A Chance to Take Part in a History Competition

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7 Nov 2021

WBGS History and Politics Department

Witold Pilecki Essay Competition 2021

To commemorate the life and legacy of Witold Pilecki

Background

The Foundation for the History of Totalitarianism is a non-profit organisation established to provide information and education about the history of totalitarianism, particularly in the 20th century. It aims to encourage study and research in a variety of ways including the creation of an annual history essay prize on a different subject each year. Last year Ben Buffery won its inaugural prize and you can read his essay This Is Why I Write above. This year we wanted to challenge students to think and write more critically by having 3 in-house competitions to enter with significant prizes for winning entries

Competition

Three age groups of essay 

KS3 Yr7-8 (Essay length 800 -1000 words)

‘Victory in war always goes to the side with the better leadership.’

To what extent do you agree with this claim? Develop your answer by specific reference to any historical period or periods you have studied. Provide a bibliography.

KS4 Yr9-11 (Essay length 1000-1400 words)

‘History is shaped just as much by chance as it is by long-term social and economic trends.’

To what extent do you agree with this claim? Develop your answer by specific reference to any historical period or periods you have studied. Provide a bibliography.


Yr 12&13  (Essay length: 1,800-2,000 words)

The subject for the history essay prize for students who will be 6th formers in 2021-22 will be:

The Stasi - the State Security Service in East Germany. It had between 500,000 and 2 million informers - a remarkable surveillance and secret police operation. It has been the subject of an Oscar-winning film. But what was it really like and what was its effect on people?

The first national prize is £1,500 divided between the student and the school.
There are also prizes for 2nd, 3rd and those highly commended.

Please see the website https://historyoftotalitarianism.com for details and registration.

Participation in the essay competition would enrich understanding of 20th century history and enhance personal statements in applications to universities.

Entries 

All entries must be submitted by email to mcdermottj@staff.watfordboys.org or via your History teacher.


Prize money for each category £40 for first prize, followed by two runners up at £15. There will also be highly commended.
Entries must include your name, form, a bibliography and word count.

Deadline Friday 3rd December 2021

 

Gallery image shows an original photograph of inmates of Vaihingen an der Enz concentration camp (officially named Wiesengrund) looking out through the barbed wire fence of their prison. Originally built as a slave labour camp, in 1944 Vaihingen would become a concentration camp for sick and dying prisoners.