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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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When Josef’s home is raided by Nazis during the infamous Kristallnacht, the Nazis make fun of Josef being a child when he wets himself in fear. His protests that he will soon be a man (when he turns 13, based on Jewish law) are only met with derision. This sequence introduces two of the major themes that Gratz highlights in all three of his narratives: first, the injustice and cruelty that the three protagonists face. The Nazis view the Jewish people as subhuman, and by devaluing their humanity, they are able to enact such atrocities like ransacking their homes en Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore
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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A week into Josef’s journey on the St. Louis, the social hall is converted into a synagogue and Josef is able to have his bar mitzvah on the ship. Josef recalls how he had not been able to attend synagogue since before Kristallnacht, since after this event German Jews became afraid of gathering together in public spaces for fear of Nazi retaliation. Josef’s memories of the services and his excitement at being able to revive these traditions emphasize the importance of his cultural heritage. But the fact that Josef is able to practice these traditions once more on the St. Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas deb
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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)
