Gandhi's letter to Hitler

On July 23, 1939, a few weeks before the outbreak of World War II, Gandhi wrote to Adolf Hitler, addressing him as "Dear Friend" and appealing to the Führer to prevent "a war which may reduce humanity to the savage state". His letter went unanswered.

Look at an image of the letter.

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"Truly speaking, it was after I went to South Africa that I became what I am now"
Mohandas Gandhi
Mohandas Gandhi, 1908
Picture: © Sunday Times

IN THE CLASSROOM

In this lesson plan, learners will be asked to extract information from a document, photographs and an extract from Gandhi's speech at the burning of registration certificates in 1908. They will be able to explore the motives of the Transvaal government in issuing passes to male Indians over the age of eight, and the bitter feelings it stirred up among the Indian community. Learners will be introduced to Gandhi's political philosophy - satyagraha - which can be translated as "the force which is born of truth and love, or non-violence".

Lesson plan
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