Develop knowledge and understanding:
To deepen student knowledge and challenge common misunderstandings, in this chapter they will learn:
- How hundreds of thousands of people from across Europe were involved with the persecution and murder of Europe’s Jews.
- That responsibility for the Holocaust was much wider than just Hitler and a few leading Nazis.
- That those who refused to obey orders to kill Jews were not shot, but given other duties.
Challenge myths and misconceptions:
Here is a summary of the key myths and misconceptions that we identified in our research and that we are aiming to challenge through this textbook chapter content and its supporting materials:
- The Holocaust was solely the responsibility of Hitler and a few leading Nazis
- Those who refused to obey orders to kill Jews, were shot
Should you choose to share these with students it is very important to be clear that these are false statements and they need to be taught about with sensitivity and skill.
Access the research briefing that is relevant to this textbook chapter content here:
Research briefing 5: Agency and responsibility
Suggested activities:
Students can access these pages on ‘The Holocaust Explained’ to enable them to consider further case studies relating to issues of collaboration and complicity:
Additional resources for teachers:
Teacher further reading material
Browning, C. (2001) Ordinary Men. Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland: London: Penguin books.
Kershaw, I. (2008) Hitler, the Germans and the Final Solution. Yale University Press.
Rees, L. (2005) The Nazis: A Warning from History. BBC Books.
Vanagaite, R. & Zuroff, E. (2020) Our People. Discovering Lithuania’s Hidden Holocaust. Rowman & Littlefield.