Resistance during the Holocaust

Subject: Social Studies

Grade Levels: 9 through 12

Objectives:

Sunshine State Standards: View all Sunshine State Standards

Materials:

All materials are available through the Florida Holocaust Museum; St. Petersburg, Florida

  1. The Courage to Care, video and teaching guide
Procedure:
  1. Define and discuss resistance and distinguish types of resistance.
  2. Show the video Courage to Care, using the accompanying teacher’s guide discuss key ideas. Discuss righteousness and what made some people rescuers.
  3. What evidence for resistance existed? Give examples.
  4. Research the partisans. Identify their main objective during the Holocaust. Compare the reasons of both Jew and non-Jew for joining the partisans. In which countries did Jewish partisans fight?
  5. Explain the difference between partisans and underground fighters/resisters.
  6. Research the facts behind the proposed Auschwitz bombing. What were the reasons given for bombing the area? What makes the War Department memo of February 1944 so ironic? Hold a debate to discuss whether or not Auschwitz should have been bombed by the Allies. Have them discover who finally did destroy a crematorium in Auschwitz.
  7. War Department Memo of February 1944: "We must constantly bear in mind that the most effective relief which can be given the victims of enemy persecution is to ensure the speedy defeat of the Axis."
  8. Compare and contrast to recent world events. Discuss
  9. Investigate the White Rose Resistance. Who was Kurt Huber?
  10. Discuss several reasons why Jewish armed resistance in the ghettos and concentration camps was difficult and, in some cases, impossible.

A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust
Produced by the Florida Center for Instructional Technology,
College of Education, University of South Florida ©2000.


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