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      Nazi persecution of Jewish people

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain how Nazi persecution of Jews developed over time.

      Key learning points

      1. The Nazis believed Jews were 'inferior' and enemies of Germany.
      2. The Nazis subjected German Jews to persecution from 1933 onwards.
      3. The Nazis wanted to exclude the Jews from German society.
      4. Nazi persecution became more violent in 1938, including during Kristallnacht.
      5. Some Jews emigrated to escape Nazi persecution.

      Keywords

      • Antisemitism - hate directed at Jewish people, or cruel or unfair treatment of people because they are Jewish

      • Boycott - a situation in which people refuse to buy, use or do something because they do not approve of it

      • Synagogue - Jewish place of worship

      • Looted - to steal from shops and houses during a period of fighting

      • Emigrate - to permanently move out of a country

      Common misconception

      Nazi antisemitism meant they were immediately violent towards Jews.

      Open violence as a part of Nazi persecution only became common in 1938.

      Teacher tip

      Instead of completing the table chronology for Task C part 1, students could complete a time-axis graph representing the severity of Nazi persecution during the years from 1933-38. This would serve as a visual aid to help pupils with Task C part 2.

      Content guidance

      Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

      Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

      Supervision

      Adult supervision recommended

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Write the missing word. is treatment of someone unfairly or cruelly because of their race, religion or beliefs.

      Correct Answer: persecution

      Q2.
      What triggered pogroms against Jews in Russia in 1881?

      a plague
      outbreak of a war
      Correct answer: an assassination

      Q3.
      Which European country had the highest Jewish population by the 1930s?

      Britain
      France
      Germany
      Correct answer: Poland
      Soviet Union

      Q4.
      How many Jews served in Germany's army during World War One (WW1)?

      None
      1000
      10 000
      Correct answer: 100 000

      Q5.
      Which statement is most accurate?

      Almost all Jewish children went to public schools
      Almost all Jewish children went to Jewish faith schools
      Correct answer: Jewish children went to a mix of different schools

      Q6.
      Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.

      1 - Jews attacked as the Black Death spreads through Europe
      2 - Jews expelled from Spain
      3 - Jews emancipated in Germany
      4 - hundreds of thousands of Jews participate in fighting during WW1

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Write the missing word. Hate directed at Jewish people, or cruel or unfair treatment of people because they are Jewish is known as...

      Correct Answer: antisemitism, anti-semitism, anti semitism

      Q2.
      In what year did the Nazis come to power?

      Correct Answer: 1933

      Q3.
      What was the initial aim of Nazi persecution of Jews?

      eliminate Jews in Germany
      Correct answer: isolate Jews in Germany
      support Jews in Germany

      Q4.
      The laws passed in 1935 which stripped Jews in Germany of their citizenship were known as the Laws.

      Correct Answer: Nuremberg

      Q5.
      Why were synagogues attacked during Kristallnacht?

      they were amongst the wealthiest sites in the Third Reich
      Correct answer: they were symbols of Judaism
      they were used as bases for spying

      Q6.
      Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.

      1 - Nazis come to power
      2 - Nazis introduce a boycott of Jewish shops
      3 - Nuremberg Laws introduced
      4 - Jews forced to legally change their names
      5 - Kristallnacht

      To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: Nazi persecution of Jewish people, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...