On November 12, 1938 a compulsory levy was imposed on Jews in the Reich. There had been plans for some time to introduce special taxes that would apply solely to Jews. Following the assassination of German embassy official Ernst vom Rath in Paris in November 1938, the Nazis seized the political opportunity and introduced a so-called atonement fine (Sühnegeld) for the Jewish population. Vom Rath’s assassination provided a welcome pretext to cover the acute financial shortfall in the Reich. Jews initially had to contribute one fifth of their assets to the Reich; the amount was later increased to a quarter.