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Civilian suffering in the Second World War. The Cost of War. Civilian Deaths. WW2 was the first war in history where more civilians died than soldiers. Nazi officers execute a civilian. CIVILIANS were caught in the war. WW2 featured a horrifying loss of civilian life.
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Civilian suffering in the Second World War The Cost of War
Civilian Deaths WW2 was the first war in history where more civilians died than soldiers. Nazi officers execute a civilian.
CIVILIANS were caught in the war WW2 featured a horrifying loss of civilian life. • The French village of Oradour sur Glane was destroyed by Nazis on June 10, 1944. • All the houses were set on fire. • The women and children were locked in the church which was also set on fire. • All but six of the residents were murdered. • The village stands untouched and ruined as a memorial.
Civilian Deaths Allies Great Britain 60,000 France 360,000 United States Minimal USSR 7,700,000 Belgium 90,000 Holland 190,000 Norway Minimal Poland 5,300,000 Greece 80,000 Yugoslavia 1,300,000 Czechoslovakia 330,000 China 10,000,000 Total 25,410,000 Axis powers Germany 3,810,000 Austria 80,000 Italy 85,000 Rumania 465,000 Hungary 280,000 Bulgaria 7,000 Finland Minimal Japan 360,000 Total 5,087,000 Total civilian casualties Allies + Axis = 30,497,000
Civilian Deaths These heavy losses were due to: • Massive bombing raids on cities • People caught in battle zones • Starvation and loss of homes
Atrocities However, many civilians were simply murdered by brutal conquering nations. Japanese soldiers use bayonets to stab Chinese in Nanking, 1937. A German soldier shoots a Russian woman as she holds her child.
Atrocious (adjective) 1: extremely wicked, brutal, cruel, barbaric 2: appalling, horrifying <the atrocious weapons of modern war> 3: utterly revolting, abominable <atrocious working conditions> Atrocity (n) an act of brutality or crueltyAtrociously (adv) War crimes are typically called ATROCITIES.
Nazi Atrocities • Germany murdered at least 12-14 million civilians in a campaign to “clean out” the “weaker” racial groups in Europe. Murdered victims: • Jews • Gypsies • homosexuals • Slavs • handicapped Mass grave of Nazi victims in the USSR.
The “Holocaust” • The murder of the Jews is specifically called “The Holocaust.” • But there were many millions of other victims. Concentration Camp Scenes
Nazi Atrocities According to historian Martin Gilbert, 2.5 million Soviet prisoners of war were killed by poison gas. Nazi armies wiped out entire villages in many countries. The intent was to kill every last person. Nazis used public hangings to intimidate civilians.
Thousands of villages destroyed CRIMEAN VILLAGES DESTROYED BY NAZIS. Acibulat, Hocasala, Sahmirza, Argin, Kamisli, Savatka, Armutluk, Kandor, Selen, Arpat, Karalez, Sirli Köprü, Asagi, Çorgun, Karasubasi, Soyun-Aci Asagi Taygan, Kalintay, Star-Suli, Avci, Köy, Kaymak, Stila, Ayan, Kaynavut, Suri, Aylanma, Kesek-Karatuk, Suvuksu, Aytodor, Ketaut, Suyu-Aci, Badrak, Kermençik, Tama, Bahçeli, Kilsadik, Taskora, Bahsan, Kislav, Tatar-Köy, Bakatas, Kizilkoba, Tatar-Osman, Bakes, Kobazi, Tavbadrak, Baydar, Kokköz, Tavdayir, Besuy, Kokluz, Tav-Eli, Biyesala, Konrat, Tav-Kipçak, Bora, Koktas, Temirci, Burunca, Kos Degirmen, Teskondu, Büyük-Laka, Köprülü Köy, Ters-Kondu, Büyük-Onlar, Kovus, Toban-Eli, Büyük-Özenbas, Koyüs, Totay-Köy, Büyük-Yanköy, Kozi-Eli, Ulakli, Cafer-Berdi, Küçük Özenbas, Ulu-Özen, Cansaray, Kuçka, Ulusala, Çardakli, Kutlak, Urkusta, Çavke, Kutluk, Uppa, Çerkez-Kermen, Kumüslük, Uppi-Köy, Çirmalik, Maltoy, Veyrant, Çokrak, Mambet-Ulan, Veyrat, Çorgun, Mangus, Yanci-Köy, Çorgun-Yukari, Mamut-Sultan, Yanibardak, Çormalik, Molbay, Yani-Köy, Deren Ayir, Navdayir, Yeni-Sala, Ekitas, Ortalan, Yeni-Saray, Elbuzlu, Payli-Yar, Yukari Taygan, Eskisaray, Piçki, Yüzümlük, Fotsala
Japanese Atrocities—Unit 731 • Japan murdered many millions of civilians, especially in China. • Japan also did medical experiments on civilians—mostly Chinese. (“UNIT 731”) JAPANESE “DOCTOR” WITH A VICTIM OF HIS EXPERIMENT.
Japanese Atrocities—Comfort Women • Japan kidnapped young women and sent them off to remote Pacific islands. • The Japanese Army forced these women to be slave girlfriends for Japanese soldiers (“Comfort Women”). “Comfort Women” who survived the war protest against Japan for compensation. Other comfort women were killed when their islands were invaded.
Prisoners of War (POWs) Japanese treatment of POWs and captured westerners was appalling. Beating captured soldiers (drawing by an eyewitness) Starved Prisoner of War
War Crimes Trials • When the war ended, the Allies put leading Nazis and Japanese on trial. • Trials were held in Tokyo and Nuremberg. • Many defendants were convicted and hanged. High ranking Nazis sitting in court, 1946.
Escaping the hangman Some of the accused committed suicide before they were tried or sentenced. SS GENERAL HEINRICH HIMMLER AIR FORCE GEN. HERMANN GOERING
Few Precedents It is difficult to find another time in history when nations acted so brutally. A JAPANESE SOLDIER PROUDLY STANDS AMONG HIS VICTIMS.
REAPING THE WHIRLWIND… Therefore, there should be no surprise that Allied nations used horrible brutality to fight back against the Axis. EXECUTION OF AUSTRALIAN POW HIROSHIMA, 6 AUGUST 1945
The End “They that sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind.” Hosea 8:7