I find it disturbing that every year November 9th (& 10th) comes and goes as uneventful as any other day. Germans (and Germany) do nothing, or very little, to commomorate or memorialize Kristallnacht (1938), which was the beginning of the Holocaust. However, the Neo-Nazis seem to do something every year on this date.
Last year in Berlin, they destoyed a Kristallnacht memorial and this year (a couple of days ago) they took a bus to Prague and wanted to march in the old Jewish Quarter there. We were there (in Prague) last year and the video footage I saw about this event was haunting. There's something strange about seeing the same places you have been full of Neo-Nazis and police. The Czech people came out in big numbers and said, "No way in hell are the Nazis going to march in the Jewish Quarter here". I wonder why the same thing didn't happen in Germany 70 years ago? This is a big quesiton for me. I'm beginning to explore it through my artwork... stay tuned.
Jewish Synagogue Burns During Kristallnacht - Almost immediately upon assuming the Chancellorship of Germany, Hitler began promulgating legal actions against Germany's Jews. In 1933, he proclaimed a one-day boycott against Jewish shops, a law was passed against kosher butchering and Jewish children began experiencing restrictions in public schools. By 1935, the Nuremberg Laws deprived Jews of German citizenship. By 1936, Jews were prohibited from participation in parliamentary elections and signs reading "Jews Not Welcome" appeared in many German cities. (Incidentally, these signs were taken down in the late summer in preparation for the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin).
Last year in Berlin, they destoyed a Kristallnacht memorial and this year (a couple of days ago) they took a bus to Prague and wanted to march in the old Jewish Quarter there. We were there (in Prague) last year and the video footage I saw about this event was haunting. There's something strange about seeing the same places you have been full of Neo-Nazis and police. The Czech people came out in big numbers and said, "No way in hell are the Nazis going to march in the Jewish Quarter here". I wonder why the same thing didn't happen in Germany 70 years ago? This is a big quesiton for me. I'm beginning to explore it through my artwork... stay tuned.
Jewish Synagogue Burns During Kristallnacht - Almost immediately upon assuming the Chancellorship of Germany, Hitler began promulgating legal actions against Germany's Jews. In 1933, he proclaimed a one-day boycott against Jewish shops, a law was passed against kosher butchering and Jewish children began experiencing restrictions in public schools. By 1935, the Nuremberg Laws deprived Jews of German citizenship. By 1936, Jews were prohibited from participation in parliamentary elections and signs reading "Jews Not Welcome" appeared in many German cities. (Incidentally, these signs were taken down in the late summer in preparation for the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin).