12th November 1938

Below we report extracts from the events on 10th and 11th November in A., a German town with 30,000 inhabitants including 300 Jews, in B., a village with 700 inhabitants including 25 Jews, in C., a remote Jewish farm with agricultural students. – We still do not have a general overview today, 12th November. – Our report is based on facts which we have seen with our own eyes or which were told to us by those involved.

The operation began in A. on 10th November at half past 6 in the morning, when some prominent Jews, including women, were dragged out of bed. They were led in front of the synagogue, made to unlock it and witness the following. Uniformed SS men broke into the synagogue though quickly left again. Several bombs immediately exploded and the synagogue was in flames. The window panes of the neighbouring dwellings shattered. (The Christian residents of the surrounding houses had already been asked the previous evening to move their furniture away from the windows.) The fire brigade stood by with their hands in their pockets and confined themselves to spraying the adjacent houses. Just four walls of the synagogue are still standing.

At the same time all male Jews between 20 and 70, about 60 in number, and also some women were arrested. The women were later released at about 9 o’clock and led home past the burning synagogue. The men were taken to the Gestapo hostel by use of the grossest means, even those who were seriously physically or mentally handicapped. Some, such as a 70-year-old man, were harshly mistreated, beaten until they lay there swollen and covered in blood. One was then thrown into water and “allowed” to go home. The others were partly locked in a cellar which they were not allowed to leave even to relieve themselves, others had to stand for hours facing the wall. Towards evening a few were released, mainly the elderly. Of the others, some were taken to the railway by lorries and loaded with kicks into goods wagons. We do not know where they were taken. Others were led away to the local prison.

Those released from custody can barely be induced to speak; though their wounds and the grey in their eyes speak for them. Those remaining in their homes, some of whom had been forbidden to leave, are close to despair. They are overwhelmed by their total ignorance about the fate of the men and fear of the immediate future. They receive telephone calls and telegrams from relatives in other places asking whether they can come and stay with them. The few Jewish businesses still in existence were closed by the police.

In B. the events took place as follows: at half past 6 all the men and a “Judenknecht” were led in front of the synagogue by an SS troop that had come in from elsewhere. After the Torah decorations had been removed by the SS the synagogue was blown up. – The men were then led away to the Rathaus. There, once the local police had been dismissed, they were mistreated in the most appalling way without exception; everyone received about 80 blows with two clubs and was heavily kicked. One war veteran, front-line soldier who had affixed his medal ribbons, was set upon particularly violently and his participation in the World War was doubted and derided by the young louts.

During this period houses were searched, jewellery confiscated and sums of money stolen. – Towards 6 o’clock in the evening the men were released again. They came home in a pitiable state. At 8 o’clock they were arrested anew. We do not know where they were then taken.

The Christian people in the village were completely uninvolved in everything that happened.

From C., the isolated farmstead, we are receiving a report that everything has been wrecked and the yard resembles a Lazarett.

We have only reported the facts here. We are unable to depict the horror and the fear which has overcome the people involved. Sorrow at the destruction of holy places, the loss of so many valuables and of existence are accepted in silence. Only fearful worry for the lives of their relatives dominates these people.