Police chiefs gather in Berlin synagogue to commemorate Kristallnacht

Police leaders from Germany and abroad are gathering at a Berlin synagogue this week to commemorate the anniversary of Kristallnacht. On the night of 9 to 10 November 1938, the Nazi regime orchestrated a nationwide pogrom in which at least 91 Jewish people were murdered, synagogues were set on fire, Jewish-owned businesses were destroyed, and tens of thousands of Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps.

Historical police forces played a direct role in the events of November 1938, either participating in the violence or standing aside as Jewish citizens, homes, and places of worship were attacked. The assembly of contemporary law enforcement leadership at a memorial service represents a formal institutional recognition of that past, emphasising the legal and moral duty of modern police agencies to safeguard Jewish communities and protect fundamental rights.

The gathering in Berlin is an international police initiative rather than an EU-run event. However, the remembrance of the Holocaust and the security of Jewish communities form a key pillar of European Union policy, overseen by the European Commission through its dedicated strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life across all member states.

Memorial services and educational events marking the pogrom will take place across Germany and wider Europe this week, accompanied by heightened security measures around synagogues and Jewish institutions.