Unit III: Nazi Germany | The Center for Jewish-Inclusive Learning Portal

Topic

The Holocaust

Summary

In Echoes & Reflections’ 12-unit curriculum on the Holocaust, the third unit focuses on the Weimar Republic’s fragile democracy in the years leading up to Adolf Hitler’s rise. It then examines the historical events that eroded democracy in Germany from 1933 to 1939 and how this paved the way for anti-Jewish policies.

Students investigate primary sources to understand how German Jews were isolated from society as legislation, terror and propaganda took hold. They will also analyze the responsibilities of individuals and organizations to interrupt the escalation of hate and violence.

More Units from Echoes & Reflections

A large display of vintage black-and-white and sepia family photographs arranged in rows, showing men, women, and children from different generations, many wearing early 20th-century European clothing, suggesting everyday Jewish life and family connections before the Holocaust.

Unit

Lesson

Unit I: Studying the Holocaust

The first unit of this 12-unit curriculum builds the foundation for Holocaust study by introducing key vocabulary, the purpose of studying the Holocaust, and the value of diverse source materials.

Grades:

6 - 12

Stained glass window depicting a medieval Christian religious scene with clergy and figures gathered in a ritual setting, used to illustrate historical Christian imagery and its role in European religious culture.

Unit

Unit II: Antisemitism

Trace the origins of antisemitism and its role in shaping Nazi ideology in this unit, where students define key terms, review historical resources, and build a timeline of antisemitic events.

Grades:

6 - 12

Eight-foot high concrete wall encircling Jewish ghetto in German occupied Warsaw, Poland, during World War II. Enclosing 500,000 Jews, the wall surrounded more than 100 city blocks. 1940.

Lesson

Unit

Unit IV: The Ghettos

Explore how Nazi-imposed ghettos isolated and oppressed Jewish communities, and the ways Jews struggled to preserve dignity in dehumanizing conditions.

Grades:

6 - 12

Black-and-white photograph of several framed portrait photos arranged closely together on a wall. The portraits show men wearing striped prison uniforms, each frame labeled with a name, identification number, and dates. A single dark rose is laid across the frames, suggesting remembrance or memorial.

Unit

Unit V: The "Final Solution"

Explore the Nazi establishment of extermination camps, the use of mobile killing squads, and the roles of perpetrators in this unit on the “Final Solution.”

Grades:

6 - 12

Color photograph of a memorial site with a large abstract metal sculpture of human figures suspended above a concrete wall engraved with the years “1933–1945.” Numerous wreaths with colorful ribbons are arranged along the base of the wall. Two people stand in front of the memorial, appearing to read or pay their respects. A building with a sloped roof and multiple windows stands behind the monument under a partly cloudy sky.

Lesson

Unit

Unit VI: Liberation

Explore the challenges of liberation and the resilience of Holocaust survivors in this unit on the aftermath of genocide and the experiences of displaced persons.

Grades:

6 - 12

A war memorial featuring bronze statues of soldiers emerging from a broken brick wall, depicted in motion as if advancing during battle. The soldiers wear military uniforms and helmets, and one has a red-and-white armband. Numerous wreaths and bouquets with red and white ribbons are arranged in front of the monument. The sculpture is set in a paved plaza, with modern glass buildings and tall green columns in the background.

Unit

Unit VII: Jewish Resistance

Explore the many forms of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust, from cultural and spiritual defiance in the ghettos to armed uprisings in the camps.

Grades:

6 - 12

A wide paved walkway in a leafy park lined with tall trees, informational signboards on metal stands, and modern black lampposts, with a few people walking and sitting along the path on a sunny day.

Unit

Lesson

Unit VIII: Rescue and Righteous Among the Nations

Investigate the motivations and risks behind Holocaust rescue efforts and examine their lasting impact.

Grades:

6 - 12

Display of shoes of the victims in Auschwitz concentration camp around Krakow in Poland.

Lesson

Unit

Unit IX: Complicity and Responsibility

Examine the complex question of individual and national responsibility during the Holocaust, from bystanders to democratic nations.

Grades:

6 - 12

Lit memorial candles placed on a Star of David flag, used to illustrate remembrance, mourning, and reflection in Jewish and Holocaust education.

Unit

Unit X: Justice, Life, and Memory after the Holocaust

Examine the lasting impact of the Holocaust through lessons on justice, accountability, trauma, and memory.

Grades:

6 - 12

A group of people participate in a protest march across a large suspension bridge. In the foreground, a middle-aged man wearing glasses and a dark coat has a “No Hate” button pinned to his jacket. Behind him, a young man holds a sign that reads, “Jews attacked in: synagogues, buses, streets, our own homes. Where can we exist?” Other participants wear winter clothing and hold additional signs. City buildings and bridge cables are visible in the background.

Unit

Lesson

Unit XI: Gringlas Unit on Antisemitism after the Holocaust

Examine the persistence of antisemitism after the Holocaust and investigate its modern expressions, which include distortions and denial.

Grades:

6 - 12

A white concrete memorial monument with black lettering commemorating 11,400 victims of the genocide on April 17, 1994. The text appears in multiple languages, including French and English, and the monument stands outdoors on a brick base surrounded by trees and vegetation.

Lesson

Unit

Unit XII: Teaching about Genocide

Explore four genocides of the 20th century to identify patterns and key differences, examine the role of propaganda, and reflect on how societies document and remember genocides.

Grades:

6 - 12