The holocaust and the Albanian Salvation

Albania rescued at least 3280 Jews/

By Saimir Lolja/

In January 2005, the United Nations Organization designated January 27^th as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This day was established in memory of the victims of the Holocaust before and during WWII when millions of European citizens, including six million Jews were annihilated. The Albanian Parliament endorsed this day and called it “The Day of Remembrance”. Albania, sanctuary for many Jews between 1933-1944, gives venue to relevant activities each year. The outstanding book “Kristallnacht” by Sir Martin Gilbert vividly shows the systematic and increasingly atrocious persecution of the Jews during the period of 1933-1945.

The Jewish community existed in Germany for 2000 years and it was completely assimilated into the German culture and way of life. Apart from the wounded, 12’000 Jews fell in the battles of WWI as German soldiers and many others were militarily decorated. In January 1933, a Nazi regime came to power in Germany and systematic discriminations began without delay against Jews there. Overnight, half a million German Jews, who constituted 0.76% of the population, were identified by Nazi propaganda as the cause of Germany’s defeat in WWI and the economic calamites that followed.

During 1933, the German government issued 42 laws against Jews, which restricted their citizenship rights of employment and education. The decrees ordered the exclusion of all Jews from government-related jobs, including schools and universities. Throughout 1934, the German government introduced 19 additional laws specifically targeting Jews. In 1935, there were 29 other laws purposely introduced against Jews; including, the prevention of marriages between a Jew and a non-Jew and the devaluation of German citizenship for Jews and those with Jewish origin. Through the years 1936-1937 another 46 laws were issued against Jews. On the 12^th of March, 1938, Austria joined Germany and thus 185’000 Austrian Jews became subjected to the Nazi regime. On the 17^th of August, 1938, a law was passed ordering that all male Jews have the name “Israel” and all female Jews have the name “Sarah” added to their documents and/or passports.  On the 15^th of October, 1938, German authorities considered the passports held by German Jews and Austrian Jews invalid.

The 10^th of November 1938 carved its place in history as “Kristallnacht” – “The Night of Broken Glass”. This day was the climax of five years and nine months of orderly persecution against German and Austrian Jews. On this day and night, according to a pre-laid plan, the storm troopers and Nazi youth attacked, destroyed, burned, and desecrated everything Jewish in every village, town, and city. More than 1000 synagogues were burnt, thousands of Jewish shops and houses were destroyed. Passing Jews were mercilessly assaulted in the streets, 91 Jews were killed, and 30’000 Jewish males between 16 and 60 years old were arrested and sent to concentration camps. The harsh situation continued as all Jewish newspapers, magazines, and businesses were shut down. Jews were prohibited from places of recreation, universities, etc. Since there was no state of war with other countries, these events were documented by hundreds of foreign journalists and subsequently published in the western newspapers. The “Night of Broken Glass” was a turning point for mankind as it changed its perception of Nazism. That night was like an echo from the year of 1543.  During that year, spiritual professor Martin Luther (born on 10 November 1483) wrote a letter entitled “On Jews and Their Lies”. In the letter he wrote that, “The Jewish synagogues should be burnt, their homes should be destroyed, their money confiscated, and their liberty curtailed for the sake of God.” (Lexoje te plote ne Diellin e printuar. korrik 2013)