How will these resources help you?

The cruelty of the Nazi regime is extraordinary to the point of disbelief. Despite this, the regime still exerts powerful influence over a section of the population. In this age of ‘fake news’, when the President of the United States deliberately encourages scepticism of reputable news outlets, and the internet and social media have become fertile grounds for both extreme right-wing propaganda and bizarre conspiracy theories, it is vital that school-aged children have a clear understanding of the consequences of political extremism. 

So much has been written about the Holocaust – primarily, and rightly, from the perspective of the Jewish people – but the systematic extermination of people with physical and learning disabilities (‘life unworthy of life’ in Nazi terminology) is often overlooked. It is estimated that 300,000 people, including 70,000 children, were murdered under this Aktion T4 policy. It is also an uncomfortable fact that many of the ideas that prompted the policy originated in the UK and America, and had widespread support in those countries during the interwar years. The information within these books will prepare you for teaching this challenging but valuable topic with confidence.