The alleged “spontaneous” anti-Jewish outburst which occurred throughout Germany in November, 1938, following the assassination in Paris of Erast vom Rath, a German embassy official, by a Jewish refugee youth, Herschel Grynzpan, was carefully planned and executed by the Gestapo, the French radio said today, quoting a recently discovered Gestapo document.
The Gestapo order, which was numbered 234, was signed by an official named Mueller, the broadcast said. It read as follows: “Anti-Jewish demonstrations are to be staged immediately throughout Germany, resulting in the arrest of 20,000 to 30,000 Jews, mainly people of means. Futher instructions will be given in the course of the night.”
A supplementary document, signed by Reinhard Heydrich, covering the events of the night of Nov. 8-9, contained the following instructions: “The demonstrations tonight must be organized in such a way that neither German lives or property are endangered. Synagogues must be fired, but precautions should be taken to avoid damage to adjoining buildings. Jewish shops must be gutted, but as soon as the chief of police gives the signal for action to cease, shops must be boarded up to conceal the damage.”
Today’s broadcast stressed that the program was carried out exactly in accordence with the Gestapo instructions, while Goebbels harrangued for days concerning the “spontaneous outburst of the peoples’ fury imposing its will upon the government.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
