American Consul Samuel Honaker's Description of Anti-Semitic Persecution and Kristallnacht and its Aftereffects in the Stuttgart Region (November 12 and November 15, 1938)

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After a period of three days during which persecutive measures against the Jews have been unprecedented in this part of Germany, depression among this section of the population has become indescribable. Many Jewish women are afraid that the worst is yet to be experienced. They look forward with dread to the day on which Herr von [sic] Roth will be buried. Apprehension is prevalent in Jewish circles that a large number of the Jews already in prison will be kept by the authorities as hostages. They are hoping that Jews in foreign countries and the foreign Press will not give occasion to the German authorities to make more severe their persecution and apprehension as regards the future.

Reaction of the People to the Events Described.

There is a strong belief among many conservative people in Stuttgart that the violent action against the Jews which has taken place during the last three days was planned and in practically no way spontaneous as the German Press would like to have everyone believe. It became quickly known in Stuttgart that action against the Jews in Württemberg and Hohenzollern had taken place more or less simultaneously. It was just as quickly known that three measures were being executed throughout this section of Germany:

(a) the burning of synagogues;
(b) the smashing of windows and the forced closing of all Jewish shops; and
(c) the wholesale arrests of Jewish men.

These actions have caused a great part of the population to feel very uneasy and quickly to give expression to their lack of agreement with such practices. Reactions on the part of the populace have, however, shown a division of sentiment. The vast majority of the non-Jewish population, perhaps as much as 80 percent, have given evidence of complete disagreement with these violent demonstrations against the Jews. Many people, in fact, are hanging their heads with shame. On the other hand, possibly 20 percent of the population has shown satisfaction as a result of the application of radical measures.

Respectfully yours,
Samuel Honaker,
American Consul General


Original copy to Embassy, Berlin
Copy to Department of State, Washington
Copy to Consulate General, Berlin