November 7 in Jewish History: The Assassination of Ernst vom Rath – Prelude to the “Night of Broken Glass”
On November 7, 1938, a pivotal and consequential event occurred that would serve as a catalyst for one of the darkest chapters in Jewish history. On this day, Herschel Grynszpan, a 17-year-old Polish-Jewish youth living in Paris since 1936, shot Ernst vom Rath, the Third Secretary at the German Embassy in Paris. Grynszpan’s family had been expelled from Germany in late October 1938 and stranded at the Polish border in the town of Zbąszyń, victims of the Nazi regime’s increasingly oppressive policies. Acting out of desperation and protest, he went to the embassy and fired five shots at vom Rath. The diplomat succumbed to his wounds two days later, on November 9, 1938.
Grynszpan’s personal circumstances provide crucial context for understanding his act. In late October 1938, approximately 17,000 Polish Jews living in Germany were expelled by the Nazi regime and forced across the border into Poland under harsh conditions. Grynszpan’s parents were among them, and their forced displacement left them vulnerable and destitute. Learning of his family’s plight, Grynszpan decided to take action. He reportedly declared after his arrest, “Being a Jew is not a crime … I am not a dog. I have a right to live and the Jewish people have a right to exist on earth.” This statement reflected not only his personal grief and sense of injustice but also a broader assertion of Jewish dignity in the face of mounting persecution.
The assassination itself unfolded with grim precision. On the morning of November 7, Grynszpan purchased a pistol and went to the German Embassy in Paris. He asked to see a senior official and was ushered into Ernst vom Rath’s office, where he shot him at close range, firing five times. Vom Rath was severely wounded and died two days later. While the act was clearly the result of personal desperation, the Nazi regime immediately seized upon it as a political pretext, framing it as part of a collective Jewish attack on Germany rather than an isolated act by a single teenager. Newspapers and Nazi propaganda emphasized collective guilt, portraying vom Rath as a martyr of the Reich and ignoring the underlying context of Grynszpan’s family’s expulsion.
The propaganda surrounding vom Rath’s death was both immediate and intense. When news of the shooting reached Nazi leadership during a gathering in Munich, they used the moment to coordinate a nationwide response. Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda minister, delivered a speech that effectively signaled to SA and SS units that violence against Jews would not only be tolerated but expected. German newspapers misrepresented Grynszpan’s motives, spreading the narrative that the assassination was evidence of a Jewish conspiracy against Germany. Headlines and articles incited public outrage, reinforcing the regime’s narrative of a Jewish “threat” and setting the stage for mass violence.
Within two days, the Nazis launched Kristallnacht, the “Night of Broken Glass,” on November 9–10, 1938. This coordinated pogrom marked the first instance of state-sanctioned mass violence against Jews in Germany and annexed territories. Thousands of synagogues were destroyed, Jewish homes and businesses were looted and vandalized, and approximately 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps. Kristallnacht represented a shift from discriminatory laws and sporadic violence to organized, open-air terror orchestrated by the state. Grynszpan himself became a pawn in Nazi propaganda: his act of desperation was turned into “proof” of a Jewish conspiracy, while his personal motives and the suffering of his family were ignored.
This event carries profound lessons about the manipulation of information and public perception. The assassination of vom Rath demonstrates how a single symbolic act can be leveraged by a powerful regime to justify widespread repression and violence. Propaganda deliberately reframed Grynszpan’s personal protest into a narrative of collective Jewish aggression, and newspapers reinforced this by inciting public outrage and preparing the population for pogroms. The Nazis ignored the underlying causes—the forced expulsion of Grynszpan’s family, his personal desperation, and the human suffering that drove his actions—highlighting how easily context can be erased when a state seeks to consolidate power and escalate persecution.
For the Jewish community, and particularly for the mission of Jews Can Shoot, the events of November 7, 1938, hold critical relevance. They underscore how symbolic acts, or what might be termed “trigger events,” can be exploited by state power to justify broad oppression. The story highlights the dangers of disarmament and passivity in vulnerable communities, showing how quickly rights can be eroded and violence can escalate when a population is weakened and targeted. Grynszpan’s desperate act as a teenager, motivated by the suffering of his family, reminds us that preparedness, situational awareness, and proactive community resilience are vital tools to prevent marginalization from spiraling into large-scale tragedy.
November 7, 1938, also corresponds to the 16th of Cheshvan, 5786, in the Jewish calendar. Historically, the day has further significance: for example, Rabbi Sholom DovBer of Lubavitch left Lubavitch in Russia due to the German advance during World War I. This context underscores that November 7 has long been associated with critical moments of movement, decision, and survival in Jewish history.
The assassination of Ernst vom Rath and the subsequent pogrom illustrate the importance of historical awareness. Knowledge of how small, desperate acts can be twisted by those in power into justification for mass violence is not merely academic; it is essential for the protection and self-defense of communities. The manipulation of narratives, the strategic use of propaganda, and the public reframing of Grynszpan’s personal grief all serve as warnings. When communities understand the triggers and tactics of oppressive regimes, they are better equipped to recognize threats early, act decisively, and maintain the ability to protect themselves.
Ultimately, November 7, 1938, stands as a sobering reminder of the fragile line between vulnerability and catastrophe. The assassination of Ernst vom Rath demonstrates how personal despair—Grynszpan’s desperate act in response to his family’s suffering—can be exploited by those in power to justify widespread oppression and violence. Nazi propaganda deliberately reframed his protest into a narrative of collective Jewish aggression, ignoring the human context behind his actions. For Jews Can Shoot, this history underscores the critical importance of preparedness, situational awareness, and proactive self-defense: understanding historical patterns, recognizing manipulative narratives, and maintaining the tools, skills, and mindset necessary to protect oneself and one’s community before marginalization escalates into large-scale tragedy. November 7 is not only a day of historical significance but a call to vigilance, action, and the affirmation of Jewish resilience and self-defense in the face of persistent threats.
