whole complexion of things. The world was staggered. Trains and steamers were packed with Jews fleeing from the country. Professional men, lawyers, doctors, professors, teachers, merchants, manufacturers, their only crime being that they were of Jewish blood, were ruined at a stroke. Many committed suicide.

The effect of Hitler’s action was seen, in that whilst 5,000 Jews immigrated in 1932, in the first half of 1933 no less than 15,000 Jews returned to Palestine, making 30,000 or more for the whole year. Six times as many Jews returned in 1933 as in 1932. Poland, which was outside the range of Hitler’s decrees, had three times as many return in 1932, as compared with 1931.

Take a second case at the present time. The repeopling of Palestine by the Jews was proceeding at a comparatively slow rate. About 6,000 a year were admitted. One morning the civilized world was startled by the news of the stringent laws passed by Hitler against the Jews. A wave of intense anti-Semitism swept over Germany. The Jews, who were able, quickly fled from the country. The trains running to Holland and other parts, the ferry boats running to Denmark and Sweden were filled day after day with fleeing Jews. Many committed suicide.

It was their very prosperity that was their ruin. Numbering only three percent of the population in Germany, yet the Jews accounted for about eight percent of the legal, medical and other professions, besides their share in the manufacturing and commercial life of the country.

The whole of Jewry felt very insecure. In 1931 the immigrants to Palestine numbered 5,000. In the first half of 1932 the number, had risen to 15,000, and it was expected the second half of 1932 would witness a further 25,000 to 30,000 finding a home in Palestine. It is stated that three times, as many Jews went to Palestine from Poland in 1932 as in 1931. Moscow contains 250,000 Jews. By a new passport decree 150,000 of these are threatened with expulsion. It is said on good authority that 3,000,000 Jews are eager to settle in Palestine. No wonder! They feel how insecure they are in the lands they have long dwelt in. Palestine is the only land they can lay claim to. If they leave Germany or Russia or Poland, other countries will refuse them asylum. So Palestine is the spot they are seeking refuge in. Verily God makes the wrath of man to praise Him.

“Now the anti-Jewish tendency of National Socialism has caused a growing number of Jews to leave the city. Though they have not been ill-treated they feel keenly the boycott waged against them. They have played a leading part in the history of the city—Frankfurt’s famous university was founded by Jews and are not willing to be regarded now as second-rate citizens and outcasts.

“Some have committed suicide. Thousands have gone to foreign countries, many of them to Palestine.

“An official statement, just published, says that since the beginning of 1934 an average of 40 Jewish firms have closed down every month—or ten a week. In June 102 Jewish firms closed down, and their principals left the city.

“A number of Jewish banks, including the well-known bank of Speyer, have wound up their business in Frankfurt. The immediate consequence has been an irreparable loss to the city’s treasury.

Jewish doctors, lawyers, professors, driven out of Germany by Hitler’s refined cruelty, may be seen driving motor buses, taxicabs, working on the wharves, etc.

“The Jews were the backbone of the city’s economic life, and their far-reaching business relations were of vital importance for trade with foreign countries. Now the Jews have gone, or are going, and their money is going with them.”

Indeed all over Europe Jews are unsettled. It is stated by a distinguished Jew, Dr. B.H.Shein, that no less than 3,000,000 Jews in Germany, Poland, Russia, Romania and other European countries are eager to settle in Palestine. But for Hitler’s decrees the return of the Jews might have continued at a comparatively slow rate. Now the numbers are greatly increased and will, doubtless, increase still more rapidly.

How true this is in this case! The extraordinary wave of anti-Semitism that has swept over Germany, having its repercussions all over the world is an example of this. There is some reason for this, as Rosanoff, a Russian writer, in Fallen Leaves, points out. He says:

The following striking extract from a leading journal, shows the effect of Hitler’s action, and how it is assisting the fulfilment of Scripture prophecy of the return of the Jews to their own land. It also shows how no country can with impunity persecute God’s ancient people.

“Life Intolerable” “‘There are in Europe millions of our race whose life is intolerable and impossible,’ said Lord Melchett.