19141945:WorldatWarPeople TermsandPrimaryDocumentsWoodrowWilson NationalismandAlliancesAdolfHitler TheGreatWarJosephStalin RussianRevolutionBenitoMussolini FourteenPointsWinstonChurchill GreatDepressionFranklinD.Roosevelt TotalitarianismEmperorHirohito FascismHidekoTojo PropagandaAdolphHitler HitlerStalinPactof1939HarryTruman AxisPowers DouglasMacArthur AlliedPowersDwightEisenhower BlitzkriegMaoZedong Dunkirk

BattleofBritainStalingradNormandyMidwayBattleofBulgeIwoJimaIslandHoppingHolocaustAtlanticConferenceYaltaPotsdamConferenceUnitedNationsMarshallPlanNATOCreationofStateofIsraelWarsawPactChineseCivilWarZimmermanTelegramAllQuietonWesternFrontTheSunAlsoRisesMeinKampfTheNuremburgLawsArsenalofDemocracyFightontheBeachesSpeechHiroshima

22.the20thCenturyPerhapsthebiggestchangeofthe20thcenturywaschangeitself.Intheyear1900,therewereno

airplanes,televisions,orcomputers.Therewereonly50nationsintheworld,andonlyahandfulweredemocracies.Acenturylater,populationhadtripled.HumanswereexploringouterspaceandsurfingtheInternet.Empireshaddissolved,theworldhad180nations,andmostclaimedtobedemocracies.

Itsbeensaidthatmorechangeoccurredduringthe20thcenturythanintheprevious19centuriescombined.

Atthebeginningofthe20thcentury,Europewasattheheightofitspower,controllingmostofthelandsurfaceoftheearth.TheFrenchhadbuilttheSuezCanalinEgyptlinkingEuropetoAsia,andEuropespowerfulnaviespatrolledtheoceans.EuropeansbelievedinsocialDarwinismandthesuperiorityofthewhiterace.Theyconsideredtheirsocietytobethegreatestachievementofcivilizationandamodelforallotherpeoplestofollow.Amajorchapterinthestoryofthe20thcenturyishowEuropedestroyeditsowndominanceofthemodernworld.ThisgloomytalebeginswithWorldWarI.23.WorldWarI

Atthedawnofthe20thcentury,Europescompetingnationswereasquarrelsomeasever.NationalismandimperialismincreasedtensionsandconflictamongtheGreatPowersofEuropeastheycompetedformilitarypowerandcolonialpossessions.Europeancountriesstrengthenedtheirarmiesandnaviesandformedalliancessotheywouldhavefriendsincaseofwar.Theseentanglingalliancesmeantthataquarrelbetweenanytwonationscoulddragmorecountriesintotheconflict.Europewasapowderkegwaitingtoexplode.

ThesparkthatignitedWorldWarIcamefromtheBalkans,aregionofmanyculturesandethnicgroupsnorthofGreecethatincludedthenationofSerbia.InAugust1914,ayoungSerbiannationalist,hopingtotriggeranuprisingofSerbslivinginAustria,assassinatedArchdukeFrancisFerdinand,theheirtothethroneofAustriaHungary.AustriablamedSerbiafortheattackanddeclaredwaronSerbia.

SerbiasfriendRussiadeclaredwaronAustria,andthesystemofentanglingallianceskickedintrappingEuropeinanunstoppablechainofevents.Sixweeksaftertheassassination,muchofEuropewasatwar.TheallianceledbyRussia,France,andBritain,wasknownastheAlliestheallianceofAustriaHungary,GermanyandtheTurkishOttomanEmpirewascalledtheCentralPowers.Withenemiesonbothsides,theCentralPowershadtofightawarontwofronts.ThefightinginBelgiumandFrancewastheWesternFrontthewarinRussiawastheEasternFront.Patrioticyoungmenfrombothsideseagerlyenlistedforthefight.TheyexpectedittobealloverbyChristmas.24.trenchwarfare

Warhadalwaysbeenabattleofmen.TheIndustrialRevolutionturnedwarintoabattleofmachines.Fivenewtechnologieschangedthenatureofwarfare:theairplane,thetank,thesubmarine,poisongas,andthemachinegun.Ofthese,themachinegunwasthemostdevastating.Atthebeginningofthewar,generalsfamiliarwithanearlierstyleofcombathurledheroiccavalryandinfantrychargesagainsttheenemy,buthorsesandhumanbodiesofferedlittleresistancetomachinegunbullets.

