Summary
He’s known as one of the worst tyrants in world history. But how did Adolf Hitler get the power to do so many terrible things? Many Germans were angry about the terms of the treaty ending World War I, and the Great Depression brought more suffering. Hitler offered Germans someone to blame. He rose in popularity by spreading antisemitic views, blaming Jews for all of Germany's problems. When he tried to overthrow the government, he got a light sentence because the judges were sympathetic! Eventually, the Nazi party gained enough seats in Parliament for Hitler to become the leader of the whole country. A mysterious fire in the Parliament building gave him the opportunity he needed: he exploited the attack to abolish civil liberties and increase his power. He went on to start World War II and perpetuate the Holocaust, the murder of six million Jews, and five million others. Press "play" to learn about Hitler's rise to power.
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Adolf Hitler:
- What is one new thing you learned about adolf hitler?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining adolf hitler.
- Draw or give one example of your own.