Question

Why were the events that took place on November 9, 1938, called Kristallnacht?

People recognized that Nazis were forcing Jewish people from Germany.

The windows of many Jewish-owned businesses were broken.

Many Jewish people were thrown in jail and later released.

Answer 1

Because the streets were filled with the broken glass from smashed Jewish shop and synagogue windows. "Kristallnacht" means "Crystal Night" (often translated "Night of Broken Glass") — the name refers to the shards of glass littering the streets after the coordinated attacks, not to the forced expulsions or arrests (though those did occur).