Life under the Nazis
What was it like to live in Germany during Hitler's reign? Was it better than it was under the Weimar Government? Was it the same for everyone? Let's find out.
OVERVIEW:
The Nazi regime, led by Adolf Hitler, profoundly impacted the lives of millions during its reign from 1933 to 1945. From the bustling streets of Berlin to the quiet villages of Eastern Europe, the reach of Nazi ideology was vast and its consequences far-reaching.
Delving into this period of history unveils a complex tapestry of experiences - from the everyday lives of ordinary citizens to the harrowing struggles of persecuted minorities.
Let’s delve into the diverse experiences of different groups of people - Jews, Romani, LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled persons, political dissidents, and more - to gain a deeper understanding of what life was truly like under the shadow of the swastika.
TASK 1: Research/ learn about about life was like for different groups of people. [Was it beneficial or not?]
Each group to focus on these 4 areas – Each pair to work on 2 areas.
German Workers in general
Minority Groups & Jews
German Youths
Germans Industrialist & Businessmen
*negotiate and choose the group you’d like to work on ;D
Resources: You can go beyond the resources provided to you, but these [see below] encompass firsthand accounts, historical documents, and multimedia resources.
What you can FOCUS on:
Ø What was the Nazi attitude towards this group of people and why?
Ø Corresponding policies that benefited them or made their lives miserable?
Ø Think about what life was like for them on a daily basis?
Ø Conclude clearly if these people benefited or suffered under Nazxi rule
Product: Submit the information on the group padlet [using notes, links, videos and even images] to show what life was like. Be prepared to share!
Some sites you can go to:
MAIN site
https://www.johndclare.net/Nazi_Germany3.htm
Alternative Site
Women
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zqrfj6f/revision/1
German Youths
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zqrfj6f/revision/2
Hidden Children and the Holocaust
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/life-in-shadows-hidden-children-and-the-holocaust
Nuremburg Laws
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nuremberg-race-laws-imposed
Interactive Video - Anne Frank’s hiding place - Exploration
https://www.annefrank.org/en/anne-frank/secret-annex/
How big businneses abbetted...
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/may/18/nazi-billionaires-book-hitler-bmw-porsche
The Role of Business Elites
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-role-of-business-elites
Also don't forget!
Jojo Rabbit - you can use anything you learned from the movie!
The boy in the striped pyjamas -Sec 2 Literature reading
Any of the other Netflix movies/ series you might have seen
**remember to fact check esply when it comes to movies.
Extension Activity - Other groups to look out for [Optional]
· German Women
· Communists & other political parties
· German Army
· German Farmers
TASK 2: End Product: Individual Work
Write a Diary Entry/ Journal/Poem reflecting a day in the life of a German Women/ Jew/ Businessman etc [capturing the parts mentioned earlier]
Put yourself in the shoes of the group and demonstrate empathy.
Add your “PROFILE” piece to the CLASS PADLET. You can upload the piece as a link that accessible to all.
TASK 3: Conclusion - Groupwork
TO WHAT EXTENT WAS THE NAZI RULE BENEFICIAL TO THE GERMANS?
Was makes the rule a GOOD one?
What are the considerations? What criterion would you use to measure this?
Possible suggestions:
Short-Term Vs Long-Term?
Numbers? Majority Vs Minority?
Priorities? What’s MOST important? What’s less?
Write a conclusion using a suitable criterion. See Google Classroom.