Civilian suffering in the Second World War

WW2 was the first war in history where more civilians died than soldiers.

Nazi officers execute a civilian.

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.

WW2 featured a horrifying loss of civilian life.

AlliesGreat Britain 60,000France 360,000United States MinimalUSSR 7,700,000Belgium 90,000Holland 190,000Norway MinimalPoland 5,300,000Greece 80,000Yugoslavia 1,300,000Czechoslovakia 330,000China 10,000,000 Total 25,410,000

Axis powersGermany 3,810,000Austria 80,000Italy 85,000Rumania 465,000Hungary 280,000Bulgaria 7,000Finland MinimalJapan 360,000 Total 5,087,000

Total civilian casualties Allies + Axis = 30,497,000

These heavy losses were due to:

Massive bombing raids on cities

People caught in battle zones

Starvation and loss of homes

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.

1: extremely wicked, brutal, cruel, barbaric

Atrocity (n) an act of brutality or crueltyAtrociously (adv)

War crimes are typically called ATROCITIES.

2: appalling, horrifying <the atrocious weapons of modern war>

3: utterly revolting, abominable <atrocious working conditions>

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 murder of the Jews is specifically called “The Holocaust.”

But there were many millions of other victims.

Concentration Camp Scenes

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.

Acibulat, Hocasala, Sahmirza, Argin, Kamisli, Savatka, Armutluk, Kandor, Selen, Arpat, Karalez, Sirli Köprü, Asagi, Çorgun, Karasubasi, Soyun-AciAsagi 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

CRIMEAN VILLAGES DESTROYED BY NAZIS.

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.

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.

Japanese treatment of POWs and captured westerners was appalling.

Beating captured soldiers (drawing by an eyewitness) Starved Prisoner of War

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.

Some of the accused committed suicidebefore they were tried or sentenced.

SS GENERAL HEINRICH HIMMLER AIR FORCE GEN. HERMANN GOERING

It is difficult to find another time in history when nations acted so brutally.

A JAPANESE SOLDIER PROUDLY STANDS AMONG HIS VICTIMS.

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

“They that sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind.”

Hosea 8:7