Where in Britain, or do you mean in the colonies, where it was all too common?
I read that children in Wales was beaten when they speak their language in schools,the same goes for Irealand.That is why everybody speak english now there.
Colonies - compared to what local rulers did before british come,they were nice guys.In Uganda,for example,local kings from time to time massacred suspected people to prevent any uprising.Brits do not did such things.
And thanks to them hindu stopped burning widows,and Kali worshippers stoped their murders.
German,on other side,mostly genocided Herero tribe in Namibia,when they never attacked anybody,only fought for their land.
They never genocided us,poles - althought they beat few children to death for speaking polish in schools.
So,german could be only as bad as british in Eyrope,but worst in colonials.