Online Holocaust Program

April 12, 2024

The Eisenhower Foundation will be remembering and honoring the victims of the Holocaust on Friday, April 12, in this series of online programs. 

General Dwight D. Eisenhower visited the Ohrdruf concentration camp on April 12, 1945.  He was shocked and unprepared for what he witnessed and was determined to make these atrocities known to the world so as not to be forgotten. Join us for these sessions to learn more about the Holocaust. 

Each session is about 40 minutes. All programs are Central time. Recommended for grades 7-12.
 

Session 1: How did the Holocaust Happen? (9:00 a.m. Central) 

A systematic, yet subtle progression of laws and actions by Hitler and his collaborators resulted in the persecution and murder of millions of Jews and those labeled as “inferior” in the Holocaust.  How and why did this happen? This program will examine these questions and how the Allied forces under the leadership of General Eisenhower helped put an end to this inhumanity.
 

Session 2: Rose Blanche - The Holocaust in Literature (11:00 a.m. Central)
Roberto Innocenti, celebrated artist and illustrator, drew on his own World War II experiences as a child to create the book “Rose Blanche.” This multi-award winning narrative revolves around Rose, a young German girl who discovers a terrible secret - Holocaust prisoners in a concentration camp near her village.  Her humane response to this revelation leads to a tragic result.  By analyzing the illustrations in this book, students will discover and discuss inferences and symbolism, as well as comparing events in the story to the actual events during World War II.
 

Session 3: Eisenhower Preserves the Past (1:00 p.m. Central) 

General Eisenhower knew the importance of primary sources to document history. His outrage at the discovery of Ohrdruf concentration camp by American soldiers turned into his resolve to tell the world about the camps.  He brought in members of Congress, prominent journalists, and other American units to witness and document the camp.  In this session, students will analyze primary sources that record atrocities of the Holocaust.