This is a date that is obviously still a couple of weeks away, but I am having a problem. For the past few years, I have marked this date as being the anniversary of the infamous Night of Broken Glass [Kristallnacht] in 1938. On that night, Nazi supporters, police and troops went on the rampage across Germany, destroying Jewish-owned property and synagogues. This was a concerted and premeditated act, laying down for all to see what Nazi Germany was all about. The burning flame, on the left of this post, is a reminder of what happened that November night. And what was to follow.
After the unspeakable atrocities of the Second World War, Germany was divided into four by the victorious allies. The British, French and American sectors became West Germany, whilst the Soviet sector was turned into East Germany, a communist state. Berlin was similarly divided. Until 1961, people from the East fled to the West in droves. A barrier was erected across Berlin in August 1961, later replaced by a high, concrete wall. Similar barriers were put up along the borders between East and West Germany. Anyone trying to flee from East to West was shot on sight, no questions asked. The advent of Mikhail Gorbatchov as leader of the USSR in the 1980s heralded a start of change. And when this wind of change blew across eastern Europe, it blew away all the communist regimes within the space of a few months in 1989.
The Berlin Wall was torn down on 9 November 1989, and you can see my dilemma. Do I remember the Kristallnacht, and not celebrate the reunification of Germany? Do I celebrate the reunification, and ignore the Night of Broken Glass? Or can the two be reconciled? The city of Berlin is mounting a huge celebration on 9 November 2009, the 20th anniversary of the Fall of the Wall. I wonder if anyone will think of the Kristallnacht then. For the two are inextricably linked. The Kristallnacht heralded the start of tyranny - perhaps the end of the Berlin wall heralded the end of it. Maybe that's the way to look at it. I'll think about it. I'm not convinced.
To celebrate peace is always the better way. To remember what caused pain and suffering is needed but only to cause us to remember how great freedom is.
ReplyDeleteAs you say Guido the two are inextricably linked, and so should be remembered together in my view. And as such can be used as a form of reconciliation.
ReplyDeleteKristallnacht should NEVER be forgotten - we are still experiencing threats to our freedom of speech/thoughts even now....as Twitter showed us earlier this week.
Yes we ought never forget that awful attack on humanity, Kristallnacht was an indication of the horrors that ensued in Europe.
ReplyDeleteWe must be reminded that such evil can exist if we allow it to.
The flame is most symbolic as an eternal light shines at the centre of every synagogue, representing life and enlightenment, which makes the destruction and death by fire so extremely poignant.
The fall of the Berlin Wall represents - in a powerfully sybolic way the restored unity of people and the end of segregation.