Was Hitler guilty of starting World War 2?

Not according to year 11 History students from Leckford Place.

Last term, all the History students attended a ‘courtroom drama’ performed by professional actors in which Hitler was put on trial on the charge of having started World War II. After hearing the statements of many witnesses including Mussolini, Stalin, Roosevelt and others, our students were asked to be the jury and decide if they thought Hitler was innocent or guilty of the charge. They decided that the proof was not irrefutable and therefore he must be found innocent.

Hitler did not escape, however, as an enraged victim of the war then leapt onto the stage and shot him dead!

It was an entertaining and thought provoking performance, helping our students to have a more rounded perspective on the causes of World War II. Combined with a valuable exam workshop on how to answer source based exam questions it made for a worthwhile afternoon. The students gained a lot from the workshop and, as ever, were a pleasure to take out.

Here’s hoping that what they learned will pay off in their exams!

Words by Margaret Horton, Head of History