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/ Inside Kristallnacht

Inside Kristallnacht—An Interactive Field Trip for Middle & High School Students

From the Pages of History to an Immersive Experience

To mark the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Center for Jewish History and the Claims Conference invite middle and high school groups to experience Inside Kristallnacht. This groundbreaking mixed-reality project brings the Night of Broken Glass to life.

Building on our successful partnership with the Anne Frank House to bring Anne Frank The Exhibition to New York-area schools, the Center continues to expand innovative Holocaust education.

Combining virtual reality headsets, educator-led instruction, original archival materials, and interactive virtual dialogue with a Holocaust survivor, Inside Kristallnacht creates an unforgettable learning environment. By stepping into a historical reconstruction, students explore the human impact of Kristallnacht and reflect on enduring lessons surrounding antisemitism, persecution, and civic responsibility.

We invite teachers and administrators to bring their classes to the Center for Jewish History in Manhattan for this free, immersive educational experience. Help your students connect with history and carry the responsibility of remembrance forward.

Xavier High School

To schedule your school’s visit, please contact education@cjh.org or fill out this form. When you submit the form, an educational staff member will be in touch with you within 5-7 days to confirm the date and time. If you need assistance or have questions about how to fill out this form, please contact the Education Department at education@cjh.org. *The form does not reserve your date and time.  A staff member will confirm with you.

Register to bring your class

Click here to view the curriculum & instructions.
Click here to open the experience.

Holocaust Survivor: Dr. Charlotte Knobloch

Through groundbreaking virtual reality technology, students will have the extraordinary opportunity to see history unfold before their eyes and connect with renowned Holocaust survivor Dr. Charlotte Knobloch. Through vivid visual storytelling, students will witness moments from her childhood during the Holocaust, hear her firsthand testimony, and engage with her story by asking questions, such as those listed below.

This is far more than a traditional history lesson. By combining powerful visual experiences with personal testimony and interactive technology, Inside Kristallnacht brings the past into the present, allowing students to connect with history in a way that is both memorable and meaningful. Students will deepen their understanding of the Holocaust while exploring its enduring lessons about humanity, responsibility, and the importance of standing up against hatred and intolerance today.

Questions for Charlotte

  1. How did your father avoid being arrested during Kristallnacht?
  2. What was it like for you as a child to live under a false identity?
  3. How did you feel when you left your home (Munich)?
  4. Were you able to say goodbye to your father?
  5. Can you describe your usual day in hiding?
  6. How were you liberated?
  7. How were you reunited with your father after the war?
  8. Who survived in your family?
  9. What happened to your grandmother?
  10. How did you feel about leaving Zenzi (the woman who saved/hid her) and her family?
  11. Did you ever see Hitler?
  12. Do you remember seeing or listening to Nazi Propaganda?
  13. What was it like coming back home after the war?
  14. Have you been able to forgive?
  15. What is the importance of Holocaust commemoration?

Frequently Asked Questions

15 West 16th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.

Two to three hours per class.

One adult chaperone for each group of 10 students. The students assigned to you are your responsibility; please remain with them for the duration of the trip.

Yes, for chaperones, but space is limited for additional students, and we will do our best to accommodate you.  We will need to be notified the day before your scheduled trip. Please e-mail education@cjh.org.

Water is permitted, but food is not.

Yes, the Center is fully accessible.  We have a limited number of wheelchairs available.  Please let us know in advance if you would like to reserve a wheelchair. If a student requires medication from the school nurse or a caregiver on the day of the trip, please let us know. 

Yes. Our grant includes funding for bus transportation to the Center for students from Title I schools and other schools that need assistance. Please contact our Educational Team if your school needs transportation support.

Buses and large vans may park in front of the Center on 16th Street, but the driver must stay with the vehicle at all times.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping to ensure a safe, respectful, and meaningful experience for everyone. Please remind your students to approach this experience with sensitivity, empathy, and respect. As they engage with this difficult history, we encourage thoughtful questions, respectful discussions, and consideration for the experiences and feelings of others throughout their visit. Chaperones and students need to remain together for the duration of the field trip.

We have bins for students to store their belongings.

Once your trip is confirmed with someone from our Educational Team, we will send you some suggestions on how to prepare your students.

Students may bring notebooks and pencils.  No pens or markers, please.

Please bring all students outside of the Center for Jewish History before dismissing them. Dismissing students for the day is not permitted from inside the building.

Logos of the sponsors funding this initiative