Recent surveys reveal a significant consensus among Western Europeans and Americans regarding the importance of teaching the Second World War in schools. Even more astoundingly, 82-90% of survey respondents from these regions pinpoint the educational significance of this historic event. Their responses reflect a profound engagement with the lessons we can learn from our history.
In France, 72% of respondents say they have good knowledge of the Second World War. In the same vein, 70% of respondents in Germany and 66% in the UK claimed to know just as much. On the other hand, Spain is trailing with just 40% saying they feel well-informed about the conflict. These figures shed light on the widely differing degrees of historical understanding found throughout Europe, a lack of which is deeply affecting modern geopolitical outlooks.
The attitudes towards Germany’s approach to its wartime history show a complicated attitude. Almost half of Germans believe that Germany has been “too aware of its Nazi history.” They are convinced that this lack of awareness will cripple meaningful responses to the challenges of today and tomorrow. Nevertheless, 46% agree that Germany has done a good job coming to terms with its conduct since 1945. At the same time, 49% of Americans say the same about their country’s post-war behavior after World War II.
In Britain the self-confidence of respondents hits over 90%. Most notably, 58% agree that the UK has successfully dealt with its wartime legacy. Yet a significant share of respondents—34% in France and 30% in Italy—say they don’t know what their countries should do after the war.
Apprehensions about the future are equally felt across the countries surveyed. Across Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, 41% to 55% of respondents say they are very afraid that a third world war could occur. They speculate that it’s “very or fairly likely” to happen in the next five to ten years. This concern is shared by nearly half — 45% — of Americans, underscoring a widespread anxiety about international stability during an era marked by increased aggression from global adversaries.
A significant number of people across these countries express concern about the potential for atrocities reminiscent of those committed by the Nazi regime. From 44% to over half (59%) of respondents do not exclude similar crimes from occurring in any other Western European country. At the same time, 44% to 60% express more or less the same worry about the United States.
Despite these fears, there is a prevailing belief in the effectiveness of NATO in maintaining peace since the end of World War II. From 52% in Sweden to 66% in Poland, respondents in the six countries surveyed credit this success to NATO’s efforts.
Education will be key to changing these understandings. In France, by contrast, 77% of people say they learned a great deal about the war in school. This academic focus helps explain the increased attention to and sensitivity about past injustices and present-day reflexive antagonism toward opposing sides.