Germany remembers Kristallnacht

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Germany remembers Kristallnacht

At least 90 Jewish people were killed on Kristallnacht

Germany is preparing to mark the 70th anniversary of the Nazi-inspired Kristallnacht riots, amid warnings of a rise in far-right sentiment.

A ceremony will be held at Berlin's largest synagogue with a classical and pop concert held later in the day.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on the country to "fight with determinism" against racism and anti-Semitism.

Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, is often regarded as the starting point of the Holocaust.

About six million people, mostly Jews, were killed by the Nazis.

'Guard memory'

On 9 and 10 November 1938, Nazi storm troopers ransacked thousands of Jewish homes and businesses and burnt synagogues.

More than 90 Jewish people were murdered and about 30,000 Jewish men were sent to concentration camps.

Mrs Merkel said many had not wanted to see what was happening to Jews

In her weekly internet video message, Mrs Merkel said that many Germans at that time "did not want to see" what was happening.

"We know the unspeakable began that day and ended with the Holocaust," she said.

"We must guard that memory not only out of duty towards the victims but also to ensure that it does not happen again."

On Sunday, Mrs Merkel will attend a commemoration service with the Central Council of Jews in Germany at a restored synagogue in Berlin which survived the 1938 violence.

On Sunday evening, a concert entitled "Tu Was", or "Do Something", will be held at Berlin's Tempelhof airport.

Its organiser, British violinist Daniel Hope, said he was inspired by reading a book about the events in 1938 and realising there was nothing to mark the day other than the official ceremony.

"It's difficult to know how to commemorate a day of tragedy," he said.

"It is a wonderful chance for everybody to think about things. Not doing something is the worst thing anyone can do".

Peaceful protests

The anniversary comes at a time of concern that far right sentiments are on the rise in Germany.

Demonstrators said Fulda was a Nazi-free zone

On Saturday, police estimated that about 600 people marched in Fulda in central Germany to protest against a march by members of the right wing National Democratic Party (NPD).

Demonstrators held up signs saying that Fulda was "a Nazi-free zone" and waved Israeli flags.

Police said the demonstrations were peaceful and the two groups were kept apart.

The secretary general of the Central Council of German Jews, Stephan Kramer, has said there should be better education for Germany children about the events of the Nazi era.

Mr Kramer told a German newspaper that young people should "more than ever at the moment be warned against the dangers of the future, of a new anti-Semitism and of the far-right".quote>

[Aontan 0]

A major low-point in human history.  One of the most tragic things is that many German Jews felt that after Kristallnacht, 'they couldn't do anything worse'.

If only they were correct...