This enquiry-based lesson acquaints students with a live political controversy using an excerpt from ‘The Nazis: a warning from history’ video to stimulate students to consider how they would set about checking whether a new theory about the role of the Gestapo was right. The lesson ends with a fun way of consolidating students’ understanding of over a dozen different methods Hitler used to control people’s lives. I t is assumed that the students will have some knowledge of the ways people’s lives were controlled. This lesson works best with more able students.
Learning objectives
- students understand the historical debate concerning the role of the Gestapo
- they consider the evidence that historians might use as part of this enquiry
- they consolidate their understanding of the range of methods Hitler used to extend his control.
Starter
Slowly reveal a Gestapo badge and then set up the enquiry using slides 3 and 4.
Step 1
Use slide 5 to reiterate the commonly-held view of the Gestapo’s role.
Step 2
Introduce students to Professor Gellately’s theory using the PowerPoint slides, followed up by showing the brief excerpt from the BBC programme The Nazis; a warning from history ( not included here) which covers
