A huge dumping ground for the destroyed remains of Jewish property plundered during the November 1938 'Kristallnacht' pogroms has been discovered north of Berlin by an Israeli journalist. The site, which is the size of four football pitches, contains an extensive array of personal and ceremonial items looted during orchestrated nationwide riots against Jewish property and places of worship on the night of November 9 1938. It is believed the goods were brought by rail to the outskirts of the village and dumped on designated land.
Yaron Svoray, the investigator who made the discovery, said it was a happy coincidence that he had stumbled across the artifacts so close to the 70th anniversary of the pogrom, also known as the Night of Broken Glass. "I wasn't fully aware of the historical significance of the find until it was pointed out to me by a historian," Svoray told British newspaper 'The Guardian', adding: "We were looking for something completely different when we came across all these items and trinkets."
Among the items he found were glass bottles engraved with the Star of David, Mezuzahs, painted window sills, and the armrests of chairs found in synagogues. He also found an ornamental swastika. His search continues, under the protection of bodyguards after threats to his life. Svoray has been wary of making his find public because the site might attract far-right treasure hunters.
