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. It 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 his new
