History Dept PPHistory Dept PP

Holocaust Holocaust Teaching WeeksTeaching Weeks

1414thth – 25 – 25thth January 2008 January 2008

Why teach the Holocaust and the lessons of the Why teach the Holocaust and the lessons of the Holocaust?Holocaust?

The teaching of the Holocaust and the lessons that The teaching of the Holocaust and the lessons that can be drawn from it go to the very root of the can be drawn from it go to the very root of the purpose of education.purpose of education.

This purpose is succinctly and movingly captured This purpose is succinctly and movingly captured in the letter received by Chaim Ginott. in the letter received by Chaim Ginott.

Dear TeacherDear TeacherI am a survivor of a concentration camp. My eyes saw what no I am a survivor of a concentration camp. My eyes saw what no

man should witness:man should witness:Gas chambers built by learned engineers.Gas chambers built by learned engineers.Children poisoned by educated physicians.Children poisoned by educated physicians.Infants killed by trained nurses. Women and babies shot by Infants killed by trained nurses. Women and babies shot by

high school and college graduates.high school and college graduates.I am suspicious of education.I am suspicious of education.My request is: My request is: Help your students become human. Your efforts must never Help your students become human. Your efforts must never

produce learned monsters, skilled psychopaths, educated produce learned monsters, skilled psychopaths, educated Eichmanns.Eichmanns.

Reading, writing and arithmetic are important only if they Reading, writing and arithmetic are important only if they serve to make our children more human.serve to make our children more human.

Modern day relevanceModern day relevance

Aim to teach the positive lessons which can be Aim to teach the positive lessons which can be learned from the Holocaust.learned from the Holocaust.

What contribution can we make to try and What contribution can we make to try and ensure that bullying, racism, and prejudice does ensure that bullying, racism, and prejudice does not happen in our society ?not happen in our society ?

During the During the Second World WarSecond World War the Nazis sought to destroy all the Nazis sought to destroy all the Jews of Europe. the Jews of Europe.

Industrial (factory) methodsIndustrial (factory) methods were used for the mass were used for the mass extermination of a whole people. extermination of a whole people.

The Nazis also enslaved and murdered millions of others The Nazis also enslaved and murdered millions of others including:including:

GypsiesGypsies HomosexualsHomosexuals Political ‘enemies’Political ‘enemies’ Jehovah’s WitnessesJehovah’s Witnesses Mentally and physically disabled peopleMentally and physically disabled people

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/media_nm.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005143&MediaId=3372http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/media_nm.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005143&MediaId=3372

Facts and FiguresFacts and Figures The Holocaust extended across the entire The Holocaust extended across the entire

continent of Europecontinent of Europe It is estimated that 11 million died during It is estimated that 11 million died during

the events of the Holocaustthe events of the Holocaust 6 million of those who perished were 6 million of those who perished were

JewishJewish 1.5 million of these were children1.5 million of these were children

Photo from Auschwitz guard’s album showing female SS workers eating blueberries.

Girl poses with fake tears as her bowl is empty

On the same day 150 prisoners were taken to Auschwitz.

21 men & 12 women were selected for work.

The rest were sent to the Gas Chamber.

http://www.ushmm.org/research/collections/highlights/auschwitz/

A mother and her young boy are gathering mushrooms in the German forest. The boy finds some poisonous ones. The mother explains that there are good mushrooms and poisonous ones, and, as they go home, says:"Look, Franz, human beings in this world are like the mushrooms in the forest. There are good mushrooms and there are good people. There are poisonous, bad mushrooms and there are bad people. And we have to be on our guard against bad people just as we have to be on guard against poisonous mushrooms. Do you understand that?" And do you know, too, who these bad men are,

these poisonous mushrooms of mankind?" the mother continued.Franz slaps his chest in pride: "Of course I know, mother! They are the Jews! Our teacher has often told us about them."