Asthefirstwinterofthewarapproached,soldiersontheWesternFrontbegandigginghundredsofmilesofmuddy,ratinfestedtrencheswheretheytriedtohidefrommachinegunsandexplodingartilleryshells.Betweenthetrencheslayanomanslandofbarbedwire,shatteredtrees,shellcraters,androttingcorpses.Whenorderedtoattack,soldiersclimbedoutoftheirtrenches,ranacrossnomanslandtowardtheenemytrenches,andweremoweddownlikefieldsofwheatbymachinegun,rifle,andartilleryfire.Injustoneengagement,theBattleoftheSommeinnorthernFrance,1,100,000soldiersdied.Youngmenwerebeingslaughteredbythehundredsofthousands,andneithersidewasgainingground. 25.theLusitania

PresidentWoodrowWilsontriedtokeeptheUnitedStatesoutofthewar,butitbecameincreasinglydifficult.In1915,aGermansubmarinesanktheBritishpassengerlinerLusitania,whichwascarryingweapons,aswellaspassengers,fromtheUnitedStatestoEngland.Ofthe1200peoplekilledintheattack,128wereAmericans,mostlywomenandchildren.ThesinkingturnedAmerican

publicopinionagainstGermany.EconomicinterestsalsopushedAmericatowardwar.AmericanbankshadmadelargeloanstotheAllies,andiftheAllieslostthewar,theseloansmightneverberepaid.WhenitlookedliketheAlliesmightbedefeated,PresidentWilsontooktheUnitedStatestowar.

TheUnitedStatesdeclaredwarin1917tomaketheworldsafefordemocracyinthewordsofPresidentWilson.WithamillionfreshAmericantroopsarrivinginFrance,theAlliessoondefeatedtheCentralPowers.Whenthefightingstoppedat11:00oclockonthe11thdayofthe11thmonth,soldiersfrombothsidescameoutoftheirtrenchesandcheered.November11thisnowobservedasVeteransDayintheU.S.26.TreatyofVersailles

TheGreatWar,asitwascalled,changedthepoliticallandscapeofEurope.GoneweretheAustroHungarianEmpireandthelongdecayingTurkishOttomanEmpire.Theirlandswerebrokenupintosmallernations.Russialostitstsar,andGermanysKaiserwasreplacedbyanewGermanrepublic.ThewarnearlywipedoutanentiregenerationofyoungmeninEurope.Almost30millionpeoplewerekilledorwoundedduringtheGreatWar,andoveramillionciviliansdiedasaresultofthefighting.

ThepeacetreatyendingthewarbetweentheAlliesandGermanywassignedatthepalaceofVersaillesinJuneof1919.AgainstthewishesofPresidentWilson,thetreatypunishedGermanyforthewarbytakingawayitsoverseaspossessionsandstrictlylimitingGermanysarmyandnavy.WorsefortheGermans,theywereforcedtomakelargepayments,orreparations,totheAlliesforwardamages.

ThetreatyalsoestablishedtheLeagueofNations,anassemblyofsixtycountriesthatagreedtoworktogetherforworldpeace.TheLeaguewastheideaofPresidentWilsonwhohopedtheGreatWarwouldbethewartoendallwars.TheUnitedStatesSenate,however,refusedtoapprovethetreatylargelybecausemanyinAmericawantednomoreforeignentanglements,anattitudecalledisolationism. 27.CommunismandRussianRevolution

TheGermanphilosopherKarlMarxinventedmodernsocialisminthe1800sasareactiontotheworkingclasspovertyoftheIndustrialRevolution.Hissloganwas,Workersoftheworldunite!Marxpredictedthatworkersintheindustrializednationswouldonedayriseupandoverthrowcapitalism.

Intheearly1900s,Russiawasnotyetanindustrialnationmostofitspeoplewerepoorpeasantsworkingtheland.Nonetheless,agroupofRussiansocialistsledbyVladimirLeninthoughtRussiawasreadyforasocialistrevolution.TheirchancecamewithWorldWarI.ThewardidntgowellforRussia.Thearmywaspoorlyled,poorlyfed,andpoorlyequipped,andeventuallyitfellapart.Whensoldierswereorderedtoshootwomentextileworkersriotingforfood,thesoldiersopenedfireontheirownofficersinstead.AsriotingspreadinRussia,NicholasIIwasforcedtostepdownastsarin1917.

