What is the Holocaust?

The Holocaust was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators between 1933 and 1945. This resource introduces students to how a modern, cultured society descended into genocide, why escape was nearly impossible, and how Jewish communities and individuals resisted in both spiritual and armed ways.

This video and the accompanying curriculum guides students through the chronological unfolding of the Holocaust: from the isolation of Jews in 1930s Germany, through the implementation of the “Final Solution”, to liberation and its aftermath. By understanding the Holocaust, students confront fundamental questions about human nature, the dangers of unchecked hatred and propaganda, the consequences of indifference, and the resilience of the human spirit.

How to use the guide
This guide is designed to support student engagement with the video “What is the Holocaust?” and can be adapted for various classroom settings. The curriculum provides multiple entry points: pre-learning activities to activate prior knowledge, discussion questions that encourage critical thinking and empathy, and summative activities that allow students to demonstrate understanding in diverse ways.