Lesson 11

Planet Auschwitz

As a result of this lesson, students will:

• Understand and describe the victim’s experiences
• Describe one specific camp, Auschwitz, and explain how it functioned as all three types of camps

Key Glossary Terms:

The following glossary terms are used in Lesson 11.

1. Appel {ah-pel}
2. Appelplatz {ah-pell-plotz}
3. Aryan
4. Brezhinka
5. Euthanasia
6. Fuehrer
7. Gypsies
8. Hippocratic Oath
9. Kapo
10. Nazi
11. Reichsfuehrer SS
12. Special Treatment  (Sonderbehandlung) 
13. SS
14. Third Reich
15. Typhus
16. Volksgemeinschaft  

Instructional Materials:

• Video, “Planet Auschwitz"
• Reading 11A, "A 'Normal' Day in Auschwitz”
• Reading 9C, “Daily Log”
• Reading 9D, “Calorie Tally”
• Reading 11B, “Legal Brief: Life Unworthy of Life”

Teaching Sequence:

Video: “Planet Auschwitz” (7:16)

• Show the video

Reading:


• Reading 11A, A ‘Normal’ Day in Auschwitz”
• Reading 9C, “Daily Log”
• 9D, “Calorie Tally” (30 minutes)
• Read, "A ‘Normal’ Day in Auschwitz” aloud to students as they follow along in the Student booklet.
• Have student write the answers to the questions following the essay.
• Discuss the student responses.

Suggestions for discussion: This day in the life of an Auschwitz victim reveals that she has no control over any aspect of her life. She must wait for permission from the guards to use the latrine, eat, sleep, or do any other routine activity. She may control her thoughts, but even that is problematic considering the diet. The concept of “free” time is meaningless in this context. Every moment is a dangerous one until the instant before sleep when she has the luxury of remembering her family. The approximate number of calories is as follows: three slices of bread with margarine – 375; salami – 350; coffee – 4; total – 729 calories/day.

Homework Assignment:

Reading 11B, “Legal Brief: Life Unworthy of Life.”

Have students carefully read this essay. Concepts from the reading will be used in Reading 12A, “The Doctor’s Trail: A Dramatization.” This legal brief provided background information for both defense and prosecuting attorneys.

Assign the following roles to students to prepare for Reading 12A, “The Doctor’s Trial: A Dramatization”:

- Judge

- Prosecuting Lawyer

- Defense Lawyer

- Defendant (Dr. Schultz)

- Witness (Dr. Bauer)

- Witness (Dr. Wald)

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