Discussion Guide: I Am Canada: Behind Enemy Lines

Download

1. Why do you think young men like Sam volunteered for such a dangerous job? Flyers, especially, knew that when they went on an operation they most probably would never return. Could you have done that? What made them so brave?
2. If you were going to join up in World War II, what service would you join: Air Force, Army or Navy? Why?
3. If you had been shot down in enemy territory, what would you have done — try hard to get home or try to find the Resistance? Why do you think so many people fought in the Resistance? Why do you think so many people collaborated with the Germans? Which would you have done?
4. Why do you think Hitler picked on certain groups of people to persecute, such as Jews, the mentally handicapped, Romani and other groups? How would you describe racism? Do you think it still exists in Canada today? If so, what can be done about it?
5. If you were caught by the enemy, how would you behave? Would you cooperate? What strategies might help you survive a long prison stay?
6. Do you think Max and the others did the right thing when they tried to escape from the train, even though they knew it could put those left behind at risk? The others could easily have been shot. What choice would you have made, and why?
7. What reasons did Hitler give for creating concentration camps? Why would people work as guards and other staff in such a camp? Could you?
8. Do you believe that most of the guards at the camps thought there was nothing wrong with what they were doing? Why did they think that?
9. By 1944 the Allies knew that the death camps existed, but did not bomb them. Imagine that you were in charge of Allied forces. Would you choose to bomb the camps and the rail lines leading to them, or would you focus all your resources on trying to end the war more quickly, knowing that innocent men, women and children would continue to go to their deaths in the camps? Why?

Close window