THREE QUARTERS OF a century ago tonight, the paramilitary wing of the Nazi party carried out a series of coordinated attacks on Jewish businesses and places of worship.

The German authorities looked on as Kristallnacht, The Night of Broken Glass, was carried out across the country.

At least 91 Jews were killed and 30,000 sent to concentration camps.

The violence damaged more than 1,000 synagogues and left some 7,500 Jewish businesses ransacked and looted.

After years of systemic harassment by the government, the night of 9-10 November 1938 is seen as the start to the road to the Holocaust.

US President Barack Obama marked the anniversary today, saying that the lessons of that night continued to be learned.

“As we mark this anniversary, let us act in keeping with the lessons of that dark night by speaking out against anti-Semitism and intolerance, standing up to indifference, and re-committing ourselves to combatting prejudice and persecution wherever it exists. In so doing, we honor the memories of those killed and reaffirm that timeless call: ‘Never Again,” he said.

All pictures: AP Photo