5 Deadliest Wars In History: From World Wars to Civil Wars
War has been present throughout history, and no matter how big the conflict is, several lives are changed forever. While casualty numbers reveal a part of the story, the number of lives lost during the conflict is truly shocking. Some of the deadliest wars in history have death tolls that will leave you numb. Keep reading to learn more about the five deadliest wars in history and their impact on the world.
5. World War I, 18 million deaths
The First World War lasted for four years, from 1914 to 1918, and took the lives of nearly 18 million people. Of these 18 million, 11 million were army personnel and 7 million were civilians. Originating in Europe, the war spread globally and was also known as the Great War or the War to End All Wars.
World War I was fought between the Central Powers and the Allies. The Central Powers included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. The Allies included France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan, and the United States, who joined later, in 1917.
4. Taiping Rebellion, 20 million deaths
China had a long history of rebellions and civil wars, and the Taiping Rebellion is one of the worst, ranking number four on our list of deadliest wars in history. The Taiping Rebellion took the lives of more than 20 million Chinese people. It was fought between 1850 and 1864 and is also known as the Taiping Civil War.
The conflict was between the Qing Dynasty and the Christian millenarian movement of Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. The instigator of the rebellion, Hong Xiuquan believed himself to be the son of God and brother of Jesus Christ sent to reform China.
3. The Qing Dynasty Conquest of the Ming Dynasty, 25 million deaths
The transition between the two major dynasties of China (Ming to Qing) was one of the deadliest Civil Wars in the history of the World. It took the lives of more than 25 million people.
The war lasted for around 60 years from 1618 to 1683, while some argue that it lasted until 1696. The conflict emerged between the Qing Dynasty, the incumbent Ming Dynasty, and other smaller forces in China. The war ended with the consolidation of Qing rule, and the fall of the Ming Dynasty and several other factions within China.
2. The Second Sino-Japanese War, 29 million deaths
The Second Sino-Japanese War is second on our list of deadliest wars in the history of the world. The conflict was fought between the Republic of China’s Revolutionary Army and the Imperial Japanese Army from 1937 to 1945. The Second Sino-Japanese War resulted in nearly 25 million civilians and 4 million soldiers perishing.
It began with the Marco Polo Bridge incident on the 7th of July 1937 and later became a full-scale war that lasted nearly 8 years. It is also known as World War II in Asia. China fought this war with aid from the United States and the Soviet Union.
1. World War II, 70 million deaths
Finishing off our list of deadliest wars in history is World War II, a war that, according to some estimates, saw nearly 70 million people die. World War II also pulled the most powerful world nations into conflict. World War II started in 1939 and went on until 1945. It was fought between the Allies and an opposition called the Axis of Power.
Around 300 million soldiers fought in this conflict from all around the world. Nearly every country took part; leading Axis powers included Nazi Germany, the Kingdom of Italy, and the Empire of Japan. The leading nations of the Allies included the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union. 50 million civilians died in the conflict, which included atrocities such as the Jewish Genocide and the bombardment of undefended cities.
While human conflict is inevitable, wars should be avoided at all costs due to the casualties on both soldiers and civilians around the world. These five deadliest wars may be past events, but they are a perfect guide on why repeating history would be devastating.
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