You should begin by pointing your browser to http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/jger33.htm , the URL for the section entitled "Jews in Prewar Germany, 1933" on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's Learning Site for Students.

          When you get to this section of the Web site, you should first examine the photographs and the maps and read the text in the introduction to this section.   You should then examine the photographs and the maps and read the text in the introductions to each of the subsections: European Jews ("Jewish Life in Europe Before the Holocaust"), Antisemitism ("Antisemitism"), Boycott ("The Boycott of Jewish Businesses"), Nuremberg Laws ("The Nuremberg Race Laws"), "Night of Broken Glass," Evian Conference, St Louis ("Voyage of the St. Louis"), and Census ("Locating the Victims").

          You should also examine the artifacts linked to the section "Jews in Prewar Germany, 1933," and to the subsections "Jewish Life in Europe Before the Holocaust," "Antisemitism," "The Nuremberg Race Laws," and "Night of Broken Glass" and Census ("Locating the Victims").

          (Optional: If you have the time and are so inclined, it is recommended that you read one or more of the following biographies: Hanne Hirsch Liebmann, Henry Schmelzer, Ben Meed and Ernest G. Heppner [linked to "Antisemitism"]; Edward Adler [linked to "The Nuremberg Race Laws"]; Kurt Klein [linked to "Evian Conference"] and Gerda Blachmann Wilchfort [linked to "Voyage of the St. Louis"]. Be sure to click on the picture or name to access the information and testimony provided.)

          When you have finished examining "Jews in Pre-War Germany, 1933," point your browser to http://motlc.wiesenthal.org/text/x13/xm1371.html and read the complete text of the Web page containing the Simon Wiesenthal Center's interpretation of the events of Kristallnacht.

          Finally, compose a brief journal response of at least 300 words focusing on what you learned from your brief visit to these two Web sites.   I am most interested in the specific people, events and issues that caught your attention.   You may organize your response in any way you like and you should not hesitate to criticize either the content or the manner of presentation on either or both Web sites.   However, in stating your criticisms, whether they are positive or negative, please be as specific as possible.   Any time you make a broad generalization, make sure you follow that generalization with a specific example to illustrate your point.