IntothispowervacuumsteppedLeninswellorganizedpoliticalparty,theBolsheviks.Promisingpeaceforsoldiers,landforpeasants,andbetterconditionsforworkers,theBolshevikstookcontrolofRussiainOctober1917andremovedRussiafromthewar.ThetermcommunismhascometomeananextremeformofsocialismthatblendsMarxseconomicphilosophywithLeninsideasaboutsocialistrevolution.

StrugglingtoholdtheBolshevik(orRussian)Revolutiontogether,LeninexecutedthousandsofRussianssuspectedofopposingcommunism.Amongthosekilledwerethetsarandhisfamily.Thecommunistsbannedotherpoliticalparties,tookoverbanksandindustries,andsetupasecretpolice.TheRussianEmpirewasrenamedtheUnionofSovietSocialistRepublics,ortheSovietUnionforshort.

28.theGreatDepressionThesituationforworkersworsenedagaininthe1930sduetoaworldwideeconomicdownturn

calledtheGreatDepression.SeveralfactorsledtotheDepressionincludingdamagedonetoEuropeaneconomiesbyWorldWarIandtheU.S.stockmarketcrashof1929.Businessesclosed,farmsstoppedproducing,andbanksfailed.Peoplelosttheirjobsandtheirlifesavings,andtheywenthungry.

TheGreatDepressioncontributedtothepostwarcrisisofmeaning.Millionsofmenhaddiedinthetrenchesofasenselesswar,andnowitmadenosensethatmillionsofstrong,healthymencouldntfindjobstofeedtheirfamilies.Theoldcapitalistsystemdidntseemtobeworkinganymoresomethoughtitwasabouttocollapse.Manypeople,Americansincluded,lookedforanewerapproachthatwouldgiveworkersabetterbreak.SomelookedtotheSovietUnionwherecommunismpromisedamoreequalsociety.OtherslookedtoItalyandGermanywherestrong,nationalisticleaderspromisedabetterfuture. 29.fascism

InItaly,apowerfulpoliticalleaderemergedwhopledgedtoendItalyseconomicproblemsandrestoreItalytogreatness.HewasBenitoMussolini,leaderofthefascists,apoliticalmovementthatopposedcommunismanddemocracy,butfavoredviolenceandwarandpromotednationalismandobediencetothestate.Aftertakingpower,MussolinimodernizedItalianagricultureandimprovedtheeconomy.TostrengthenhiscontroloverItaly,hemadehimselfdictator,tookoverthenewsmedia,andsetupasecretpolice.

Germanytoowaslookingforastrongleadertoenditseconomicproblems.Halfofthecountryslaborforcewasoutofwork,andinflationgotsobadatonepointthatittookbagsofmoneytobuyaloafofbread.AninspiringpublicspeakernamedAdolfHitlerrosetotheleadershipofafascistpoliticalpartycalledtheNazis.HitlertoldGermanstheymustreclaimtheirlostterritoriesandbuildanewempireinEurope.HisnationalistideastookholdinaGermanythatfelthumiliatedbytheTreatyofVersailles.WithcrowdswildlycheeringHitlerinhugeparadesandrallies,theNazipartygrewinpopularityuntilitwonenoughvotesinnationalelectionstomakeHitlerthenewGermanleader.

HitlerquicklymovedtorevivetheGermanyeconomy.Injustfiveyears,unemploymentfellfromsixmilliontoalmostnothing,andtheGermanstandardoflivingrose.Encouragedbyanticommunistbusinessmen,theGermanparliamentvotedtoturnoverabsolutepowertoHitler.Thus,HitlerusedGermanysdemocracytoendGermanysdemocracy.HitlerusedhisabsolutepowertobanallpoliticalpartiesexcepttheNazisandtosetupasecretpolice.Hisenemieswerekilled,tortured,orimprisoned.30.massculture

Beforetheindustrialera,peopleusuallyexperiencedtheirculturealoneorinsmallgatherings.Theymightreadabookorplaymusicwithfriends.ThischangedwhentheIndustrialRevolutionbegantomanufacturecultureaswellasgoods.Bythelate1800s,massproducednewspaperswereamajorculturalforceasthousandsofpeoplereadthesamestoriesatthesametime.Masscultureswelledintheearly20thcenturyasthepublicflockedtobuymovietickets,radios,andmusicrecordings.Sportsteamsformedleaguesthatcompetednationally.Suchsharedexperienceshelpedtocreatemassnationalcultures.

