Resources required

• USA Narrative
• Resource H: Rosenthal’s ‘Raising the Flag Over Iwo Jima’
• Resource I: Media spectacle, morale boost or memorial?
• Resource J: Analysing sources

Rationale and learning intentions

• To develop an understanding of what photographs reveal about events like the Battle of Iwo Jima
• To explore the advantages and disadvantages of photographs as evidence
• To reach a judgement about interpretations of the event
• To assess the significance of the event in America’s experience of the Second World War and what the photographic image contributes to the memory of war.

The purpose of this enquiry is for students to develop an awareness and understanding of the importance of photographs in re-constructing events from the past that forms collective memory, often on a national scale. Students are required to study an iconic photograph from America’s role in the Second World War in order to assess the significance of the event photographed. They will also assess the contribution of photographic images to collective war memories.

Starter – the purpose of this is to stimulate student interest and discussion

Using Resource H: Rosenthal’s ‘Raising the Flag Over Iwo Jima’, students study the image of the flag raising at Iwo Jima. They are required to think of words that would describe the scene. Most students will come up with words associated with victory and glory. Some might infer the sense of struggle evident in an image that has come to define the American experience of the war in the Pacific. 

Main activity – the purpose of this activity is to select evidence that will help answer the enquiry.

Students are then given a photograph of the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, USA as shown in Resource I: Media spectacle, morale boost or memorial? They should consider the similarities and differences between the Rosenthal image and the memorial photograph.

Once students understand that this image is considered so important that a memorial has been sculpted of it, they complete a mini-enquiry into different interpretations of the flag raising, using Resource I: Media spectacle, morale boost or memorial? and Resource J: Analysing sources. Remind the students again that ‘Raising the Flag Over Iwo Jima’ was taken by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal on 23 February 1945. On the same day, a smaller flag was raised in a similar position but was replaced by a much bigger one on the top of Mount Suribachi, the volcanic peak dominating the island of Iwo Jima in the Pacific Ocean. Some people believe that because this was the second flag to be planted on the day, it was staged at the request of Rosenthal who wanted a fantastic image to sell to the newspapers around the world.

Students read the United States of America narrative ‘America’s War: A Mother’s Story’ to learn more of America’s role in the war and the Battle of Iwo Jima

Students then study the sources in Resource I: Media spectacle, morale boost or memorial?

Using Resource J: Flag raising investigation students record their thoughts and evidence into the correct column/s.

Key words:

• Media spectacle – an event which is staged at the request of media e.g. when a press photographer stages an event for the sake of a newspaper story
• Morale boost –  when the feeling, or mood, of a group of people suddenly improves.
• Memorial – something that is designed to make people think about and remember events from the past.

Feedback and consolidation

Students read out their judgements about interpretations of the flag raising at the Battle of Iwo Jima, answering the question – why is the photograph of the flag raising so significant?