Jewish children gathered for a sporting event in a summer camp organized by the Reich Union of Jewish Frontline Soldiers. Germany, between 1934 and 1936. — Leo Baeck Institute

"From 1933 to 1945, Nazi Germany carried out a campaign to 'cleanse' German society of individuals viewed as biological threats to the nation’s health. Enlisting the help of physicians and medically trained geneticists, psychiatrists, and anthropologists, the Nazis developed racial health policies that began with the mass sterilization of 'genetically diseased' persons."

A short film from the USHMM about life inside Nazi Germany to give reference and background to this time period.

USHMM
Links to Lessons and Activities

1. Nazi Persecution of the Disabled: Murder of the "Unfit"
https://www.ushmm.org/information/exhibitions/online-exhibitions/special-focus/nazi-persecution-of-the-disabled

Audio Links
1. Patricia Heberer Describees Nazi Public Health Strategies
https://www.ushmm.org/information/exhibitions/online-exhibitions/special-focus/nazi-persecution-of-the-disabled/patricia-heberer-describes-nazi-public-health-strategies

2. Patricia Heberer Describes "Eugenics"
https://www.ushmm.org/information/exhibitions/online-exhibitions/special-focus/nazi-persecution-of-the-disabled/patricia-heberer-describes-nazi-public-health-strategies

3. Patricia Heberer Describes Euthanasia Program
https://www.ushmm.org/information/exhibitions/online-exhibitions/special-focus/nazi-persecution-of-the-disabled/patricia-heberer-describes-euthanasia-program


4. Patricia Heberer Describes The Experience of Paula B
https://www.ushmm.org/information/exhibitions/online-exhibitions/special-focus/nazi-persecution-of-the-disabled/patricia-heberer-describes-euthanasia-program


Texts and Readings
1. Euthanasia Program
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/euthanasia-program

2. Gassing Operations
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/euthanasia-program

3. Mosaic of Victims
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/mosaic-of-victims-an-overview
  a. People With Disabilities
https://www.ushmm.org/collections/bibliography/people-with-disabilities

Echoes and Reflections:
​Links to Lessons and Activities

1. Studying the Holocaust
echoesandreflections.org/unit-1-studying-the-holocaust/?state=open#content

2. Antisemitism
echoesandreflections.org/unit-2-antisemitism/?state=open#content

3. Nazi Germany
https://echoesandreflections.org/unit-3/?state=open#content
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Facing History: 
Links to Lessons and Activities

1. The Science of Race (readiing)
www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/who-human

2. Breeding Society's "Fittest" (reading)
www.facinghistory.org/holocaust-and-human-behavior/chapter-2/breeding-societys-fittest

3. Genetics, Eugenics, and Ethics (video) www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/video/genetics-eugenics-and-ethics

4. Breeding the New German "Race" (reading)
www.facinghistory.org/holocaust-and-human-behavior/chapter-5/breeding-new-german-race

5. Under The Cover of Law (reading)
www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/under-cover-law





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1919-1933.pdf
File Size:	418 kb
File Type:	pdf

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The file above contains multiple activities for teachers and students on the early Nazi eugenics program (1919-1933). Instructions, materials, and resource links are included. Teachers may choose to use one activity or more, depending on the scope of their lesson goals and objectives.
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Social Construction of Race and Ethnicity

1. What is Race? (video and lesson) https://study.com/academy/lesson/social-construction-of-race-ethnicity.html