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Terms
A series of coordinated attacks on the Jewish people by the Nazi Party, carried out on the night of November 9-10, 1938, throughout Germany. The Nazis torched synagogues, vandalized homes, schools, synagogues, and businesses, and killed almost 100 Jews. Josef’s story opens on the night of Kristallnacht, when his home is destroyed by the Nazis and his father, Aaron, is taken to a concentration camp. Kristallnacht means “Crystal Night” in English, referring to the broken glass of the buildings that were demolished.
Kristallnacht Quotes in Refugee
The Refugee quotes below are all either spoken by Kristallnacht or refer to Kristallnacht. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Josef: Berlin, Germany – 1938
Quotes
The Nazis laughed, and Josef’s face burned hot with shame. He struggled in the men’s arms, trying to break free. “I’ll be a man soon enough,” Josef told them. “I’ll be a man in six months and eleven days.”
The Nazis laughed again. “Six months and eleven days!” the Brownshirt said. “Not that he’s counting.” The Brownshirt suddenly turned serious. “Perhaps you’re close enough that we should take you to a concentration camp too, like your father.”
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Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean – 1939, 8 days
Quotes
It all came flooding back to him now—swaying and humming along with the prayers, craning his neck to see the Torah when it was taken out of the ark and hoping to get a chance to touch it and then kiss his fingers as the scroll came around in a procession. Josef felt his skin tingle. The Nazis had taken all this from them, from him, and now he and the passengers on the ship were taking it back.
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Kristallnacht Term Timeline in Refugee
The timeline below shows where the term Kristallnacht appears in Refugee. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Josef: Berlin, Germany – 1938
...and destroyed thousands of Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues all over Germany. They called it Kristallnacht, “the Night of Broken Glass.” Josef and the others know it means that they aren’t...
(full context)
Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean – 1939, 8 days from home
...hundred people there for the service. Josef is amazed—he hasn’t been in a synagogue since Kristallnacht. Memories of the services flood back to him, and he is excited that he and...
(full context)
