• Who were the victims?• Who were the perpetrators?

• What is propaganda?• Were all Nazis bad?

• What motivations drive hatred of a group of people?• How can we confront our own prejudices?

Essential questions that we must explore

The Holocaust took place from 1939-1945.World War II ended on May 7, 1945.

The Holocaust was responsible for the deaths of approximately 6,000,000 Jews: 1 million=children, 2 million=women, 3

million=men.

The Nazis also persecuted the following groups of people during the Holocaust:• Jehovah’s Witnesses

• Gypsies• Homosexuals

•Handicapped People (both mentally and physically)

Important dates/things to be aware of

• Remember the two classroom rules at all times.• This unit contains intense and disturbing thematic material.

Maintain a respectful approach in our discussions.• Remember that we are focusing on English standards through our reading of informational texts, Schindler’s List,

and Night. Because of this, we will at times have to think objectively about an author’s viewpoint, rather than being fully distracted by our own emotional understanding of the

material.• If you find this material to be too disturbing, or if you feel

uncomfortable with it, please make me aware of this immediately. There is a difference between doing research

and creating nightmares.

Ground rules for this unit

Bottom Line: YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT I ACTUALLY THINK ABOUT ANY OF THE CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS WE

DISCUSS.

Alternate views

• Written by Thomas Keneally

• Originally published in 1982.

• Written at the urging of a Schindlerjuden.

• Written in an informational text-based documentary style.

• Synthesizes multiple sources and eyewitness testimony.

• Published as a work of fiction, based on a true story.

• Was adapted by Steven Spielberg into an Academy Award-winning film in 1993.

Steven Spielberg chose to film Schindler’s List in black and white, with a few minor exceptions such as the little girl in red pictured above.

Oskar Schindler•A member of the Nazi party•War profiteer•Enlisted Jewish workers as slave labor for his enamelware factory during the Holocaust.

Liam Neeson portraying Oskar Schindler in the 1993 film Schindler’s List.

The Real Oskar Schindler

Amon Goeth•Commandant of the forced labor camp at Plaszow.

Ralph Fiennes portraying Amon Goeth in the 1993 film Schindler’s List.

The real Amon Goeth

Helen Hirsch•Amon Goeth’s Jewish maid, recruited from the labor camp.•Addressed by Goeth as “Lena” out of laziness.

The Real Helen HirschEmbeth Davidtz as Helen Hirsch in the film version of the novel.

Itzhak Stern•Oskar Schindler’s Jewish accountant.

Ben Kingsley as Itzhak Stern in the film

• Autobiographical account detailing Elie Wiesel’s life inthe Auschwitz concentrationcamp.

Elie Wiesel at age 15, shortlybefore he was sent with his family to a concentration camp.