Students look at the role geographical terrain played in decisions made by Nazis.

• Students will identify characteristics of different areas of Europe.
• Students will consider the effects of environmental factors in decisions made by Nazis.

Terrain, environmental factors, concentration camp, physical characteristics, haphazard.

Pick one concentration camp and locate it on a map of Europe during the war. Collect information about the location of the camp.

• What physical characteristics were important to the location?
• Why was it located where it was?

Present your information and ideas in a written or oral report to the class. Try to answer any questions they may have.

Look carefully at maps of Europe during World War II.

• Why do you think so many camps are located in Eastern Europe? What were the benefits?
• What does the placement of camps tell you about the Nazi’s plans to exterminate the Jews? Was it haphazard or carefully thought out?