Erskine
6th November, 2009
WORLD WAR WHO?
Kids think Adolf Hitler coached Germany's national football team and that the symbol of Remembrance Day is McDonald's Golden Arches, a shocking study revealed yesterday (Thurs).
The astonishing results emerged from a study of 2,000 children between the ages of nine and 15 which tested them on their knowledge of facts of both world wars.
More than one in 20 thought Hitler managed Germany's football team rather than the leader of the fascist Nazi Party.
Twelve per cent worryingly assumed McDonald's Golden Arches was the symbol of Remembrance Day.
And 40 per cent didn't even know that Remembrance Day falls on November 11th.
The study was conducted by war veterans' charity Erskine in the run up to Remembrance Day.
Yesterday (Thur) Major Jim Panton, Chief Executive of Erskine, said: ''Some of the answers to this poll have shocked us and it has shown that Erskine, amongst others, has a part to play, not just in caring for veterans but in educating society as a whole.
''As we approach Remembrance Day it is hard to believe that 40 per cent of our children do not know when it is.
''There are also some positives to come out of this survey with the level of interest from children wishing to learn more at school about the World Wars.
''School children are the future of the country and it is important that we help them to learn about our history.''
The survey questioned children between the ages of nine and 15 on their knowledge of key World War triggers, events, people and dates.
A quarter admitted they don't stop to think about the soldiers who sacrificed their lives but just over half do know where their local war memorial is located.
Encouragingly though, it emerged that 70 per cent wish they are taught more about the World Wars at school.
Some of the more bizarre results were that one in six kids believed Auschwitz is a World War Two theme park.
Only half knew D-Day was the invasion of Normandy - a quarter believing it was 'Dooms Day' and one quarter thought a nuclear bomb was dropped on Pearl Harbour which spurred America's involvement.
One in 20 thought the Holocaust was the celebration at the end of the war and one in ten said the SS was Enid Blyton's Secret Seven, not Hitler's personal bodyguards.
And one in 12 said The Blitz was a massive cleanup operation in Europe after World War Two.
Each year, Erskine cares for over 1350 veterans, many having served in World War Two and who are more than willing to share their firsthand experiences and memorable war stories with younger generations.
Following the survey Erskine will work in partnership with Their Past Your Future (TPYF), a UK-wide educations project, to develop the charity's schools pack on the back of the survey results.
This will enable Erskine and Their Past Your Future to start educating young people online about the sacrifices made during World War Two.
Andrew Salmond, TPYF Scotland Project Manager for Museums Galleries Scotland said: ''This initiative offers a fantastic opportunity to inform young people about the experiences of war - both at home and abroad.
''Some, we know, will convey wartime loss and suffering, others will speak of daring and inspiration.
''However, all will be of great educational value, offering an insight to what previous generations have endured in times of conflict.''
