Remembering the “Night of Broken Glass”
Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, from 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts 1102
BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University’s Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Peace Studies will host a public program on Monday, Nov. 9, from 6:30–7:30 p.m. in the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts 1102, marking the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht, also known as the “Night of Broken Glass.” The 1938 attacks — carried out across Germany and coordinated by the Nazi regime — marked a significant escalation in state‑sponsored violence against Jewish communities.
During the program, App State faculty will offer lightning talks providing historical context and will lead a conversation with Holocaust survivors, creating space for reflection on the events of 1938 and their lasting impact. The event will meet in person and will also be available via Zoom, with the streaming link to be posted at calendar.appstate.edu/event/remembering-the-night-of-broken-glass before the event.
Participants are invited to remain after the program for the lighting of a memorial candle, a moment of collective remembrance honoring the victims and survivors of Kristallnacht.
The event is free and open to the public. Questions may be directed to Center Director Dr. Darci Gardner at gardnerdl1@appstate.edu or 828‑262‑2928.
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About the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Peace Studies
Appalachian State University’s Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Peace Studies was established in 2002 to develop new educational opportunities for students, teachers, and the community. Located administratively within the College of Arts and Sciences, the center’s vision promotes tolerance, understanding, and respect for all human life. To accomplish this vision, the center works to strengthen tolerance, understanding, and remembrance by increasing the knowledge of Jewish culture and history, teaching the history and meaning of the Holocaust, and utilizing these experiences to explore peaceful avenues for human improvement and the prevention of further genocides. Learn more about the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Peace Studies
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more about App State
Black-and-white wartime street scene: two men walk past a bomb-damaged shop with shattered windows.
Shattered storefront of a Jewish-owned shop destroyed during Kristallnacht (the "Night of Broken Glass"). Berlin, Germany, November 10, 1938. Photo courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration