Grynszpan and the rest of the story
While doing research on political assassins of the past for this PJ piece of mine, I looked up the case of Herschel Grynszpan, a Polish-German Jew who had shot and killed the German diplomat Ernst vom Rath on November 7, 1938 in Paris. This was the event the Nazis seized on as an excuse for Kristallnacht.
I had had only a vague recollection of the facts. But when I read Grynszpan’s Wiki entry, I found a fascinating story—far sadder, and far more complex, than I had expected. You might want to take a look and read about the strange twistings and turnings of the case.
Doubtless a story with which novelist Alan Furst is thoroughly familiar. I cannot read one Furst, then pick up another; too mind-churning.
Very interesting story, neo. Thanks for the link.
If not for the assassination of Rath, the National Socialist Party would have concocted a similar event to set off Kristallnacht. The assassination was merely convenient. The Reichstag Fire was very similar in nature, namely a disturbed dupe was used to create a rational for the persecution of Jews and all dissidents.
There is a good discussion of these two incidents in William Shirer’s Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. A book I highly recommend if any of you have not yet read it. It leads the reader step by step through the dire circumstances of Germany under the Weimar Republic, Hitler’s slow rise to power, and all that followed. Its a lesson in how discontent and poverty can lead to great horrors and the death of tens of millions.
Grynszpan transliterates to Greenspan. Wonder if Ezra is remotely related to Herschel.
“Grynszpan transliterates to Greenspan. Wonder if Ezra is remotely related to Herschel.”
I think Alan is a bit closer to the mark. 🙂
My bad. Dunno whence came Ezra in my small brain!
Ezra Klein, Parker. He’s a fairly insignificant little twerp, so we have trouble remembering exactly what he said, but the name floats around in the annoyance center in the brain.