Alabama Social Studies SS24.HOS.19b
The Standard
- SS24.HOS.19
- Explain the purpose of the Death Marches.
Outline the chronology of the Allied advance into Germany and the German surrender.
2024 Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies · The Final Solution
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Trace the western Allied and Soviet advances into Germany on a map. Put the Rhine crossing, Berlin's fall, and Germany's surrender in order.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can draw western forces advancing from the west and Soviet forces advancing from the east. They can date the Rhine crossing to March 1945, Berlin's fall to May 2, and Germany's surrender to May 7 and 8.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think US troops captured Berlin, though Soviet troops did. They may also think Berlin's fall and Germany's surrender happened on the same day.
How to Assess It
- Give students a blank map of Germany and three labels: Rhine crossing, Berlin falls, German surrender. Have them draw both advances, then date and order the labels.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs a blank Europe map and dated event cards; have them place the Rhine crossing and Berlin's fall along two advance arrows.
Ask students to write two sentences explaining why Berlin's fall and Germany's surrender have different dates.
Have teams race to order five cards: Rhine crossing, Soviet attack on Berlin, Hitler's death, Berlin's fall, and German surrender.
Show a May 8, 1945, V-E Day newspaper front page; ask students which events on their timeline explain the headline.
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Related Standards
- SS24.5.9
Describe the reasons for the United States’ entry into World War II and identify its contributions toward the defeat of the Axis powers.
- SS24.HOS.11
Summarize the events leading to the outbreak of World War II and how Germany’s actions violated the Treaty of Versailles.*
- SS24.US2.6
Trace the progression of events and policies leading to World War II and the United States’ entry into the war.
- SS24.5.9c
Explain the significance of major events in the war, including Pearl Harbor, internment of Japanese-Americans, D-Day, the Holocaust, Victory in Europe (VE) Day,...
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