The Blogs: 86 Years Later, Another November Pogrom

November 9-10, 1938.

Multiple, violent attacks on Jews by the local, non-Jewish community spread through a Western European nation, striking fear in the hearts of those who have already been experiencing record-levels of antisemitism about what the future holds for themselves and their loved ones.

Officials claimed the events were spontaneous reactions to the assassination of a national diplomat by a Jewish teen, however historical records show that the violence was organized and sanctioned by the state. Looking for a way to escalate their plans to further persecute and harass Jews, this event provided the necessary justification for the violence and organized chaos that was to follow.

One man described his experience on that night as he watched the angry mob come for his neighbor: “There was a man who lived on the end of the street. They threw up [sic] out of the building from the second floor out of the window,” he said. “He was laying there and they were kicking him and beating him. I saw it happening and I walked right past him, I couldn’t help him or do anything.”

Despite attempts to block reports of what had taken place from getting out to the international community, some photographs made their way to the United States, where they were featured in the November 28, 1938, issue of Life magazine. The Los Angeles Examiner published news about what took place on the front page of their November 23, 1938, edition with the headline, “Nazis Warn World Jews Will Be Wiped Out Unless Evacuated by Democracies.” President Roosevelt withdrew the United States ambassador to Germany as part of an official protest.

Regardless of the immediate public outrage, no actionable measures were taken. President Roosevelt did not offer support for Jews who wanted to leave Germany or condemn Hitler in any meaningful way. This event becomes known as Kristallnacht, or the November pogroms. It is widely acknowledged as a turning point in the history of the Holocaust. Prior to November 9-10, 1938, the persecution of Jews had been largely nonviolent. The November pogroms proved that state-sanctioned, large-scale violence against Jews for no reason other than the fact they were Jewish was possible—and that the world would stand by and allow it to happen.

November 7-8, 2024.

Some claimed that the events were spontaneous reactions to the provocations of Israelis who were instigating the anti-Israel mob by ripping down Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Arab slogans. However, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported on Friday that this was a pre-planned attack against Jews organized through various social media and messaging apps. Aware that the Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer match would bring an increase of Israelis and Jews to Amsterdam, an alleged “Jew Hunt” was announced well in advance via the messaging app Telegram, prompting rioters to travel from far outside Amsterdam, De Telegraaf reported. The Dutch news outlet also reported that taxi drivers were involved in the “Jew Hunt” by sharing addresses of Jews in What’s App messaging groups. There have even been reports of taxi drivers using apps to track down Jewish victims.

One man, Ofek Ziv, described his experience being ambushed by a gang of men whose faces were covered as they chased him because he was wearing his Maccabi Tel Aviv tracksuit. His voice began to break as he said, “My friend was killed in Nova on October 7. It’s the same feeling today – you see all these people attacked without any help and you can do nothing.”

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof described the violence Friday as a “terrible antisemitic attack.” “We will not tolerate (it). We will prosecute the perpetrators,” said Schoof. “I’m deeply ashamed that this could happen in the Netherlands in 2024.”

In a call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands said, “We failed the Jewish community of the Netherlands during World War II, and last night we failed again.” The King has also said, “We cannot turn a blind eye to antisemitic behaviour in our streets” – adding that history “has taught us how intimidation goes from bad to worse, with horrific consequences… Jewish people must feel safe in the Netherlands, everywhere and at all times.”

The public outcry is there, yet again. The question is: this time, will it be enough? Despite strong condemnations from the media and international officials, after the November pogroms of 1938, the world failed the Jews of Germany. The King of the Netherlands is going on record stating that 86 years later, his country is failing the Jews yet again, and that we cannot allow this to happen. However, words have no power without action behind them.

To those who truly want to make amends for what happened 86 years ago, we appreciate your words, but we need action instead. We need a police presence that doesn’t disappear when an organized mob is roaming the streets hunting us down. We need laws to protect us from antisemitism- not just for three days after an incident happens, but proactively as well. We need you to stand up and speak out on our behalf not only in your own countries on a global level, where we are underrepresented in places like the United Nations. If you truly want us to feel safe, make it your priority to stop history from repeating itself.