Why, when Hitler took up 6 years of British History?

Question

is he the central character is History. Is it time to move on and learn about other aspects of British history? Nobody seems to know much. I note that left wing dictatorrs such as Stalin and Pol Pot don't seem to get a mention. The War of the Roses are much more interestin - John of Gaunt dontcha love him?

Answer 1

At secondary school all I studied in history were the two world wars. I did GCSE history about World War 2 and if I had a choice of any other theme I would have chosen to do A-level history, I did not do A-level because the only option my school taught was on the Second World War.
It seems strange to have been taught more about Georges Clemenceau's contribution to the Treaty of Versailles that I got taught about the Roman Empire, the ancient Greeks, the Civil War, the the Russian revolution, the Vikings and the Victorian age all put together.
I know the war was pretty important but surely some other aspect of world or British history was worth at least a cursory glance?

Answer 2

I can understand why you say this. I am learning alot about Hitler and the Weimar Republic at the moment and I can understand why you can say its time to move on. It is such a depressing story of time but while I sit listening to my teacher talk of all this and what Hitler did it does make you realise how lucky you are and what people did back then that probably wouldnt even be heard of now. People are starting to forget how many billions of lives were stopped because of WW1 and WW2 instead replacing it with the 2001 attacks on the twin towers. No where near as many were killed. Like the London bombings it was a shock but still no where near as many lives were taken. So it is important for people to be taught about that however I must agree that in my History lessons I am learning a lot more about Hitler and how it affected Germany than how Hitler affect British History. I would most probably find it a lot more interesting if I could actually relate with it because it was about the country that I have always lived in. So I can see your point.

Answer 3

just to kind of step back and have some perspective...
There is no dispute that Hitler was a notorious madman with major impact on the entire world, not just Britain.
However, I am not aware of anyone/any place that assigns any title of "central character" in any history. That's a purely subjective description. What is taught in any history class is dictated by trying to cram in hundreds or thousands of years into a limited time. If you are stuck in high school, you are limited by that, but once past school, you can immerse yourself in other eras where no one will even mention Adolf. You could personally make a web page concerning John of Gaunt, and become the expert on him. I normally do family research so all the rest become on the sidelines anyway.

Answer 4

There is still a generation out there whose lives have been profoundly affected by the war with Germany.History will not move on until we are all dead.Stalin and Pol Pot have affected millions ,you as a person are just personally unaware ot the magnitude of their influence!
History is I agree fascinating and one day people will look back on the 2nd world war and indeed the wars in the middle east with the benefit of hindsight

Answer 5

It is all the fault of the National Curriculum, and the idiots in Government who, themselves. know no history. You only have to listen to the inane answers given to simple history questions on popular quiz shows. On the weakest link a couple of months ago a contestant was asked in which century did William the Conqueror invade - 17th was the answer. It is no longer 'cool' to teach history before about 1914 - but this is an important website covering the problem:- http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-trust/w-thecharity/w-policy-history_matters_update.htm

Answer 6

Do you realize what your saying? Adolph came soooooo close to taking over the world! The only thing that saved our butts was the general did not want to wake him. There was the physics he believed in and sent him to the wrong front. Now these two things could be changed our second language would be English.The first German, he was brilliant,but crazy too. Now if one question to ask was why, why did so many people follow him and look around, could this happen again?

Answer 7

Stalin and Pol Pot didn't set off the evens which ended the British Empire. I understand that historians say that WWI1 did that but it was WNW2 and its end which began its disintegration in true terms.

Answer 8

You seem to forget the terrible acts of inhumanity that this one individual inflicted on the WORLD. The war of the roses may be interesting, but can you honestly say that a recent member of your family was directly involved. There's so much you missing out on with your question and i havent really got the time or motivation to correct your uneducation.

Answer 9

He was never part of the history I learned at school. And he was only one part of what my kids learned. They also got a lot of education about other historical figures from reading and tv.
Btw was John of Gaunt very thin? bum bum lol

Answer 10

Stalin and Pol Pot didn't tread on our toes like Hitler did, like losing one uncle, wounded another uncle and, worst of all, losing my father 12 days before I was born.