Somecriticswereconcernedthatpeoplewerebecomingspectatorsratherthanparticipantsbypurchasingculturalexperiencesinsteadofmakingtheirown.Othercriticswarnedthatmassculturecouldbeusedtocontrolthepublicbyappealingtoemotionratherthanreason.ThisfearwasrealizedinNaziGermanywherethestatetookcontrolofradiostationsandthefilmindustry,andthegovernmentlearnedtoskillfullyusepropagandatomanipulatethepublicthroughemotionalappealstonationalismandracism.(Propagandaisasystematiceffort,usuallybygovernment,tospreadideasorbeliefs.)InNaziGermany,individualthoughtwasoverwhelmedbypropagandaandmasspublicopinion.

31.totalitariangovernmentForthefirsttime,massculturemadeitpossibletoreacheveryonewiththesamemessageand

torallyentirenationsbehindacause.HitlerandMussoliniralliedthemassesofGermanyandItalybehindfascistnationalism.TheSovietUnionmobilizeditsmassestosupporttheworkersrevolution.

AfterLenindiedin1924,JosephStalintookcontroloftheSovietUnion.HeconvincedRussiansitwastheirdutytoindustrializequickly.Stalinalsoconfiscatedpeasantsfarmsandcombinedthemintolargestateruncollectivefarms.Intheprocess,sometenmillionpeasantsdiedorwenttoprisoncamps.

Althoughcommunistsandfascistshaddifferentpoliticalphilosophies,theyusedsimilarmethods.Bothsystemswereledbystrong,godlikedictatorswhosymbolizedthestate.Citizenswereexpectedtosacrificetheirindividualitytothewillofthestate,andmanypeoplewerehappytogiveuppersonalfreedomforasenseofbelongingtoagreatcause.Bothsystemseliminateddissentanyonedisagreeingwiththegovernmentcouldexpectaterrifyingvisitfromthesecretpolice.Becausethesesocietiestooknearlytotalcontroloverpeopleslives,theyaretermedtotalitarian.Unlikeliberaldemocracieswherethestateisseenastheservantofthepeople,thepeopleintotalitariansocietiesareseenasservantsofthestate.Authoritarianstatesaresimilar,butthetermimpliessomewhatlesscontrolbygovernment.32.theNankingMassacre

Backinthemid1800s,theU.S.NavyforcedJapantoopenitsdoorstoforeigntrade.Shortlythereafter,AmericawasdistractedbyitsCivilWar,andtheU.S.leftJapanaloneforseveralyears.ThisgavetheMeijigovernmenttimetofigureouthowtorespondtothethreatofWesternpower.Japanhadalongtraditionofborrowingfromothercultures,especiallyChina,soitisnotsurprisingthatJapanchosetoborrowindustrialismfromtheWest.Withaneducatedurbanworkforce,Japansindustrialrevolutionproceededrapidly.Bytheearly1900s,Japanhadamodernindustrialeconomy.

In1905,JapanbecamethefirstAsiancountrytodefeataEuropeanpowerwhenitovercameRussiaintheRussoJapaneseWar.VictorygaveJapaneconomiccontrolinpartsofKoreaandtheManchuriaregionofChinaJapanwasnowbecominganimperialistpower,andtheU.S.begantoseeJapanasapossiblerivalinthePacific.ExtremenationalistscametopowerinJapansayingthatforeignconquestwastheonlywayJapancouldgettheresourcesitneeded.JapaninvadedManchuriaandSoutheastAsia,claimingtobeliberatingAsiafromWesternimperialism.WhenJapanesearmiestooktheChinesecapitalofNankingin1937,theyburnedthecityandmassacredbetween100,000and300,000Chinese.InwhatcametobecalledTheRapeofNanking,Japanesesoldiersbrutallyrapedsome20,000Chinesewomen,thenkilledthemorleftthemtodie. 33.appeasement

MeanwhileinEurope,HitlerpromisedGermanshewoulddestroytheTreatyofVersailles,andhebeganbyrebuildingtheGermanarmyinviolationofthetreaty.BritainandFrancecomplainedbutdidnothingtostophim.In1936,inviolationofthetreaty,HitlersenttroopsintotheRhinelandregionontheGermanFrenchborder.Itwasariskymove,butHitlercalculatedthatnobodywouldstophim,andhewasright.HitlerthenbroughtGermanyandAustriatogetherinaunionalsoforbiddenbythetreaty.

