Czech The History: The Auschwitz report

  • The Auschwitz Report: The Escape That Changed History
  • Pavel Zuna
  • Česká republika
  • 2025
  • 11 min.
  • 13–21 let
Audio-visual lessons

Lesson objectives

  1. learn about the story of Alfréd Wetzler and Rudolf Vrba and understand their motivation for escaping from Auschwitz
  2. become familiar with the living conditions and circumstances in concentration camps during World War II
  3. reflect on the importance of Wetzler and Vrba’s testimony and its impact on raising awareness about the Holocaust

On April 7, 1944, two brave Slovak Jews, Alfréd Wetzler (25) and Rudolf Vrba (19), accomplished the unimaginable — they managed to devise and carry out a plan to escape from the Auschwitz concentration camp. As incredible as it may seem, they didn’t do it for themselves, but to deliver a shocking report to the world about the existence of Nazi extermination camps and the horrors taking place in the Auschwitz death factory.

 

 This lesson is also available in Czech.

Recommended age group

13–21 years

Thematic area

Výuka jazyků, Filmy pro veřejnost

Theme

Výuka angličtiny / English, Filmy pro veřejnost

Play film

Teaching materials

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When you mention Wetzler and Vrba

Activity / 45 mins / doporučený věk: 13+ / B2+

  • learn about the story of Alfréd Wetzler and Rudolf Vrba and understand their motivation for escaping from Auschwitz
  • become familiar with the living conditions and circumstances in concentration camps during World War II 
  • reflect on the importance of Wetzler’s and Vrba’s testimony and its impact on raising awareness about the Holocaust.

English activities for teaching with documentaries

Informational texts

A set of activities generally applicable to working with film in English classes

How to reflect on emotions after the film screening

Informational texts

  • Why is it important to reflect on emotions?
  • Basic methods of reflection
  • From reflection to discussion

Teaching with documentaries: Methodological handbook

Handbook containing a collection of comprehensive activities designed for teaching with documentaries, along with the OWIS theoretical framework for English lessons.

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