On Kristallnacht ( 9 – 10 November 1938 ) , the two last Eßweiler Jewish families ’ houses were both invaded and thoroughly vandalized . Shortly thereafter , the village ’s three remaining Jewish residents were taken away to the camps ( see also below ) . The village came through the Second World War more or less unscathed ; only one building was damaged by an American tank . Nevertheless , according to memorial inscriptions , 51 soldiers from Eßweiler fell in the war . Particularly tragic was an accident that happened in February 1945 , when some children and youths found a Panzerfaust left behind by retreating German soldiers and began playing with it . It exploded , killing five children . Several others were wounded , some seriously
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht
Eßweiler