Year 9 - History
The Holocaust in context
The Holocaust: what was the Holocaust?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils investigate what the Holocaust was. They place this significant event in context, examine Jewish life in Europe before WW2 and analyse Nazi persecution of the Jewish people. They also reflect on Jewish resistance and the role of various perpetrators in this event.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain what was distinctive about the Holocaust.
Key Notes
- The Holocaust involved the deliberate murder of around 6 million European Jews.
- Nazi ideology held that Jewish people were racially inferior and a threat.
- The Holocaust represented an attempt to murder all Jews.
- The Holocaust is distinct from other genocides and other instances of Nazi persecution.
Vocabulary To Learn
- genocide: the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a particular national, racial, ethnic or religious group
- Holocaust: the murder of six million Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators
- collaborator: a person or group who works together with others for a particular purpose
- mortal enemy: a very serious and dangerous person or group who oppose or want to harm you
- perpetrator: someone who has committed a crime or a violent or harmful act
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The Holocaust was confined to Germany.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
The Holocaust involved the deliberate murder of around 6 million European Jews. Nazi ideology held that Jewish people were racially inferior and a threat.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'genocide'
the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a particular national, racial, ethnic or religious group.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: The Holocaust was confined to Germany. Correction: The Nazis and their collaborators murdered 6 million Jews from across Europe and aimed to eliminate Jews from the entire continent.
More Lessons In This Unit
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