Kids think Hitler was a football coach

One in 20 British schoolchildren thinks Adolf Hitler was a German football manager, according to a new survey.

One in six youngsters believed Auschwitz was a theme park - and one in 12 thought the Blitz was a European clean-up operation following World War II.

The embarrassing findings are contained in a poll for the veterans' charity Erskine, which asked 2,000 kids aged nine to 11 about the two world wars.

One in four said they did not think about soldiers who died then, and 40% had no idea when Remembrance Day is.

Erskine chief executive Major Jim Panton said: "Some answers to this poll have shocked us and show we have a part to play, not just in caring for veterans but in educating society.

"Children are the future of the country. It is important we help them learn about our history."

The Erskine charity, which provides nursing and medical care for veterans, will now take part in a national scheme to educate kids about the world wars.