Understanding Sacrifice
Understanding Sacrifice was a program run by NHD from 2014 to 2019. The program featured four year-long professional development opportunities that took teachers on a journey of exploration and discovery through the lives of American heroes of World War II. It was conducted by National History Day® and sponsored by American Battle Monuments Commission and the National Cemetery Administration. Teachers produced educational materials in a variety of disciplines from art to science and, of course, history. These classroom resources are then hosted for free on NHDSilentheroes.org.
Equal Opportunities for Sacrifice in World War II
The Montford Point Marines: One Step Towards Civil Rights
Race and Tragedy on the Home Front
Riding Along the Red Ball Express
Two-Front War: African Americans' Fight for Victory at Home and Abroad
Advancement of Medical Technology during World War II
The Bari Incident: Chemical Weapons and World War II
The Calculus of War: Tactics, Technology, and the Battle of the Atlantic
Flight Plans and Rescues: Using Math to Explore the World War II Strategic Bombing Campaign
The Math of War: The Numbers Behind Minesweeping in the Mediterranean
RADAR: Innovating Naval Warfare
The Red Cross on the Front Line
“A War of Wits”: Anti-Submarine Warfare in the Battle of the Atlantic
Decisions in Postwar America:Remembrance of our Nation’s Fallen Heroes
Design It: Re-envisioning Main Entrances at National Cemeteries
Honoring Sacrifice: Examining Why Dutch People Have Adopted the Graves of American Service Members
War and Remembrance: An Examination of Cemeteries and Collective Memory
Who’s Who and Why?: Examining the Sculptures at Lorraine American Cemetery
511 Days of Combat: From Sicily to Munich with the Fighting Thunderbirds
20,000 Miles a Month – To Ensure Victory
Bombs and Bomber Boys: The Bombing of Britain and the American Friendly Invasion
Hit the Ground Running: Escape and Evasion Behind Enemy Lines
Making a Difference: Service & Sacrifice at the Battle of Midway
Travelling with the Troop Carriers: An Overview of World War II in Europe and Beyond
European Theatre of Operations
The Army Engineers: Challenges at the Anzio Beachhead
Confidence and Concerns: Allied Advances into Germany
Examining Effectiveness: The Strategic Air Campaign in World War II
Friend or Foe: The Allied Strategic Bombing of Occupied France
Horror in the Hedgerows: Technology, Tactics, and Teamwork
Taking the High Ground: Overcoming Monte Cassino and the Gustav Line
Pacific Theatre of Operations
The Challenges of Deployment: Interactions with Allies in the Pacific
Leadership Characteristics and Considerations in the Pacific War
Operation Invasion: Reaching the Japanese Mainland
The Song of War: Poetry from the Pacific Theater
Supplies and Logistics: Problem Solving Alternatives to Japanese Occupation of the Burma Road
AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCES: Sowing the seeds of change during World War II
During World War II African Americans served in segregated units and faced discrimination. Despite this treatment as second class citizens, African Americans served bravely, fighting to uphold the values of democracy. Learn about how their experiences during the war sowed the seeds of change post war, and hear Dr. Christopher Hamner, associate professor at George Mason University and part of ABMC's Understanding Sacrifice program, analyze some of these real-life examples that were used during the war.
COMPARING CEMETERIES: How nations remember their fallen service members after World War II
After World War II, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany all chose to bury their war dead in very different types of cemeteries. Hear Dr. Christopher Hamner, an associate professor at George Mason University and a member of ABMC's Understanding Sacrifice program, explain the challenges and choices made by these countries.
D-DAY IN DOCUMENTS: Comparing Eisenhower's "In Case of Failure Memo" to "The Order of the Day"
Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, in the lead-up to D-Day, penned two important documents. Only one became public at the time as the other was prepared in the event that the landings failed. Hear Dr. Christopher Hamner, associate professor at George Mason University and part of ABMC's Understanding Sacrifice program, compare these two historic documents.
DECISION: The U.S. government’s promise to the families of the fallen
After World War II families had to decide if they wanted their loved one returned to the United States for burial or have them interred overseas. The U.S. government put together resources, to include a film, to help families understand their options. Learn about how the government chose to communicate this important issue, and hear Dr. Christopher Hamner, associate professor at George Mason University and part of ABMC's Understanding Sacrifice program, analyze this real-life example that was used after the war.
PLANNING FOR WAR: The logistics of sending combat troops into battle
Sending combat troops into battle during World War II required significant planning, and documents from the war can tell us a lot about how military leadership approached the strategy. Learn about planning during the war, and hear Dr. Christopher Hamner, associate professor at George Mason University and part of ABMC's Understanding Sacrifice program, analyze some of these real-life examples that were used during the war.
RACE AND THE ENEMY: Comparing German and Japanese depictions in U.S. war propaganda
In World War II U.S. war propaganda, the German and Japanese were depicted in very different ways. Hear Dr. Christopher Hamner, associate professor at George Mason University and part of ABMC's Understanding Sacrifice program, compare the U.S. depictions of these enemies.
THE ATOMIC BOMB: Luis Alvarez's letter to his son from aboard The Artiste
The atomic bomb ended World War II, and ushered in a new era in world history, and the effects of dropping the bomb were seen immediately. First person accounts of the event add significant understanding of what happened that day. Hear Dr. Christopher Hamner, associate professor at George Mason University and part of ABMC's Understanding Sacrifice program, analyze a primary-source letter describing the events that day.
WHY THEY FIGHT: Analyzing how the military motivates soldiers to go into combat
Posters, films, and newspapers are just a few examples of how the U.S. government motivated its soldiers during World War II. Hear Dr. Christopher Hamner, associate professor at George Mason University and part of ABMC's Understanding Sacrifice program, analyze some of these real-life examples that were used during the war.
WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE: Examining depictions of women's roles during World War II
World War II changed gender boundaries in the United States. Hear Dr. Christopher Hamner, associate professor at George Mason University and part of ABMC's Understanding Sacrifice program, analyze some of these real-life examples that were used during the war.
About ABMC
Established by Congress in 1923, the American Battle Monuments Commission commemorates the service, achievements, and sacrifice of U.S. armed forces. ABMC administers 25 overseas military cemeteries and 27 memorials, monuments, and markers. For more information visit www.abmc.gov, or connect with the ABMC on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram.
About NCA
The National Cemetery Administration maintains cemeteries and national shrines dedicated to honoring and preserving the memory of those interred or memorialized there. For more information visit www.cem.va.gov/, or connect with the NCA on Facebook, YouTube or Twitter.
About Dr. Christopher Hamner
Dr. Christopher Hamner served as the lead historian for the Understanding Sacrifice program. He teaches at George Mason University, and is the author of Enduring Battle: American Soldiers in Three Wars, 1776-1945. From 2014 to 2016 he was a Visiting Professor at the U.S. Army War College, and in 2012 received Mason's Teaching Excellence Award.
All Silent Hero profiles, World War II Lesson Plans, and World War II videos and supporting materials were researched and created with the Understanding Sacrifice program, sponsored by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
The book captures the story of three Japanese-American brothers, who volunteered for military service while their family members were forced into an internment camp during World War II.