Educational Program on the Liberation of Nazi Death Camps

FAIN: AH-272560-20

Friends of the National World War II Memorial, Inc. (Washington, DC 20003-2141)
Holly Rotondi (Project Director: March 2020 to present)

A public program on the liberation of Nazi death camps in 1945 and distribution of related educational materials designed to enhance the teaching of World War II history.

12/17/2020 Amended work plan in response to COVID-19. "With cautious hope and optimism for the future, Friends proposes to host the postponed in-person event on Thursday, April 29, 2021 – the 76th anniversary of the liberation of Dachau – at the Army and Navy Club at Farragut Square in Washington, D.C. But, as a hybrid virtual/in-person event with measures to maintain social distancing and to also take advantage of the terrific successes of Friends’ virtual commemorations and educational programming throughout 2020.

Moving to a hybrid event will allow us to reduce the number of people attending on-site; but, will open the event up to hundreds more online live, and thousands more through the archival video that will be made available via Friends’ social media channels."

The Friends of the National World War II Memorial (“Friends”) is requesting a $30,000 Chairman’s grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to conduct a program on Friday, May 1, 2020, in collaboration with the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum that would feature several scholars speaking on a panel about the liberation of the Nazi death camps at the close of World War II in 1945. This panel discussion would be part of the Friends ongoing efforts to commemorate the 75th anniversary of World War II. The panel discussion would be open to the public and would also be filmed by a videographer and made available to the general public through Friends' website and social media sites. Film of the event, along with related educational materials designed to enhance the teaching of World War II history, will be distributed to approximately 200 teachers nationwide.

Associated Products

The Liberator (Conference/Institute/Seminar)
Title: The Liberator
Author: Alex Kershaw
Abstract: On April 29, 2021, the 76th anniversary of the liberation of Dachau by American forces, the Friends of the National World War II Memorial hosted a discussion with best-selling author Alex Kershaw featuring Kershaw’s book, "The Liberator: One World War II Soldier’s 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau", which recounts the remarkable battlefield journey of U.S. Army officer Felix Sparks through the Allied liberation of Europe and the moral integrity and courage he displayed at the darkest moment.
Date Range: April 29, 2021
Location: Washington, D.C.
Primary URL: https://vimeo.com/544799076

---