Transcript Bombing Auschwitz: Analyzing and Evaluating Primary Source

Bombing Auschwitz:
Analyzing and Evaluating
Primary Source Documents
Author: Sandy Renken
USHMM Museum Teacher Fellow 2006
Student Objectives:
• Students will:
– Analyze primary source documents for
available information
– Teach classmates necessary information from
documents.
– Analyze the complexities of decisions made
during war, especially in regard to humanitarian
crises
– Make connections to the decision made during
WWII & today by our current leaders
Background Information
Check for Understanding• The Complex
– During the Spring and Summer of 1944,
what was taking place at AuschwitzBirkenau?
– What was Auschwitz I?
– What was Auschwitz II?
– What was Auschwitz III?
• The Railways
– Why were the rail lines critical to the Nazi
exterminations that were taking place?
• Information Available
– What information was available to the Allies
and how did they get this information?
Group Activity #1
• Students will be divided into groups and
given a primary source document to
analyze.
• One person should read the document to the
group.
• A second person should summarize what
the group will write on their graphic
organizer.
•
Group Activity #2
• Students will now be divided into groups where
each member will have a different primary source
document.
• Each person should share their document in the
order that is on the graphic organizer.
• A leader should summarize what each person is
going to put on the graphic organizer.
• If students finish early, they should discuss their
feelings on a potential bombing of Auschwitz.
Closing Discussion
• What would bombing the rail lines do?
• The U.S. War Department says
Auschwitz-Birkenau is not in bombing
range. How do you respond?
• What would be the consequences of
bombing the camps?
Closing Discussion cont.
• What were the military objectives for the
war?
• Could a bombing by the Allies fuel a
German propaganda campaign?
• Could the bombing of Auschwitz be
considered a violation of International Law?
• Additional questions?
Homework:
RAFT
From what you have learned about Auschwitz, the photographs, the
McCloy/World Jewish Congress letters, and Elie Wiesel’s memoir, answer the
following questions. Use examples from the documents that were analyzed in
your response.
 Why bomb Auschwitz? What was the purpose?
 What were the possible risks for the United States in carrying out the
bombing? What were the benefits?
 Are the arguments to bomb/not to bomb Auschwitz primarily military
or moral in nature? Defend your answer.
 Overall, using what was known in 1944, what would you think to be the
correct decision- to bomb or not to bomb Auschwitz?
 Should a country or organization ever bomb a country or region for
humanitarian reasons? In what situations and at what cost?
Role-
Audience-
Format-
Topic-
Maintain the voice
and information of the
writer’s role
throughout your
piece.
Determine who you
want to write to.
Keep them in mind as
you write.
Choose one of the
following written
formats to explain and
discuss your opinion.
Explain and discuss your
overall opinion as to
whether Auschwitz
should have/have not
been bombed.
Historian who has
stumbled upon the
same primary
source documents.
President Roosevelt in
order to help him
choose a course of
action for the Jews
remaining/being
deported to
Auschwitz.
Class of high school
students interested in
this same topic.
Letter to persuade
someone to act or
change their opinion
I believe the United
States/Allies should
have bombed
Auschwitz.
Editorial/Op. Ed
piece for a
nationally
syndicated
newspaper.
I believe the United
States/Allies should
not have bombed
Auschwitz.
Allied soldier who
becomes aware of
the situation of the
Hungarian Jews of
1944.
American journalist
sent to cover the
World War II in
Poland.
A student who has
just learned about
Auschwitz & the
Holocaust
A writer
commissioned to
write a piece about
the Holocaust.
A parent/family
member interested in
what you’re learning
in school.
United Nations
committee
Activists calling for
the U.S. to claim
responsibility for their
actions during WWII
& The Holocaust.
Journal entries
discussing opinions
as information
presents itself.
Essay
I believe that there are
arguments for both
bombing/not bombing
Auschwitz. I truly
can’t decide.
Extensions