Why aren't American school children taught WWII properly?

Question

Given the way we were taught the history of World War II, you'd think it began on December 7, 1941, and the most important day was D-Day, June 6, 1944. Both of those perceptions are incorrect, given the overall scope of the war. The war stared in September 1939, with Germany's invasion of Poland. And the most important day, historically, was September 15, 1940. That was the day that Hitler officially called off "Operation Sealion," the planned invasion of Britain by sea. Why don't school books emphasize the importance of the Battle of Britain? Without those famous "few," the whole world's national anthem might be "Deutschland Uber Alles." Yet, you'd think that until American became involved, there was no war! Not true!

Answer 1

I was born in 1945 and always understood what you said to be the truth. It took Winston Churchill to get America involved in the war. Being so far from Europe, we seldom understand until the last minute that Britain's freedom means our freedom is being jeopardized. I believe Churchill told Roosevelt exactly what you just said about the national anthem. America has always wanted the homeland protected but stayed clear of wars until we feel danger. Pearl Harbor and 9/11 were wake up calls about what is going on in the world and how it could effect America. We do become a sleeping giant quite easily. It is often called too intent on pleasure seeking.

Answer 2

It's the same reason that French kids learn that so many of their own countrymen were in the French resistance and, I'm guessing, you learned that the most important day of the war was the calling off of Operation Sealion. Each country's educational system emphasizes their own country's contribution and involvement in the war. Even though the picture given isn't the complete story or necessarily true.

There's only so much time each course can cover. As was pointed out, WW2 would take at least a whole course of its own to truly cover.

I notice that you only consider the start of the war to be September 1939. Why not the invasion of Manchuria in 1931? Could it be that you are only counting your own country's involvement in the war? Why isn't the most important day the day that the Germans invaded the Soviet Union? That probably comes closest to the day they sealed their fate.

Perhaps you should look at the deficiencies in your own understanding of WW2 and see how they compare to the deficiencies in understanding that American students have. I think you'll find it an interesting and enlightening exercise.

Answer 3

In Canada it was similar, although we were taught everything from the rise of Hitler, to the end of the war. I think the worst thing we had happen was we were never taught about the war after it was officially over and what happened in China. I didn't even know fighting continued there until I took a Chinese history course.

I think it happens simply because being in North America, you are going to have a biased "winners view" of the war. We learn everything that was important to the British allies rather than Hitler's allies.

Also, if WW2 is so important because of the genocide, why not teach about Rwanda and other places that underwent such a genocide? My grade 12 history teacher though that it was just stupid that Hitler was considered to be the biggest monster of history, so spent a week doing a quick overview of other tyrants in history.

Answer 4

Well as a Briton, we're taught about it properly -- 1939-1945. But this is only because we started the war by declaring war on Germany for their invasion of Poland (when they said they wouldn't).

I guess US students learn about it differently simply because the war started for them at the end of 1941. They were practicing isolation before then (ignoring the events in Europe) so the events they ignored are still quite trivial.

Finland's WW2 teaching is also strange -- they are taught it as 3(?) separate wars because their alliance changed.

Well, in all fairness, the Battle of Britain was very significant, but honestly, without the Americans entering the war, the allies would have lost and we'd all be German (sounds good on surface for me being who I am, but not great AT ALL to be Nazi).

Quite frankly, we [Allies] were getting our butts whipped and the only power in the world to stop Nazi Germany was the USA, who only came to help because the Japanese bombed their boats to bits! =D

Answer 5

When I went to school (back in the stone age) our history classes barely even scratched the 20th century. We spent so much time on pre-Civil War times and the Reconstruction that we never got a chance to discuss more modern events. I agree with you that American curriculum emphasizes our contribution to the war effort a little too much and that the Battle of Britain is one of, if not the most important period of the war. But we're all friends now, right?

Answer 6

we are taught the various other aspects of the war. We are taught of the importance of the 1939 invasion and the signifigance of the battle of britain. However i disagree with you saying the battle of britain was the most important event of the war. That is a open ended question with no correct answer. The german invasion of Russia was in my opinion the turning point of the war, Not the abandoned plan to invade Britain,

Answer 7

It would take a whole year to teach WWII properly, and the unfortunate, ugly truth of the matter is that there just isn't enough time. The schools are forced to try to hit the surface of as many things as possible.

It wasn't until I went to college that I really learned anything in depth, on any topic. Until things like explorers and colonization, the revolution, the continental congress, the constitution, the presidents and government structure and function, and the civil war, are covered, there is very little left for WWI, WWI, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf Wars, etc. The teachers are forced to pick and choose what is covered. Those topics are just as important, and its really sad that it is this way.

Answer 8

One possible reason (and many American history professors would probably back this argument), is that American school students get a lot of their history from watching Hollywood films rather from text books. Hollywood often makes up for America's long delay in entering WW2 by taking earlier events and depicting them as American 'victories'. A good example of this was the Hollywood film about the capture of the German code machine, Enigma. The machine was actually captured by the British Navy, long before America was involved in WW2, but many young Americans think it was an American success because of the Hollywood film. By the way, you mentioned the Battle of Britain... Well, rumour has it that Hollywood is thinking of making a film in which America wins that battle, too. Tom Cruise as the lead actor, I believe!

Answer 9

Well, Most US students do not take World History. Most are forced to take US History and in the learning of WWII in my days was about the US in world war two. The study of before 12/7/41 was in oversight in US History Books!
I took World Histroy and and leared about the before. If we want most people to learn we have to make the high school stop teaching based on tests!

Answer 10

Well, at least they teach it now! When I was in high school, American History stopped at 1900. You'd have thought nothing whatever happened for 70 years. Our schools are teaching for the test...so the lowest common denominator of students can get a passing grade by answering the obvious questions. It is part of the requirements now for President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" initiative and now we're beginning to see the results.