WARS' CONSECUENCES

World War II was humanity's deadliest war, causing tens of millions of deaths. The total estimated human loss of life caused by World War II was roughly 72 million people, making it the deadliest, and most destructive war in human history. World War II smashed the previous record of approximately 20 million military and civilian deaths set by World War I less than thirty years before. The civilian toll was around 47 million, including 20 million deaths due to war related famine and disease. The military toll was about 25 million, including the deaths of about 4 million prisoners of war in captivity. The Allies lost approximately 61 million people, and the Axis powers lost 11 million.

A majority of Allied soldiers killed were Soviets (65%). A majority of the rest of the Allies killed in battle were Chinese (23%). British and American casualties numbered only 2% each of the total Allied casualties. Most of the Axis killed in battle were Nazis (64%), and most of the rest of the Axis soldiers were Japanese (24%). In short, a lot of people died.