What factors made World War 2 the most destructive war in the history of the world?

Answer 1

First and formost was the invention of Nuclear Bombs. This 1 bomb came about to end it. Now... The united states alone has enough to end all life on earth. But 80,000 people alone died in Hiroshima in 1 bomb attack. Also not to mention the use of napalm on Japanese cities. Also the bombing campaigns didn't target JUST military it also killed civilians. Also have to look at the v1 and v2 rockets. The precursors to ICBM missiles and the "Killing Chambers" of the concentration camps. This war was killing on a very large scale. 50 million people so it's said ... I believe it to be more.

Answer 2

Paranoia and imperialist ambition backed by powerful technology and unchecked for too long. Stalin killed tens of millions of his own Russians in 'the purges', before and during the war in order to keep the country loyal, he also wiped out the officer class of the Russian army shortly before hostilities commenced -partially explaining Russia's early disastrous failures at stopping the Germans.

Japanese ambitions in seizing the material wealth from china, with no regard to the 'subhuman' Chinese who lived there caused the approx. 13 million Chinese dead.

Next to this Hitler's 6 million dead Jews and the American nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki seems almost trivial

Yes, the above is a good reply, though the Holocaust & Atomic power are not trivial, but I see the point of what is said. As a by word, apparrently Pennicillins invention might well have halved the number of people who would have died had it not been invented ! The principal factor for the destruction in WW2 is the advance of technology, it made warfare much, much more mobile & lethal.

Answer 3

There was more new and advanced weaponry that proved more devastating than any other weapon used in World War I. Take the atomic bomb, for example. One atomic bomb, dropped by one bomber, that did the dirty work of thousands of bombs.

Answer 4

About 60 million people died in World War 2. In addition to this, innumerable destruction happened around the world. Entire cities were leveled through bombing.