EnglandandFrancewerefollowingapolicyofappeasement,whichmeanstheyweregivingintoHitlersdemandstoavoidconflictandthepossibilityofanotherterriblewar.Astheworldwatched,Hitlersarmygrewstronger,andeachsuccessmadeHitlerbolder.Next,hetooktheGermanspeakingSudetenlandregioninCzechoslovakia,andsixmonthslaterheconqueredthewholecountry.

In1939,whenHitlersarmiesinvadedPoland,FranceandEnglandfinallydeclaredwaronGermany,andWorldWarIIwasunderwayinEurope.TheallianceofFranceandEngland(laterjoinedbyRussiaandtheU.S.)wascalledtheAllies.Germany,Italy(andlaterJapan)weretheAxispowers.ManyhistoriansconsiderWorldWarIItobeacontinuationofWorldWarIbecausethetwosidesweresimilarinbothwars,andGermanresentmentoftheTreatyofVersaillessetthestagefortheriseofHitler.34.blitzkrieg

Toovercomethestalemateoftrenchwarfare,Hitlersmilitaryplannersdevelopedanewbattletacticcalledblitzkriegorlightningwar.Blitzkriegmeantattackingquicklywithastrongforceofconcentratedtroopssupportedbyartillery,tanks,andairpower.HitlerspowerfulGermanmilitaryusedtheblitzkriegtoquicklyoverrunPolandandfivemoreEuropeancountries.IttooktheGermansonlysevenweekstocirclearoundaFrenchdefensivebarrierandconquerthestrongnationofFrance.

WithFrancedefeated,HitlerorderedmassivebombingattacksagainsttargetsinEnglandinpreparationforaplannedinvasion.GermanbombspoundedLondonfor57straightnights.TheseweredarkdaysfortheBritishpeoplePrimeMinisterWinstonChurchilltoldhiscountry,Ihavenothingtoofferbutblood,toil,tears,andsweat.BritishfighterpilotsbattledtheLuftwaffeintheskiesoverEngland,aidedbyradarthatcouldspotenemyplanesapproachingtheEnglishcoast.TheLuftwaffedestroyedlargeareasofBritishcities,butGermanaircraftlossesbecamesogreatthatHitlerhadtoabandonhisplantoinvadeEngland.ChurchillpraisedBritishairmenbysaying,Neverinthefieldofhumanconflictwassomuchowedbysomanytosofew.InwinningtheBattleofBritain,theBritishdealtHitlerhisfirstmajordefeatofthewar.35.WorldWarII

TheUnitedStateswasstillatpeace.AlthoughAmericawasofficiallyneutralinthewar,theU.S.sentsomuchwarmaterialtotheEuropeanAlliesthatwarproductionhelpedpullAmericaoutoftheDepression.InthePacific,onlyonebarrierstoodinthewayofcompleteJapanesecontrolofAsia:theU.S.NavysPacificfleetbasedatPearlHarbor,Hawaii.TheUnitedStatesinsistedthatJapanwithdrawfromtheterritoriesitconqueredinChinaandSoutheastAsia,andtheU.S.imposedanembargothatstoppedtheshipmentofkeyresourcestoJapan,amovetheJapaneseconsideredvirtuallyanactofwar.

OnDecember7,1941,thequietofaSundaymorningatPearlHarborwasshatteredwhencarrierbasedJapanesewarplaneslaunchedasurpriseattackontheU.S.fleet.Injust30minutes,AmericannavalpowerinthePacificwascrippled.Despitethesuccessfulattack,theJapanesecommanderwarned,Ifearwehaveawakenedasleepinggiant.Thenextday,PresidentFranklinRooseveltwentbeforeCongressanddeclared,December7thisadatewhichwillliveininfamy.TheU.S.andBritaindeclaredwaronJapan.GermanyandItalydeclaredwarontheU.S.NowthewarinEuropewaslinkedtothewarinthePacificcreatingatrulyglobalworldwar.Americaimmediatelyswitchedtoawarfooting.

