The Meaning of Kestalenacht

The term kestalenacht is still used colloquially in germany today. While scholars use the term it is usually put in quotation marks and often prefixed by a so called To make sure that any and all readers are aware of its true meaning. The expression illustrates the abject cynicism of the nazis who quickly co-opted the term to refer to pogroms which were part of their effort to remove jewish elements from German society.