The Holocaust

In 1933 Hitler took control of Germany and the Nazi reign of terror began. Anti-Semitism - hatred of the Jews - was central to the world-view of Hitler and the Nazis. They believed that the world was locked in a great struggle between two races, the 'Aryans' and the 'Semites'.  

The Nazis founded their state on the idea that there was a 'Master Race', superior to all others. The 'Master Race' was made up of the Germans and their neighbours in northern Europe, especially the blond and blue-eyed 'Nordics'. At the very bottom - inferior, yet powerful, the eternal enemies of the 'Aryan race' - were the Jews.

This enquiry line aims to show the ways in which entire cultures were destroyed by the Holocaust, which then needed to be rebuilt after 1945. Anita Lasker-Wallfisch’s experiences are just one way to illustrate this in microcosm. Hers was a happy, cultured life pre-war that was distorted beyond all recognition by Gestapo prison, Auschwitz and Belsen. After her liberation, this all needed to be pieced back together somehow, if this was even possible given her experiences. Her life story, as depicted in Inherit the Truth 1939-1945 and on her CD ‘Testament’, presents students with an opportunity to investigate these very things and then use their findings as a springboard into more detailed enquiries into other victims, perpetrators, bystanders, rescuers or simply events.

This focus of this enquiry is on sources that describe the conditions at Bergen-Belsen at the time of liberation from the viewpoints of both victim and liberator.

In reviewing these different perspectives, students should come to an understanding of why the camp’s liberation was such a shock to the people of Britain when reports first reached home.

In analysing these sources, students can be encouraged to raise appropriate questions and identify areas for further investigation.

Not all sources need necessarily be read. Should the relevant facilities be available, differing pupil learning styles could be addressed by playing the Dimbleby BBC broadcast for auditory learners and showing the Gunner Illingworth film-clip to visual learners, to cite but two examples.

The focus of this enquiry is on the ways in which the Holocaust has been written about, portrayed and commemorated over the last 60 years. In reviewing different interpretations of the Holocaust using modern media and materials, pupils are more likely to engage with the subject and thus be able to identify and analyse different perspectives. To develop these further, pupils can be encouraged to raise appropriate questions and identify the reasons behind divergent interpretations.

A range of different teaching strategies and media are recommended so that a variety of different learning styles and interests can be addressed.