Herschel Grynszpan, German assassin of Ernst vom Rath (d. 1960)

The story of Herschel Feibel Grynszpan, a German-born Jew of Polish heritage, is inextricably linked to one of the most chilling precursors to the Holocaust. Born on 28 March 1921, Grynszpan's life, though tragically short and shrouded in mystery, played a pivotal, albeit unwilling, role in accelerating Nazi Germany's antisemitic agenda. His actions, taken in desperation and anger, were seized upon by the Nazi regime as the perfect pretext for a brutal escalation of violence against Jewish communities across Germany and Austria.

A Desperate Act in Paris

On the morning of 7 November 1938, in the quiet confines of the German Embassy in Paris, Herschel Grynszpan, then a seventeen-year-old, committed an act of violence that would reverberate through history. Armed with a pistol, he sought out Ernst vom Rath, a German diplomat, and shot him. Vom Rath succumbed to his injuries two days later. Grynszpan’s motivation stemmed from deep anguish and outrage over the plight of his family, who, along with thousands of other Polish Jews residing in Germany, had been summarily expelled from their homes and deported to the Polish border, enduring horrific conditions.

Kristallnacht: The "Night of Broken Glass"

The assassination of Ernst vom Rath was precisely the incident the Nazi leadership had been waiting for. Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels and Adolf Hitler themselves used Grynszpan's desperate act as the fabricated justification to unleash an unprecedented wave of state-sponsored antisemitic violence. On the nights of 9–10 November 1938, Germany and parts of Austria erupted in what became known as Kristallnacht, or "The Night of Broken Glass." Synagogues were burned, Jewish businesses were looted and destroyed, and thousands of Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps. This pogrom, far from being a spontaneous outburst, was a meticulously orchestrated attack by the SA (Stormtroopers) and other Nazi paramilitary groups, signaling a terrifying shift from discriminatory laws to widespread physical violence and setting the stage for the systematic extermination of European Jewry.

Capture, Captivity, and an Enduring Mystery

Following the Fall of France to Nazi Germany in 1940, Grynszpan was seized by the Gestapo in Paris and subsequently transported back to Germany. His presence was considered a valuable propaganda tool by the Nazis, who intended to stage a show trial to justify their persecution of Jews. However, the trial was repeatedly postponed, possibly due to fears that Grynszpan might expose homosexual relations between him and vom Rath, or that his testimony would contradict the official Nazi narrative of a Jewish conspiracy. The exact circumstances of his death remain unknown, adding another layer to the tragedy of his life. It is widely presumed that Herschel Grynszpan did not survive World War II, likely perishing in Gestapo custody or in a concentration camp. He was officially declared dead in 1960, cementing his place in history as a figure whose actions inadvertently lit the fuse for a genocidal campaign.

The 2016 Revelation: A Glimmer of Hope or a False Lead?

Decades after his presumed death, a tantalizing piece of potential evidence emerged that briefly reignited public and historical debate about Grynszpan’s ultimate fate. In 2016, a photograph surfaced from a displaced persons camp in Bamberg, Germany, dated 3 July 1946. This image depicted a man bearing a striking resemblance to Herschel Grynszpan, prompting speculation that he might have survived the war after all. While the photograph offered a tantalizing possibility, it has not definitively proven that Grynszpan was alive at that time, and the historical consensus largely maintains his death during the war. Nevertheless, it underscored the persistent intrigue and unresolved questions surrounding the life and disappearance of a young man whose desperate act became a tragic turning point in 20th-century history.

Frequently Asked Questions About Herschel Feibel Grynszpan

Who was Herschel Feibel Grynszpan?

Herschel Feibel Grynszpan was a German-born Jew of Polish heritage whose assassination of German diplomat Ernst vom Rath in Paris on November 7, 1938, was used by the Nazi regime as a pretext for Kristallnacht.

What was Grynszpan's motive for the assassination?

He acted out of desperation and anger after his family, along with thousands of other Polish Jews, was expelled from Germany and left in dire conditions at the Polish border.

What was Kristallnacht?

Kristallnacht, or "The Night of Broken Glass," was a violent, state-sponsored antisemitic pogrom carried out by the Nazis on November 9–10, 1938. It involved the destruction of synagogues, Jewish businesses, and the arrest of thousands of Jewish men, marking a major escalation in the persecution of Jews.

What happened to Herschel Feibel Grynszpan after the assassination?

He was arrested in Paris and, after the Fall of France, was captured by the Gestapo and brought to Germany. His ultimate fate remains unknown, though he is widely believed to have died in Gestapo custody or a concentration camp during World War II. He was officially declared dead in 1960.

Was there any evidence that Grynszpan survived WWII?

In 2016, a photograph from a displaced persons camp in Bamberg, dated July 3, 1946, showing a man resembling Grynszpan, emerged. While intriguing, it has not been definitively proven to be him and the historical consensus still points to his death during the war.