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As I mentioned in my last post, I have taught the study of World War II to more than one group of young adults. In this class, the students read several different books.

Next year, I am blessed to be able to teach this class again.  But this time, it will be expanded from a semester to a yearlong class.  So, I have been working on a deeper dive into the study of World War II.

I have always been fascinated by this period. There are so many lessons that we can learn from the events and people during this war. So I am looking forward to studying it again.

The books the students will read

The students will be reading the same books that I have used in the past. Which means I will also read them again. I don’t mind this at all.

Two of the books that we will read are by the history professor and winner of the 2008 National Endowment for Humanities Medal, Albert Marrin.  Albert Marrin is an incredibly gifted author. He has the ability to pack massive amounts of information into easy-to-read, fascinating books that are hard to put down.

Hitler

In the study of World War II we will read both Hitler and Victory in the Pacific. I have read both of these books at least five times and have enjoyed them each time. I highly recommend them to anyone who wants to learn about World War II, and, especially to anyone who is teaching high school students.

To aid in the study of these books, I have compiled a set of questions that I give out for each chapter.  With the help of these questions, my students will learn a great deal.

Hitler was originally published in 1987.  The book begins with Adolf Hitler’s childhood and ends with his death.  It gives us a glimpse into his informative years, his service in WWI, his rise to power as well as his tactics in educating and brainwashing the youth.   Marrin holds no punches as he describes Hitler’s barbaric treatment of the Jewish people and anyone who stands in his way.

Marrin also covers Hitler’ philosophy of conquering other nations and the invasions themselves.  For the most part, the entire European theater is at least touched on in this book.

Victory in the Pacific

To cover the Pacific theater, the book Victory in the Pacific is used.  Albert Marrin does an equally excellent job of covering this portion of the study of World War II.  As its focus is the war between the United States and Japan, the book begins with the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  The majority of the first chapter centers around December 7, 1941.

We learn about Midway, Guadalcanal, and other major battles.  Marrin goes into the different types of ships and the different leaders of both the American and Japanese navies. Admiral Nimitz’s strategy to “leapfrog” his way to Japan and an American victory is also covered. 

We also get insight into the Japanese mindset and philosophy of battle during this time in history.

In addition, I like to use two other books for the students to read:  The Story of D-Day by Bruce Bliven, Jr. and Hiroshima written by John Hersey.  Obviously, they cover said events in much more detail.  They are both well written and do an exceptional job of covering the material. 

The Story of D-Day

The Story of D-Day examines the incredible courage and sacrifice of the Allied soldiers as they stormed the beaches of Normandy. One example of this is the Rangers assault of Pointe Du Hoe.  They landed at the base of 100-foot-tall cliffs. Then, they had to climb up the cliffs with German soldiers firing down on them.  This had to be absolutely terrifying. Yet, these young men did it.  But this was just one example of the courageous acts of the men who took part in the “greatest amphibious assault in the history of warfare”.

Hiroshima

Hiroshima is a different read as it takes us into the heart of Japan.  It explores what the Japanese civilians endured when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.  Written from the view of the survivors, it is a heartbreaking look at what was deemed necessary to end the war.

As for the Holocaust, the students will be reading three books.  Again, I have a set of questions to help them gather the information.

The Devil’s Arithmetic

The first book is The Devil’s Arithmetic written by Jane Yolen.  Winner of the National Jewish Book Award, it tells the story of a young girl named Hannah.  She reluctantly attends Passover Seder with her family and is “mysteriously transported into the past”.  Here she learns of the atrocities that her elders experienced and gains a new appreciation for them and their past.

It is a fiction book that is more on the Junior High level than High School.  However, I like it as an introduction to the Holocaust.

Number the Stars

The second book is Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.  This is a relatively short, easy to read book that is also on the Junior High level.   However, it is a well-written fiction book that gives the reader an introduction to the lengths that the Danish people went through to save the Jewish population in Denmark. 

During World War II, the Danish people managed to smuggle nearly 7,000 Jews across the sea to safety in Sweden.  They were ingeniously creative and courageous.  This is something I want my students to know and understand.  I think it is important for them to know that there were people who chose to do what was right, no matter the cost.

The Hiding Place

The third book is The Hiding Place.  Authored by John and Elizabeth Sherrill, it tells the true story of Corrie and Betsie ten Boom.  This is a heart-rending book that holds nothing back on the horrific treatment of those sent to concentration camps.  It also tells of the incredible courage and faith of the ten Boom family as they saved nearly 800 people during the war.

The Hiding Place

The Hiding Place, DVD

In my opinion, The Hiding Place should be a must-read for every high school student. So you know, we usually watch the movie once we finish the book.

To go even further with the study of the Holocaust, we will selectively pick from the free curriculum at the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center.  This is an excellent source which uses both primary and secondary documents to present key aspects of the Holocaust.

Although I feel it is extremely important to teach students about the Holocaust, I usually have them memorize Scripture along with the study. While being exposed to these atrocities, it is possible for them to be a bit overwhelmed.

The first time I saw movie footage of concentration camps and the treatment of the people there, I truly thought I would be sick. Some of the students may feel the same way. Although this is an appropriate response, I want to be mindful of the hearts and minds of the young people that I will be teaching.

As I said earlier, the study of World War II next year has been expanded to a yearlong class.  I purchased additional books so that I would have the information needed to dive deeper into the events.  In my next post, I want to tell you about that.

Let’s learn from the past

If you are thinking about doing a study of World War II and the Holocaust, or are just interested in learning more yourself, these books may be of help to you. 

It is crucial for us as adults to have a clear understanding of what happened in this period. Teaching our children the truth of what happened is critical as well. We all should learn the lessons from our past.

What do you think? Are you willing to take the time?

FYI: the above picture is the extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland