Forced Labor 1939 - 1945

Go to: content

Service Navigation

• Collection
• Forced Labor
• Project
• Press
• Education
• Links

• School
  • Learning software
  • Short films
• Museum
• Teaching

Educational Materials "Life Story Interviews in the Classroom”

Students' presentation about the biography of Helena Bohle-Szacki

The preparation of the interviews for school and out-of school educational purposes was especially important for many of the witnesses. For many of them, they had never had the opportunity to tell about their experiences and until only recently, interested listeners. They went to great pains and often underwent re-traumatizing agony in taking part in a life story interview so that they could pass on their stories to future generations.

Therefore, an important part of the project is establishing didactic approaches to the interview collection. To this purpose, the educational materials “Life Story Interviews in the Classroom: Video DVD – Learning Software – Teachers’ Book” have been developed by the Freie Universität.

Short Films

The life stories of former forced laborers take center stage. Five representatives from different victim groups tell about their experiences in camps and factories, the behavior of the Germans, and their experiences after returning home. Five video interviews from the online archive have been edited down to 25-minute biographical short films. Two background films provide information on forced labor and compensation as well as about the interview archive.

Titles of the seven films»

Media

Learning software with timeline and animated maps

The educational materials “Life Story Interviews in the Classroom” include the following media:

• Five survivors recount their experiences in camps and factories in a video DVD (to be shown in the classroom). Two background films provide information about forced labor and compensation as well as about the interview archive.
• The second DVD contains a learning software (for project work in computer labs or for individual exam preparation). In addition to the seven films, it also includes interactive tasks and animated maps, timeline and lexicon, transcripts, documents and photos, informational texts and tips on methods of use.
• A teachers’ book assists in preparation, providing informational texts, suggestions for tasks and worksheets.
• The complete interviews as well as additional information and links are available in the online archive.

Use

The educational materials combine the vividness of filmed interviews with contemporary witnesses and the interactive nature of digital media. History education experts and teachers were significantly involved in the conceptualization of the materials. “Life Story Interviews in the Classroom” is geared towards students from grade 9 and above but are also aimed at a general audience.

• For different types of schools in all federal states

• Oriented towards educational standards and equipping students with competencies

• Modules for classroom lessons, class project days and exam presentations

• Interdisciplinary (incl. history, German, art)

School Projects

In the development of educational materials the Freie Universität Berlin cooperated with various schools. Students of the Sophie-Scholl-Schule tested the prototype of the interactive learning DVD at a creative workshop. A 10th grade class at the Hector-Peterson-Oberschule, a course at the Schadow-Gymnasium and a group at the Sportschule Potsdam discussed a biographical short film about a German Sinto’s experience of persecution and slave labor. The Babelsberger Filmgymnasium looked at three exemplary short biographies during a project week. This practical experience in schools has influenced the further development of the materials. more»

Teacher Training

Talking with teachers at the educational fair DIDACTA

The didactic concept and initial educational materials were presented at various workshops and teacher training seminars including the seminar “Entdecken und Verstehen. Zeitzeugeninterviews“ (Discovering and Understanding. Witness Interviews) organized by the Foundation “Remembrance, Responsibility and Future”, the conference the “6th Berlin-Brandenburg Contemporary History Education Forum”, at the history education seminar at the Freie Universität Berlin and at a teacher training workshop for Polish teachers and memorial site educators in Warsaw. more»

Further information events are planned. If you are interested or would like further information, please contact Cord Pagenstecher, Freie Universität Berlin, e-mail: cord.pagenstecher@fu-berlin.de

Ordering

The educational materials “Life Story Interviews in the Classroom: Video – DVD – Learning Software – Teachers’ Book” are planned to be available through the program of the Federal Agency for Civic Education. If you are interested, we will notify you as soon as the materials can be ordered. Please send a short notice with your name and institution to mail@zwangsarbeit-archiv.de.

Download Flyer

Please click here to download a German language flyer about our educational materials as a pdf file.