Nearly 90 years after a German officer defied Nazis on Kristallnacht, police pledge to protect Jews
Over 1,400 synagogues were burned and ransacked, including Germany’s then-largest Neue Synagogue in Berlin. Because of one police officer’s moral conviction, this historic synagogue was saved.
Exactly ninety years after a German officer stood up to Nazi forces during Kristallnacht, police officials pledged to safeguard Jewish communities. On November 9-10, 1938, over 1,400 synagogues were destroyed across Germany, with the largest Neue Synagogue in Berlin enduring a targeted attack. Police officer Wilhelm Krutzfeld, defying orders, prevented arsonists from destroying this sacred site.
On November 5, 2026, a gathering of 150 police leaders marked the occasion at the Neue Synagogue. Senior police officers, alongside representatives from the United States, Canada, Germany, and Europe, joined in solidarity with Jewish congregants. The event, a joint effort between Rutgers University, Germany's German Police, the University of Virginia, and the International March of Living, symbolized the police leadership initiative "Operationalizing Never Again – Not on Our Watch."
Paul Goldenberg, chairman of the international delegation, addressed the assembly, emphasizing that the past cannot be altered but can influence future actions. Today, antisemitism has transformed into targeted violence against a religious group feeling unsafe in their places of worship. Goldenberg stressed that police must acknowledge warning signs, confront antisemitism, and protect at-risk individuals. He highlighted the rise in violent attacks against Jews worldwide, with many now fearing synagogues and Jewish schools.
Survivor George Shefi, 94, recounted his own experience on Kristallnacht. As a seven-year-old, he hid in his family's apartment while Nazi forces demolished their town. A year later, he emigrated to England through the Kindertransport. Shefi expressed deep gratitude to the police for their role in saving his life, urging them to maintain close relationships with Jewish communities, as they remain on the front lines against hatred and persecution.
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