At the start of World War I, German naval leader Maximilian von Spee was isolated in the Pacific Ocean. He led his squadron on a daring mission to save themselves, ending in the first defeat of a British naval squadron in a century. While von Spee was a folk hero among Germans up to World War II, historians are now revisiting his legacy. An informative video biography helps viewers determine how to remember the important leader from the Great War.

Concepts

world war i, the navy, military history, biographies, germany, the pacific ocean

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Examine lesser-known Pacific engagements in the Great War using the video biography
• Use the prompts at the end of the video to stimulate debate about historical memory 

Classroom Considerations

• Part of a series of biographies in the Who Did What in World War I? video series

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• Profiles a lesser-known aspect of World War I that engages learners 
• Provocative thematic questions at the end of the video stimulates debate among your class

Cons

• Descriptions of military maneuvers might bore some learners

Common Core

L.9-10.2.a L.11-12.2.a