INTRODUCTION TO THE HOLOCAUST Organized around the 38-minute documentary, The Path to Nazi Genocide, these materials and discussion questions provide students with a solid introduction to the Nazi rise to power and the Holocaust. The film was produced by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. It examines the Nazis' rise and consolidation of power in Germany, as well as their racist ideology, propaganda, and persecution of Jews and other innocent civilians. It also outlines the path by which the Nazis led a state to war and, with their collaborators, killed millions -- including systematically murdering six million Jewish people. By providing a concise overview of the Holocaust and what made it possible, this resource is intended to provoke reflection and discussion about the role of ordinary people, institutions, and nations between 1918 and 1945.
Materials for this Lesson THE PATH TO NAZI GENOCIDE (VIDEO): Museum Website | YouTube THE PATH TO NAZI GENOCIDE: TRANSCRIPT & DISCUSSION GUIDE (PDF) THE PATH TO NAZI GENOCIDE: IMPORTANT EVENTS (PDF) The Path to Nazi Genocide is available in: English | | يبرعEspañol | | یسرافFrançais | Magyar | Polski | Русский | Türkçe | 简体中文
Suggested Questions For Discussion 1. How did conditions in Germany and Europe at the end of World War I contribute to the rise and triumph of Nazism in Germany? 2. How did the German government under Nazi rule build support among the German people? 3. How did Nazi Germany gradually isolate, segregate, impoverish, and incarcerate Jews and persecute other perceived enemies of the state between 1933-1939? 4. How did the Nazis lead Germany to war in Europe and, with their collaborators, kill millions -- including systematically murdering six million Jewish people? 5. Why is learning about the Holocaust important?
Supporting Materials The Museum’s multimedia Holocaust Encyclopedia includes hundreds of articles, most of which are shorter than two pages in length and are written at an appropriate reading level for high school students. The articles are linked to historical photographs and film footage, personal stories and eyewitness testimony, artifacts, and music to tell the story of the Holocaust. The following articles can be used to deepen student learning with The Path to Nazi Genocide. CHAPTER 1: Aftermath of World War I and the Rise of Nazism, 1918-1933 • World War I • World War I: Treaties and Reparations • World War I: Aftermath • Weimar Republic • Special Focus: World War I
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum | Introduction to the Holocaust | http://www.ushmm.org
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