Adolf Hitler: Was Hitler a 'Passionate Lunatic'?

Lesson Overview

• Suitable For: Key Stage 3 (KS3)
• Time Period: Second World War (1939-1945)
• Curriculum Link: Examines challenges for Britain, Europe, and the wider world from 1901 to the present day, focusing on WWII and Winston Churchill's leadership.
• Learning Objective: Investigate public perceptions of Hitler before and during WWII.
• Resources: Printed sources

Background

• Hitler, notorious for WWII atrocities, led Nazi Germany for 12 years.
• Retrospectively asking why Hitler wasn't stopped earlier; at the time, predictions were uncertain.
• By 1937: Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles by expanding military and territory, causing concern.

Key Questions

1. Was Hitler a 'passionate lunatic' or an eccentric rebuilding Germany?
2. How did the British government perceive and respond to Hitler's actions leading up to WWII?

Teachers' Notes

• Exercise explores conflicting evidence and reliability.
• Includes perspectives portraying Hitler as lunatic vs. astute.
• Can introduce topics of appeasement and Britain's wartime decisions.

Sources

1. Illustration: Hitler amidst British and Russian military powers.
2. Source 1: Mr. Law's report (British businessman in Germany, 1937).
3. Source 2: Conversation with Count Bernstorff (German anti-Nazi, 1937).
4. Source 3: Drawing of Hitler by Richard Ziegler (c. 1944).
5. Source 4: British Embassy description of Hitler (1937).

Tasks

Task 1

• Source 1: Report by Mr. Law
  • Impression: Hitler as a dangerous, passionate leader.
  • Described as having fits of passion and making unilateral decisions.
  • Mr. Law opposes further concessions to Germany.

Task 2

• Source 2: Conversation with Count Bernstorff
  • Describes Hitler's violent fits and lack of interest in governance.
  • Bernstorff's account supports Mr. Law's view of Hitler.
  • Considers Bernstorff's reliability as an anti-Nazi campaigner.

Task 3

• Source 3: Drawing by Richard Ziegler
  • Impression of Hitler through artistic depiction.
  • Government-commissioned, possibly biased.
  • Assess reliability and historical accuracy.

Task 4

• Source 4: British Embassy description
  • Evaluate whether it confirms Hitler as a passionate lunatic.
  • Analyze description and implications about Hitler.

Task 5

• Compare reliability of the three sources.

Task 6

• Report on Hitler's state of mind using provided sources.
  • Evaluate reliability and implications of evidence.
  • Determine Hitler's sanity with supportive evidence.