1. People with disabilities during the Holocaust

The original German theatrical release of Hitlerjunge Quex: Ein Film vom Opfergeist der deutschen Jugend (Hitler Youth Quex), also known in the United States as Our Flag Leads Us Forward. (1933), Public Domain

Activity

This activity begins by introducing Hitler’s ideology that led to Nazi racism, specifically during the time period of 1933-1945. This provides you with appropriate context to explore the unheard victims of the Holocaust. This activity will specifically focus on people with disabilities during this time, and how the Holocaust impacted them

Inquiry question: Who were the victims of the Holocaust?

A)  Introductory Activity

1. You will have three minutes to write down prior knowledge of the Holocaust.
2. As a class you will compare similarities on your lists and identify questions you would like to investigate.

B)   Powerpoint

As a class we will discuss and take notes on this presentation.

C)   Text Analysis

Read about the treatment of disabled people: Holocaust Memorial Day Trust: Disabled People

D)  Short Answer Questions

1. What year did Hitler and the Nazi party come to power?  (1 Mark)
2. What does T4 stand for? (1 Mark)
3. When was T4 brought in and what was the purpose of it? (2 Marks)
4. Why were the Nazi targeting people with disabilities? (4 Marks)
5. What is Hitler’s master race? How do people with disabilities not fit into this? (4 Marks)

E)    Class discussion

This discussion is about providing you with the space to talk about what you just read. For topics that are as confronting as this, it is important to have respectful class discussions.

2.  Understanding the unheard victims of the Holocaust  

Buchenwald Disabled Jews 13132 Crop, United States Holocaust Memorial, Public Domain

Activity

This activity assists you to improve your research and text analysis skills. You will work in pairs and choose a group people who were unheard victims of the Holocaust to focus a presentation on. You will then present to your peers who are completing a different topic.

A)   Introductory Activity

Summarise the last lesson by brainstorming the shared knowledge we acquired on the whiteboard. This will enhance your understanding of the unheard victims of the Holo

B)   Student Choice

In pairs you will use this website to investigate one of the groups of people who experience persecutions at the hands of the Nazis from 1933-1945.

C)   Paired Task

In pairs you will create a powerpoint presentation about your focused group, based on the template is provided to you.

D)   Presenting in Groups

You will present your findings to another group of students who have chosen a different topic. You are expected to be respectful and note take whilst your peers are presenting to them.