Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way

NJ Holocaust Grades 9-12 Curriculum: Unit 5

Unit Topic: Liberation and Issues of Conscience 
Grade(s): 9-12

Unit Goal: Students will understand the complexities of liberation for Holocaust survivors and the ethical challenges faced by individuals and nations in the aftermath, including issues of justice, responsibility, and moral accountability.

Objectives:

  1. Assess the scope and complexity of the humanitarian crisis following liberation, including how post-war recovery efforts addressed the immense physical, psychological, and societal needs of survivors.
  2. Analyze the immediate challenges faced by survivors, including physical and emotional trauma, displacement, and the search for family members, exploring how these experiences shaped their post-war lives.
  3. Investigate the responses of Allied soldiers and humanitarian organizations who encountered concentration and extermination camps and consider the impact these experiences had on their understanding of human rights and justice.
  4. Evaluate the role of displaced persons camps in providing temporary shelter and support to survivors, examining the complex issues within these camps and the obstacles survivors faced as they sought to rebuild their lives.
  5. Analyze the political, social, and economic barriers that complicated the immigration and resettlement process for survivors and consider how these challenges influenced survivors’ ability to begin the process of recovery.
  6. Distinguish between the concepts of “guilt” and “responsibility” in the context of individual and collective actions during the Holocaust, critically evaluating the moral and ethical implications of choices made by perpetrators, bystanders, and rescuers.
  7. Assess what various nations knew about the Holocaust during the war and how they responded to revelations of genocide, exploring the implications for international policy and refugee support.
  8. Examine the role of the Nuremberg Trials in establishing accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity, assessing how these proceedings shaped international standards for justice and human rights.

  1. What did it mean for survivors to “return to life” after the Holocaust and what social structures supported survivors upon liberation? 
  2. How was liberation an ongoing process for the survivors rather than a short-term event?
  3. How did liberators, including soldiers and humanitarian workers, respond to the atrocities they witnessed, and what impact did these experiences have on their views and actions after the war?
  4. What role did Displaced Persons camps play in the lives of Holocaust survivors, and what challenges did these camps present as survivors attempted to rebuild their lives and seek new homes?
  5. Why did immigration and emigration remain difficult for Holocaust survivors even after liberation, and how did these barriers impact their efforts to rebuild their lives?
  6. What did other nations know about the Holocaust as it was happening, and how did they respond to the revelations of genocide and atrocities once the war ended?
  7. How did the Nuremberg Trials shape global standards for justice and accountability, and in what ways did they influence the world's approach to human rights and the prevention of future atrocities?

  1. Each survivor had their own unique experience in attempting to return to their former life after the war. Various organizations, charities, countries, and international aid groups stepped up to help survivors after liberation.
  2. The post-war period was marked by uncertainty, and many survivors faced instability regarding their residency status and future prospects which contributed to ongoing stress.
  3. Liberators responded to the atrocities of the Holocaust with shock, compassion, and a commitment to aiding survivors, documenting crimes, and seeking justice. Their experiences shaped their views on human rights, influencing postwar policies, and strengthening efforts to prevent future atrocities.
  4. Displaced Persons camps provided Holocaust survivors with refuge and essential aid but also posed significant challenges, including overcrowding, bureaucratic obstacles, and prolonged uncertainty as survivors sought to rebuild their lives and find permanent homes.
  5. Even after liberation, Holocaust survivors faced strict immigration laws, political barriers, and prejudice, making it difficult to find new homes and rebuild their lives.
  6. Some nations knew about Nazi atrocities during the Holocaust but did little to stop them due to politics, antisemitism, and the war. After the war, learning the full truth led to calls for justice, aid for survivors, and efforts to prevent future genocides.
  7. The Nuremberg Trials set important rules for punishing war crimes and holding leaders accountable. They helped shape human rights laws, the Genocide Convention, and efforts to prevent future crimes against humanity.

LIBERATION

FREE … NOW WHAT?

WHAT THE WORLD KNEW

WAR CRIMES TRIALS

UNIT LITERATURE 

LIBERATION

FREE .. NOW WHAT?

WHAT THE WORLD KNEW

WAR CRIMES TRIALS

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

    CROSS CURRICULAR TIES 

    US History

    Current Events

    Psychology

    Art and Music

    World Languages - French

    • 6.2.12.HistoryCC.4.b: Assess the short- and long-term demographic, social, economic, and environmental consequences of the violence and destruction of the two World Wars. 
    • 6.1.12.CivicsHR.11.a: Assess the responses of the United States and other nations to the violation of human rights that occurred during the Holocaust and other genocides. 
    • 6.2.12.CivicsPI.4.b: Assess government responses to incidents of ethnic cleansing and genocide.
    • 6.2.12.HistoryUP.4.c: Compare and contrast the actions of individuals as perpetrators, bystanders, and rescuers during events of persecution or genocide, and describe the long-term consequences of genocide for all involved.
    • 6.2.12.GeoPP.5.a: Use a variety of sources to explain the impact of migration on the way of life in the country of origin and the new country (e.g., social, economic, political structures).