In Their Shoes: World War II Through the Eyes of Participants
This activity encourages students to explore the impact of World War II on individuals on all sides of the conflict. Included in the packet are 32 short biographical profiles of men and women who participated in World War II. The profiles include American, German, British, Soviet, Japanese, French, Italian, and Filipino citizens. The ultimate fate of each of these citizens is revealed to students at the conclusion of the activity. This packet also contains a series of primary source documents and critical thinking questions tied to the major events of the war.
Historians estimate that approximately 85 million combatants and non-combatants perished during World War II. This activity is a great way to help your students understand that figure and get a sense that the war continued to impact people’s lives long after it ended.