Factoriesbeganoperating24hoursaday,sevendaysaweek.Chryslerstoppedmakingcarsandstartedmakingtanks.AsAmericanmenwerecalledawaytofight,Americanwomenwenttoworkinwarplantsmakingeverythingfromsockstoships.U.S.warproductionsoonequaledthatofJapan,Italy,andGermanycombined.ThePacificFleetrecoveredsufficientlyfromtheattackatPearlHarbortodefeattheJapaneseNavyincarrierseabattlesintheCoralSeaandatMidway.ThesevictoriesgavetheUnitedStatesnavalsupremacyinthePacificfortheremainderofthewar.Thegiantwasawake.36.theHolocaust

HitlersempireinEuropestretchedfromScandinaviatoNorthAfrica,fromtheAtlanticOceantoRussia.PeopleinlandsconqueredbytheNaziswereexpectedtoservetheGermanmasterrace.

InferiorpeoplesuchasRussiansandGypsiesweretobeenslavedoreliminated.Manyteachersandothereducatedpeopledisappeared.ButtheNazisreservedtheirharshesttreatmentfortheJews.

HitlersplanfortheJewswascalledtheFinalSolution,whichmeantcompleteexterminationoftheJewishpeople.AlloverEuropeJewswerearrestedandsenttoconcentrationcampswheretheywereforcedtoworkorweresystematicallyexecuted.HitlerdivertedsomanyresourcesfromfightingthewartokillingJewsthathismassmurderoperationeventuallycontributedtoGermanysdefeat.OfEuropeseightmillionJews,theNazissucceededinkillingsixmillion,aneventthatcametobeknownastheHolocaust.WhentheworldlearnedaboutthefullextentofHitlershomicidalmadness,thewordgenocidewasinventedtodescribetheintentionalandsystematicdestructionofanentireracialorculturalgroup. 37.HitlersinvasionofRussia

Hitlerwasabouttomakehisbiggestmistakeofthewar,thesamemistakemadebyNapoleonoveracenturyearlier.WhenHitlercouldntconquerEngland,heinvadedRussia,whichbroughttheSovietUnionintothewaronthesideoftheAllies.AstheRussiansretreated,theyadoptedthesamescorchedearthpolicyusedbythetsarssoldiersagainstNapoleon.TheturningpointintheRussianfighting,andinWorldWarII,camein1943attheBattleofStalingrad,wheretheSovietscapturedanentireGermanarmy.TheSovietsbegantopushtheGermansback,andfromthenonGermanystartedlosingthewar.TheRussians,however,paidaterriblepriceinWorldWarII,sufferinganincredible23milliondead.

FromairfieldsinEngland,BritishandAmericanbomberspoundedGermany,wipingoutentirecitesandkillinghundredsofthousandsofGermancivilians.In1944,theAllieslaunchedthemassiveNormandyInvasionofFrance,trappingtheNazisbetweenAlliedforcesapproachingfromthewestandRussiansoldiersclosinginfromtheeast.WithRussiantroopsonlyafewblocksfromhisundergroundbunkerinBerlin,AdolfHitlercommittedsuicideinApril1945.Germanysurrenderedoneweeklater.38.Hiroshima

FiercefightingcontinuedinthePacific.AmericantroopsfoughtandwonsavagebattlesagainstdeterminedJapaneseforcestryingdesperatelytoholdstrategicislands.AmericanbombersbegantostrikeinsideJapan,pulverizingJapanesecities.Japanwasonthevergeofcollapse,butitrefusedtosurrender.

Meanwhile,Americanscientistshadperfectedtheatomicbomb.HopingtoavoidacostlyinvasionoftheJapanesehomeislands,PresidentHarryTrumanorderedtheatomicbombusedagainstJapan.ThefirstbombdestroyedthecityofHiroshimawhere200,000peopledied.Threedayslater,asecondbombproducedsimilarresultsinNagasaki.Thenextday,Japanaskedtoendthewar.ControversystillsurroundstheuseofatomicweaponsagainstJapan.CriticssayademonstrationoftheawesomepowerofthebombmighthaveconvincedJapantosurrenderwithoutusingthisterriblenewweaponagainstpeople.

Again,thenatureofwarfarehadchanged.Genocideandmassiveaerialbombingraidshadmadecivilians,notsoldiers,theprimarytargetsofwar.Ofthe50millionpeoplekilledinWorldWarII,anestimatedtwothirdswerecivilians.Theatomicbombmeantthatafutureworldwarmightkilleveryone.