STUDENTS

Resources for National History Day Projects are below. Click on the button for Holocaust related book reviews and recommendations.

Rights and Responsibilities in History 2027 Theme

The theme for National History Day® (NHD) 2027 is Innovation in History: Impact, Influence, Change. Innovation goes beyond creating new tools or devices to finding new ways of thinking, organizing, and influencing society. To put it simply, innovation, at its core, is about change and the impact of that change.

What is NHD-OC?

Discover NHD-OC: Unleashing the Power of History!

Welcome to the world of NHD-OC, where we ignite a love for history through our county-level History Day competition and Awards Ceremony held every March. Our commitment extends beyond the event itself as we provide support to teachers through our dedicated Teacher Training session. Collaborating with archivists and local librarians, we present an enlightening How To student event, empowering students to explore primary and secondary sources while receiving expert guidance in topic selection and research initiation. Join us on our website and unlock the extraordinary opportunities that NHD-OC offers. Let's embark on an unforgettable journey into the realm of history together!

To learn more about National History Day visit the National History Day California website and the National History Day Website.

Debate and Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, Consequences

*Appeasement

Debates may or may not result in successful conclusions. Diplomacy may or may not result in successful compromises. Governments and individuals struggled with the circumstances of the Holocaust.

Innovation in History: Impact and Change

WWII was a moment of great innovation regarding how war was conducted. Medical advancements and horrific methods of destruction both were seen throughout the war years.

Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History

An encompassing theme, the Holocaust period offers a variety of topics to explore. Literal revolution in the form of rebellion; the reactions of perpetrators and victims; and the changes made because of those actions

* Mel Mermelstein "By Bread Alone"

*Wilhelm Brasse "The Auschwitz Photographer

The Individual in History: Actions and Legacies

The ideal theme to highlight the many figures involved in the Holocaust. Survivors, victims, bystanders, oppressors, resisters, and supporters played integral parts in the Holocaust. Explore their actions - or inactions - and the legacies left behind.

*Raoul Wallenberg

*The targeting of the Jews by the Nazis

Rights and Responsibilities in History

What makes a decision or action a turning point? A change takes place in society that alters the status quo. The Holocaust itself was an event that changed the way people understood war and war crimes. The risks that individuals took to help changed the expectations of governments and people.

*The right to freedom of person and expression

*The responsibility of government to protect citizens

Leadership and Legacy in History

Choices made by governments had incredible impact on the lives of millions. Individuals took the reins of leadership in both large and small capacities. They left behind new definitions and expectations.

*Refusal to allow the docking of the St. Louis

* Brazilian ambassador, Luis Martins de Souza Dantas

Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History

The Holocaust was an encounter like no other.

Taking a Stand in History

Many people took a stand during the Holocaust. Not all of them were successful, but all were examples of determination and strength. The importance of being willing to speak to a position, especially when the outcome is unknown, cannot be discounted.

*Ambassadors granting visas for immigration

*Newspapers sharing the news of the Holocaust

*"The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club" by Phillip Hoose

Conflict and Compromise in History

The Holocaust was a conflict that did not evidence compromise at a base level. Compromise requires the giving up of something by both parties. Can a conflict be solved without compromise?

*Mel Mermelstein "By Bread Alone"

*Wilhelm Brasse "The Auschwitz Photographer"

*Joe Alexander -survivor

Triumph and Tragedy in History

The Holocaust is both a triumph and a tragedy. The tragedy is the well-known story. Millions of lives lost and millions more families effected with loss and deprivation. Yet it is also a story of triumph for those who survived and went forward to make change, find new families, and tell the story to teach future generations.

Breaking Barriers in History

The status quo can limit individuals and groups from achieving goals and dreams. It takes great effort to change expectations to allow for a different future.

*Judy Batalion “The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler’s Ghettos”

Communication in History: The Key to Understanding

Did anyone listen? Did anyone hear? The news about what was happening in the camps to the Jews and others was not hidden, but was it communicated well enough to inspire action? That question can be answered with a qualified no; how did communication fail?

*Newspaper accounts of the atrocities happening in Europe in the early 1930s and the response (or lack thereof) by world powers.

Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas

A frontier is an edge - what edges were walked during the Holocaust? The camps were places on the edge; a place of ultimate distance from life as it was known. Expectations of human behavior were on a knife-edge as the idea of humanity was redefined.

Holocaust Education Center Remembrance and Education: Voice Against Darkness Documentary Award

Documentaries that cherish and respect the lessons of the Holocaust are eligible to receive the Holocaust Education Center Remembrance and Education: Voice Against Darkness Documentary Award.

Groups will receive $200 to share with group members; individuals will receive $100. Winners will be selected based on the following criteria:

The project must be based on the topic of the Holocaust; i.e., a Holocaust survivor or rescuer or event of the Holocaust.
The project must be based on a variety of primary and secondary sources.
The project describes people and events in the past in ways that are respectful and accurate.
The project explains the historical significance of the topic researched.
The project embodies the theme, Rights and Responsibilities.

Documentaries that are nominated meet the following qualifications: