Video summary
This film follows Noor Inayat Khan, a radio operator and secret agent during WW2, who transmitted messages against the German occupation as part of the French resistance.
Noor Inayat Khan grew up in London and Paris. Her religious background, Sufi Islam, emphasised pacifism and she had a happy childhood, immersing herself in music and poetry.
When war broke out in 1939, she chose a path of nonviolent resistance, joining the Women鈥檚 Auxiliary Air Force and later becoming a secret agent in occupied France.
Despite the threat of discovery, she transmitted messages until her eventual capture and execution in 1944.
Teacher Notes
Additional notes
- Names
Noor Inayat Khan had multiple names. As described in this further 大象传媒 Teach resource, her code name was Madeleine and her ID documents listed her as Jeanne Marie Regnier.
This film can be used to discuss the role of individuals during wartime and how cultural background can impact a person鈥檚 decision-making.
Before the video
- What jobs did people have during WW2 in order to protect their country?
- Sometimes people have multiple names or identities. Why might someone have multiple names?
- What is a secret agent? How would they help during WW2?
- What is a pacifist? Why might someone become a pacifist?
- For upper KS2 students: What was the role of women during WW2? How might this have been different to women鈥檚 roles before WW2?
During the video
- How would you describe Noor鈥檚 childhood?
- What challenges did Noor face while she was a secret agent in France?
- How did she manage to stay hidden and transmit messages despite the constant danger?
After the video
- Why do you think Noor decided to help during the war even though she was a pacifist?
- How do you think her family and her childhood shaped her beliefs?
- Why was it important for Britain to have secret radio operators in occupied France?
- Who knows what 鈥榣ibert茅鈥 means? Why do you think it was her final word?
- What do you think Noor believed in?
- Why do you think it's important to remember stories like Noor Inayat Khan's?
- What can we learn from Noor's story? How can she inspire what we do now?
This film will be suitable for teaching History at KS2 in England and Wales and KS2 in Northern Ireland. Also 2nd Level in Scotland.
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