3. Adolf Hitler and Mein Kampf
Adolf Hitler:
Student Opinion Poll: What are some adjectives that can describe Hitler from the pictures in
previous slide? What does the illustration tell you about his speaking style?
Hitler was a masterful speaker who was very good at convincing his audience that he knew
what was best for Germany.
Using Prior Knowledge: Why were the German people looking for a strong leader after World
War 1? Do you think it has to do with the terms of defeat for Germany at Treaty of Versailles?
Mein Kampf:
Book written by Hitler while he was in jail and published in 1925
Student Reminder: Meim Kampf in Germany means “My Struggle”
Divided humans into 4 categories based on physical appearances with the German man
being on top having “Aryan” like qualities like fair skin, blond hair, and blue eyes
Inferior people or UNTERMENSCHEN described as Jews and Slavic People (Czechs, Poles, and
Russians are examples.)
4. Concept of the Master Race or
“Aryan Race”
Question: What stories does these illustrations tell
you about the idea of Master Race?
5. Concept of the Master Race or “Aryan
Race”
Definition: used by the Nazis to describe Northern European
physical characteristics as being superior (part of the
Vocabulary Poster Presentation)
“Historians are detectives so remember to use the 5 W’s
(What, Who, Why, When, and Where)
Who were the Master Race?
What are some characteristics of the Master Race?
Why was these characteristics considered to be superior?
When did this happen?
Where did this happen?
6. Nuremberg Laws 1953
The Laws restricted the following:
1. The right to German citizenship
2. Prohibited from marrying non-Jews
3. Attending or teaching at German schools
or Universities
4. Holding government jobs
5. Practicing law or medicine
6. Publishing books
Response Question: Why do you think it is
important that Jews were not allowed to
attend or teach at German schools or
Universities?
10. Map of Concentration Camps in
Europe
The map shows the locations
of the concentration camps
throughout Europe. By
looking at the map, where
are most of the
concentration camps
located? Why do you think
the concentration camps
were located in this region?
12. Conclusion and Final Thoughts:
Millions of innocent people died in Nazi Concentration Camps and many of their
stories remain untold. Museums such as the Museum of Tolerance located here in Los
Angeles help remind us of the cruelties that have been inflicted upon innocent people
based on the ideologies of racial supremacy. More importantly, it remind us that we
need to start to learn how to live with each other or else the same deadly mistakes
can be made again over and over leading to the death of many more people.
IN CONCLUSION:
What can you do to make sure that human cruelties like the one experienced by
those captured by the Nazis in these concentration camps never happen again? What
are your opinions and views on what you have learned about the Nazi Concentration
Camp?
