Police on Thursday cordoned off the Beth Zion synagogue in Berlin where a commemoration service was taking place. Reuters
Police on Thursday cordoned off the Beth Zion synagogue in Berlin where a commemoration service was taking place. Reuters
Police on Thursday cordoned off the Beth Zion synagogue in Berlin where a commemoration service was taking place. Reuters
Police on Thursday cordoned off the Beth Zion synagogue in Berlin where a commemoration service was taking place. Reuters

Germany marks Kristallnacht 'day of fate' in shadow of Gaza tensions


Tim Stickings
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Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

Germany vowed on Thursday to tackle an eruption of anti-Semitism linked to the war in Gaza, as it marked an eventful date in its history known among other things for a night of anti-Jewish terror in 1938.

November 9 is also the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the failure of Adolf Hitler's 1923 putsch, the end of the German monarchy in 1918 and other significant events.

But Kristallnacht – a night of Nazi violence on November 9, 1938 that foreshadowed the Holocaust – was uppermost in Germany's mind on Thursday with tensions high as a result of the Israel-Gaza war.

Police cordoned off a synagogue in Berlin where a remembrance service was taking place on Thursday. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock laid flowers at the Holocaust memorial commemorating Germany's darkest hour.

In parliament, Israel's ambassador Ron Prosor and Holocaust survivor Margot Friedlander, 102, were among the guests in the public gallery at a debate on protecting Jewish life.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told MPs that further bans on hardline groups were on the way after Germany moved to ban Hamas activities and dissolve a pro-Palestinian group called Samidoun.

Invoking a post-war German motto, she said: "Never again, ladies and gentlemen, is now."

Jewish homes, shops and synagogues were looted in a wave of Nazi terror that began on November 9, 1938. AP
Jewish homes, shops and synagogues were looted in a wave of Nazi terror that began on November 9, 1938. AP

"If Jewish children are scared to go to kindergarten or school, if we need stricter security measures to protect them from attacks on the way to their lessons, that makes me ashamed and breaks my heart," Ms Faeser said.

"2023 is not 1938. We all stand by the side of those who are affected by anti-Semitism, hate propaganda and violence. Today, Jews who are attacked can count on the help of the state they live in."

In a spate of anti-Semitic incidents, the Star of David has been daubed on buildings, Israeli flags were burnt, a Jewish hospital had a window smashed and Molotov cocktails were thrown at a synagogue in Berlin.

The unrest has unnerved Germany as it marks 85 years since Jewish shops, homes and synagogues were attacked and families rounded up and deported by Nazi secret police on Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass). Many were taken to concentration camps, where Holocaust atrocities ensured millions of them did not return.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock laid flowers at the Holocaust memorial in Berlin on Thursday. AP
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock laid flowers at the Holocaust memorial in Berlin on Thursday. AP

Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday laid a tribute at a memorial to a Jewish couple who became friends with Anne Frank's family in hiding.

He also recalled Hitler's first attempt to seize power 100 years ago exactly, which ended in failure in Munich on the morning of November 9, 1923.

"We need to protect and defend our democracy against all those who want to undermine it," Mr Scholz said. "That is true for all of us and especially in these times."

Norwegian royals were among the guests at a separate commemoration marking the night the Berlin Wall was opened 34 years ago, thanks to a bungled announcement by an East German official.

November 9 marks a series of momentous events in German history including the opening of the Berlin Wall in 1989. AFP
November 9 marks a series of momentous events in German history including the opening of the Berlin Wall in 1989. AFP

Thursday is also 105 years since Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated at the end of the First World War, marking the end of imperial Germany. In 1848, a leading revolutionary was executed on November 9 after a failed uprising.

The date is often referred to as a "day of fate" due to this series of momentous events, although President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has said he dislikes the term because human rather than supernatural forces were at work.

Mr Steinmeier convened Jewish and Muslim leaders at the presidential palace on Wednesday as he made a plea for harmony during the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Addressing people with Arab and Palestinian roots, he told them to "speak up for yourselves" and not to "let yourselves become stooges for Hamas".

Director: Jon Favreau

Starring: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, John Oliver

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

RESULT

Leeds United 1 Manchester City 1
Leeds:
 Rodrigo (59')
Man City: Sterling (17')

Man of the Match: Rodrigo Moreno (Leeds)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

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Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine

Transmission Six-speed gearbox

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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

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Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)

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Tamkeen's offering
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The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
Amitav Ghosh, University of Chicago Press

Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.

It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.

“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.

The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

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Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.

•   Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.

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•   Choose the right level of risk. Don't gamble by investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.

•   Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.

•   Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you pay to advisers and active fund managers.

•   Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.

•   Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.

•   Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.

A cryptocurrency primer for beginners

Cryptocurrency Investing  for Dummies – by Kiana Danial 

There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine. 

Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.

Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this  book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.

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Updated: November 09, 2023, 11:08 AM