"However they disguise themselves, or however friendly they try to be, affirming a thousand times their good intentions to us, one must not believe them. Jews they are and Jews they remain. For our Volk they are poison.""Like the poisonous mushroom!" says Franz.

http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/story2.htm

Spot the evil children

Q. Can you tell which Q. Can you tell which of these pre war photos of these pre war photos of Germans contains of Germans contains non Jewish people ?non Jewish people ?

A. none of them.A. none of them.

Where did the events of the Where did the events of the Holocaust take place?Holocaust take place?

Pre war Jewish populations

Post war Jewish populations

What makes you you?What makes you you?

Anti-Jewish LawsAnti-Jewish Laws

Sort the laws into chronological orderSort the laws into chronological order

In your groups choose 3 laws, In your groups choose 3 laws,

which makes you feel the most: which makes you feel the most: AngerAnger SadnessSadness FearFear

Jewish people can only buy food between 4pm and 5pm.

July 1940

Jewish people are not allowed to attend the cinema.

November 1938

Jewish children can only play with other Jewish children

and no one else.1938

Jewish people must be at home from 8pm in the winter

and 9pm in the summer.

September 1939

Jewish people over 6 must wear a yellow star.September 1941

Jewish Children are not allowed to go to school.June 1942

Jewish people may not keep pets.May 1942

Newborn Jewish children can only have a name from a special list.August 1938

Jewish people are not allowed to use libraries.August 1941

Jews may not buy magazines or newspapers.February 1942

Jewish people are not allowed to have telephones.July 1940

Jews are not allowed to be members of sports clubs.April 1933

Jewish people can be thrown out of their homes at any time.April 1939

Jewish people are not allowed to use swimming pools.December 1938

Jewish people must hand in their bikes and radios.January 1936

Jewish people are not allowed to buy milk or eggs.July 1942

And then they came for meAnd then they came for me

First they came for the communists and I did not First they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a communist.speak out because I was not a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists and I did Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.out because I was not a Jew.

And then they came for me and there was no one And then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.left to speak out for me.

By Martin Niemoeller (By Martin Niemoeller (1892-1984)1892-1984)

Nazi Holocaust: 1938-1945 - 6,000,000 DeathsNazi Holocaust: 1938-1945 - 6,000,000 Deaths

PolPol Pot in Cambodia: 1975-1979 - 2,000,000 Deaths Pot in Cambodia: 1975-1979 - 2,000,000 Deaths Bosnia-Herzegovina: 1992-1995 - 200,000 DeathsBosnia-Herzegovina: 1992-1995 - 200,000 Deaths

Rwanda: 1994 - 800,000 DeathsRwanda: 1994 - 800,000 Deaths

Darfur 2003 – present 500,000 DeathsDarfur 2003 – present 500,000 Deaths

Modern Day RelevanceModern Day Relevance

Aim to teach the positive lessons which can Aim to teach the positive lessons which can be learned from the Holocaust.be learned from the Holocaust.

What contribution can we make to try and What contribution can we make to try and ensure that bullying, racism and prejudice ensure that bullying, racism and prejudice does not happen in our community?does not happen in our community?

Sites on resistanceSites on resistance http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/

Holocaust/grobres.htmlHolocaust/grobres.html http://fcit.usf.edu/Holocaust/timeline/resist.htmhttp://fcit.usf.edu/Holocaust/timeline/resist.htm http://www.ushmm.org/http://www.ushmm.org/ http://www.wfjcsh.org/mishpocha/http://www.wfjcsh.org/mishpocha/

MishSum2003.pdfMishSum2003.pdf http://www1.yadvashem.org/Odot/prog/http://www1.yadvashem.org/Odot/prog/

index_before_change_table.asp?gate=1-7index_before_change_table.asp?gate=1-7 http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?

id=275id=275

The Jewish ShtetlThe Jewish ShtetlAnd once,And once,

there was a garden,there was a garden,and a child,and a child,and a tree.and a tree.

And once,And once,there was a father,there was a father,

and a mother,and a mother,and a dog.and a dog.

And once,And once,there was a house,there was a house,

and a sister,and a sister,and a grandma.and a grandma.

And once,And once,there was life.there was life.

(Anonymous)(Anonymous)