History Sourcework - 'Kristallnact was a spontaneous event by the German People' How far do these sources support this claim.

History Sourcework: Study all the Sources. 'Kristallnact was a spontaneous event by the German People' How far do these sources support this claim.

When looking at this question, it becomes obvious that there are three different possibilities of how Kristallnact came about:

1.It was a spontaneous event by the German people in anger to the death of von Roth

2. It was ordered by Hitler, in order to eliminate the Jews.

3. It was planned by Goebbels in order to help him with his power struggle within the Nazi Party.

The first option of kristallnacht being a spontaneous event by the German people is supported by sources B and D. Source D describes how the signs reading 'Jews not wanted' appeared put up by the German people, o ward off Jews from their tow. This mild hatred could have led them to riot during Kristallnact, but I believe that this account may have been slightly over exaggerated as the tone is very negative and highlights the negative factors while remaining too vague. Written by a Jew at an unknown date the author could have been bitter over kristallnacht. Also I believe that these signs were put up for fear of retribution from the Nazi party more than programmed Anti-Semitism. The second source, Source B is a document from the Nazi Supreme Court on the events of kristallnacht. It claims that the German people had started to riot in Munich over von Roth's death, and that Hitler said that no action should be taken to prevent the protest. This account is styled to look as if it is impartial with its language being neutral and very formal. The Nazi Party however tightly controlled the Supreme Court meaning that any judgement or paper that came out of the court had been checked and doctored if necessary to make sure that it followed Nazi propaganda or views. This means that this report was write for an unknown purpose, and then altered to fit in with the Nazi view on Kristallnact, which was that it was a spontaneous event caused by the German People.

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The second option in which the idea that the rioting was ordered by Hitler is found in sources C, F and G. these all come from non-Germans, who are of the opinion that, the SA or SS carried out the attack on the Jews and their property's. Source C is a report from an American consul in Germany who witnessed the events of kristallnacht unfold in front of him. He took interviews and gathered information until he concluded that the Nazi party had ordered the rioting and caused it to happen and furthermore that most German people had not participated in the rioting themselves. Source F is a cartoon drawn by a Russian artist for the Russian newspaper. The Russians bitterly hated the Germans and so if there was a rumour that the Nazis had committed the crimes on kristallnacht then hey would take it and demonstrate to there people how evil capitalism was as the government ordered its own people in Germany to be purged. Source G is another cartoon drawn some weeks after kristallnacht when appeasement had ended, The magazine began to think about the way in which the Nazis were treating its people and so drew this cartoon. This cartoon can be applied both to kristallnacht and other events that had happened. This cartoon is about the evils of Nazism not just Kristallnact. As 'outsiders' so to speak they will not fully comprehend how the Nazi party conflicts inside between senior officials. If an order came from the top of the party. They would naturally assume that Adolf Hitler himself sent it as he was 100% in control of the party and it's actions. Therefore if the party did something Hitler had ordered himself it himself.

The third option of Goebbels conceiving the rioting to help him in his power struggle within the Nazi party. This is backed up by Sources A, H and E. Source A is reciting a dinner party where Goebbels mentioned the idea to Hitler and received approval to commence with the riots. This was written by a journalist years after the war. Its language and tone are typical to that of a journalist and so cannot tell much but the description and the way in which this man had nothing to lose by telling the truth make this source seem very reliable. Source E was written by a civil servant within the German government. He had access to all the inside material that circulated through the offices of the government. He would have known who ordered the attack to take place and followed their orders. His knowledge would have been impeccable. Goering testified source H at his trial in Nuremberg. In it he blames Goebbels for everything related to Kristallnact and its after effects which he had to deal with. He had nothing to lose by lying and undoubtedly knew the truth about kristallnacht. This makes his source extremely reliable. All these people lived and worked inside Germany. They knew the way in which the government worked and its divisions within. They would have suspected and heard who started kristallnacht and what happened really. This adds extra credit o these sources.

Source I stands alone as it matches into none of the other three categories. It only shows Hitler's regret at what happened. It doesn't discuss what actually happened on kristallnacht or who started it. It therefore has no relevance to any other source.

In conclusion I believe that those sources group into option 3 have he most relevance and support on a single theory. The theory of spontaneous action has two sources to support it, one of which is biased, the other which is vague and inaccurate in its relevance to kristallnacht. Non-Germans who do not fully understand the political climate of the time write all the sources that group into option 2. They believe that it was not a spontaneous event but believe that Hitler ordered it. People who lived in Germany write option 3, people who understood what were happening and what the Nazi party was up to. Options 2&3 have greater numbers than option 1 which means that the sources overall disagree with the theory of spontaneous attack.

J.Harratt