The British Library’s Living Words: Voices of the Holocaust

http://www.bl.uk/services/learning/curriculum/voices.html

Topics for Students	This oral history website aimed at 9th grade British students assumes students have previously had an initial study of the Holocaust. In the first section “Life Before the Holocaust” 3 anonymous testimonies and Peter Prager’s testimony are in regards to their experiences in the Kindertransport to England
Life Before the Holocaust	9 testimonies; full background text; 5 related activities (complete s.w. “Persecution & Discrimination”)
Ghettos & Deportations	7 testimonies; full background text; 5 related activities (complete s.w. “Choices”)
The Camps	7 testimonies; full background text; 3 related activities (complete s.w. “Familiar Words”)
Resistance	3 testimonies; full background text; 3 related activities
Liberation	2 testimonies; full background text; 4 related activities (complete s.w. “Liberation”)
Edith Berkin’s Testimony	7 segments of Edith’s testimony; background text; 6 related activities (complete s.w. “Survivor Interview”)

 

Testimony Library

Same testimonies as above. Whether listening to the testimonies through the Topics for Students or the Testimony Library, there is a transcript for the spoken words and a few words about the interviewees.

 

Student Information Cards	Additional information on specific aspects of the Holocaust
Background to the Holocaust	Jewish origins in Palestine, Hitler’s hatred of Jews, exile turns to genocide, other victims, Jews as minorities, broad range of occupations, participants, collaborators, bystanders
Antisemitism	Historic examples, especially note Raoul Hilberg’s words on pattern of antisemitism
Anti-Jewish Decrees	Clearly drawn chronological chart of decrees, 1933-1943
The Yellow Star	Historic precedence of badges, types of stars, reasons for stars
The Jewish people: Religion and culture	Short, clearly written historical context of Jewish religion and culture
Anne Frank	Short synopsis of Anne’s life, death, Otto’s struggles in publishing Anne’s diary
Jewish Policemen in the Ghetto	Duties of Jewish policemen, controversial nature of role
Rescue and the Holocaust	Summary of response by America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe

 

Reference	The maps, chronology, and glossary sections are designed to work with the testimonies, background texts, and student information cards.
Maps, Chronology, Glossary	Maps are estimate of Jews murdered between 1939-1945, location of some concentration camps & ghettos, location of major cities; Chronology is 1933-1945; Glossary is for words related to testimonies.

 

Teachers’ Information	The curriculum aspect to this site is nicely done. Not only are the oral testimonies good, but they are also broken down into the different topic areas and each is explored in its historical context. Free worksheets!
Teachers’ Intro to Project	Aims of the oral history project, important considerations (all oral testimonies are those of victims only, not a complete site for Holocaust studies). Explains how to make best use of the website.
Teachers' worksheets and discussion sheets menu	Answer keys for worksheets: “persecution & discrimination,” “anti-Jewish decrees,” “choices,” “familiar words,” “liberation”; discussion topic prompts for starting a discussion forum on the Holocaust
Students’ Worksheets	Black student worksheets for the keys listed above. Worksheets go directly with oral testimonies. Allow students to focus on various aspects of testimonies.
Useful Publications & Resources	There is a resource pack listed for sale and acknowledges use of several other resources: Lessons of the Holocaust, Echoes Theatre Company Teaching Pack, Reflections
Useful websites	Working links include the USHMM, the London Jewish Cultural Centre, Wiener Library, Imperial War Museum, Holocaust Education Trust, Yad Vashem, Anne Frank Educational Trust, Holocaust Memorial Day
Useful Contacts & Addresses	Some are same sites as listed above, only with the addition of postal addresses. There are a few new sites listed such as Amnesty International, British Red Cross Society, Council of Christians and Jews

Provided on 3/27/04 by Your Cyber Web Guide, Sheila Hansen, USHMM Mandel Fellow, 2000-2001, Spearfish, South Dakota