Kurt Waldmann, 84, of Bayside, Queens, was just an 11-year-old boy living with his family in Bad Windsheim in southern Germany (Bavaria), (population, 3,000) when his whole world changed.
On November 9, 1938, what is now known as Kristallnacht (The Night of the Broken Glass) took place. In Bad Windsheim, all Jews in the town were summoned before a magistrate, charged with crimes and jailed. The 11-year-old boy saw his synagogue, as well as much of the town’s Jewish property, damaged or destroyed. Also during this night, the frightened child was arrested and sent to prison.
Seventy years later, in 2008, Mr. Waldmann was invited to be a special guest of honor by the mayor of Bad Windsheim (population now 13,000) and to participate in a
program to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht. Accompanied by his daughter, Susan Rose, of Plainview , LI, Mr. Waldmann will describe the intensely emotional two-day visit comprised of memorial services, seminars and symposiums. He will recount the experience of meeting with other living survivors of his hometown and their families, as well as descendants of former Jewish citizens of Bad Windsheim.
