Hitler's Propaganda in 1939
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Archive showing how the outbreak of war was greeted in Germany
Teachers' notes
Age Group : 11-14,14-16,16+
Subject : History
Topic : History of Wales and England 1880-1980, Modern world, Politics of Society 1918-1939, Twentieth century world
Keywords : Adolf Hitler, Nazism, Rise of Fascism, Nazi Rally, Propaganda, Totalitarianism, Ideology and power, Second World War
Notes :
COURSES/SUBJECTS:
HISTORY KS3: Twentieth Century World. Germany in flux 1929-1947. One historic theme ( war and society).
GCSE: Germany in flux 1929-1947. Second World War.
A-Level: Aspects of the history of Europe between 1880 and 1980. Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1945. Aspects of the history of Wales and England between 1880 and 1980.
Welsh Baccalaureate: Wales Europe and the World.
POLITICS: Rise of Fascism.
OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP SKILLS IN HISTORY: Use evidence to evaluate Hitler's personality. Develop knowledge and understanding of uses of power and propaganda and how Hitler used these. Investigate the reasons why Germany attacked Poland in 1939. From previous knowledge and a variety of evidential sources, consider the 2 following statements and form an opinion on their historical validity:a) "Hitler was a psychopath - there is no doubt about that"b) "He ( Hitler) had wanted to go to war for a while and Germany had been preparing surprisingly well for this. "
OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP WIDER SKILLS: Improve research skills. Develop the 4 literacy skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing through a variety of exercises. Use visual literacy skills to evaluate the evidence presented (eg. - what does film of the crowds in the train stations suggest about levels of support by the German people for Hitler? How dependable is this type of evidence?) Develop skills necessary for co-working through exercises such as role-play, work in pairs and groupwork.
SUGGESTIONS FOR SETTING CRITERIA TO EVALUATE LESSON SUCCESS: Ask pupils if they: 1) Can define the following key issues - propaganda & power. 2) Can understand authority and totalitarianism. 3) Know and understand about the German attack on Poland in 1939. 4) Can form opinions on the historical validity of some of the statements in the clip.
