Hill 188

Hill 188 (Cote 188) was the site of an intense battle for African American soldiers against the Germans during World War I. In this lesson, students will read two accounts of the taking of Hill 188 and retrace the actions of the battle.

Guiding Questions

  • What role did African American soldiers play in the capture of Hill 188?
  • What role did the capture of Hill 188 play in the eventual German surrender during World War I?

Learning Outcomes

The student will be able to:

  • Comprehend, interpret, and analyze secondary sources about the battle for Hill 188.
  • Identify key players in the taking of Hill 188.
  • Create a presentation that details the events of the battle for Hill 188.

Pre-activities

  • Assign the students a series of events that took place during the battle for Hill 188.
  • Ask the students to put those events in chronological order.
  • The events to include are:
    • “Kamerad trap”
    • Crawling along the telephone trench
    • Withdrawal of French machine gunners
    • D Company attack
    • Gap between the 2nd Moroccan Division and the 161st Division

Activities

  • Assign the students to read the excerpts from the secondary sources listed.
  • Assign the students to groups of three or four.
  • As a group, assign the students to create a timeline of the events that led to the taking of Hill 188.
  • Assign the students to create the timeline as a Prezi presentation.

Assessment

  • Assign the students to create a Prezi account at prezi.com.
  • For each event in the timeline, the students should include a one-paragraph narration and explanation.

Checklist for Timeline

  • Include at least 7 events that led up to, or happened, during the taking of Hill 188.
  • Include a one paragraph narration and explanation for each event.

Materials Needed

Secondary Sources: