Lessons on Hitler's Germany

The IB history Topic 2 Authoritarian States unit includes lessons on the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party in 20th century Germany. The focus of these lessons is on understanding the conditions that allowed for the rise of this authoritarian state and the methods used by Hitler and the party to gain and maintain power.

This section of the resource library delves into the emergence, consolidation and maintenance of power, highlighting the impact of the leaders’ policies, both domestic and foreign, on the Nazi regime. It is specifically designed for older students studying the political, economic and social environment of Germany during the interwar period. The lessons are engaging and cater to a variety of learning styles.

All the lessons are editable, allowing teachers to adapt them to their individual teaching style and the needs of their students. The activities included in the lessons are designed to support individual and group work, research skills, critical thinking, and working with primary sources. Students will have the opportunity to improve their analytical skills, practice extended writing, and develop oral and visual presentation skills. Additionally, the lessons provide opportunities for students with artistic inclinations to express their ideas through creative avenues.

All the lessons have been successfully used in the classroom and have been created with the help and feedback of students who have studied Hitler and Nazi Germany. Our students have found these lessons to be engaging and enjoyable and we are confident that yours will too. These lessons are a great way for students to understand and analyse the political, economic and social environment of Germany and the rise of Hitler’s regime which ultimately led to the Holocaust and WWII.