The Start of Kristallnacht

“What is it?” asked Kyla. She could now hear noises coming from outside; the sounds of voices in the streets.

“I thought I heard a crash,” said Marga. “There are people out here.”

“Who is it?” asked Susan.

Both Susan and Zammie were now awake as well. All three children rushed over to join Marga at the window. It was still dark in their room, but their faces were illuminated through the thin plate glass by the glow of burning torches being held by the people outside. Moving up the road towards the house they saw volunteer firemen dressed in heavy coats and helmets. There was smoke rising from a couple buildings a few blocks away from them.

“There’s a fire!” said Zammie. “And there’s another one!”

Crowds of people were now filling the streets. Zammie spotted several soldiers going door-to-door holding large, growling German Shepherds on leashes. Some of the villagers were throwing rocks and bricks through the windows of every building they passed. Why didn’t the police stop them? thought Zammie. Other people were tossing lit torches through the smashed windows of some of the storefronts.

Kyla saw a gang of men break down the door of one of the houses and barge inside. A few moments later she saw them dragging an older man and woman out of the house and throwing them in the street. The woman was crying hysterically and the old man was trying to calm her down. They were both in their sleeping garments.

Then the children watched as a gang of young men dressed in brown shirts and pants approached the synagogue just a few doors away and began throwing bricks through all the windows.

“What are they doing?” Marga gasped.

Other villagers threw torches into the synagogue and within seconds a large fire began to swell inside the sanctuary. Soon the flames were burning through the wooden roof.

“Who are those people?” asked Zammie.

“I don’t know,” said Marga. “I don’t recognize any of them.”

Marga noticed a few of the men who were wearing brown military shirts began walking towards her house. Nearly everyone in the street was carrying a torch in one hand and a large rock in the other.

“They’re coming this way!” said Marga.

“Are they gonna hurt us?” asked Susan. Her eyes were filled with terror.

Marga could hear her father and Grandpa talking downstairs.

“Let’s go downstairs. Follow me!” she said.

-- The Start of Kristallnacht

from Time Trip #4: Killing For Country

TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 4

KILLING FOR COUNTRY  

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TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 1

THE JOURNEY TO ANCIENT GREECE 

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TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 2

A RIDE ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

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TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 3

WITNESS TO THE FIRST THANKSGIVING 

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