Ernst vom Rath (3 June 1909 – 9 November 1938) was a diplomat of Nazi Germany who was sent to the German embassy in Paris. Vom Rath was murdered by Herschel Grynszpan in 1938, leading to Kristallnacht.
Biography[]
Ernst vom Rath was born on 3 June 1909 in Frankfurt am Main, German Empire to an aristocratic family, and he studied law until 1932. Vom Rath was a member of the Nazi Party and joined the Sturmabteilung (SA) paramilitary group of Nazi Germany before being posted to the German embassy in Paris, France. On 7 November 1938, he was shot five times by Herschel Grynszpan after asking to see the important document that Grynszpan claied he wanted to deliver to the ambassador. Vom Rath was mortally wounded, and he died two days later; his death led to the German public terrorizing the Jews with Kristallnacht across the Third Reich.