Introduction to the Holocaust: Documentary Film and Classroom Materials

Organized around a Museum-produced 38-minute documentary, The Path to Nazi Genocide, these materials and discussion questions provide students with an introduction to the history of the Holocaust. The film examines the Nazis’ rise and consolidation of power in Germany, as well as their racist ideology, propaganda, and persecution of Jews and other innocent civilians. It also outlines the path by which the Nazis led a state to war and, with their collaborators, killed millions -- including systematically murdering six million Jewish people. By providing a concise overview of the Holocaust and what made it possible, this resource is intended to provoke reflection and discussion about the role of ordinary people, institutions, and nations between 1918 and 1945.