1. Civilians: A large number of civilian casualties occurred during World War II. Many civilians died as a result of air raids, bombings, artillery bombardments, and other forms of violence. The civilian populations in cities like London, Berlin, Warsaw, Stalingrad, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki suffered extensive losses.
2. Military Personnel: Millions of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and other military personnel lost their lives in combat operations, battles, and military campaigns. The number of military casualties varied across different countries, with the Soviet Union, Germany, China, and Poland suffering some of the highest military losses.
3. Prisoners of War (POWs): Many soldiers who were captured by the enemy during the war died in prisoner of war (POW) camps. POWs often faced harsh living conditions, lack of food, medical care, and exposure to disease. The mortality rates in some POW camps were extremely high.
4. Holocaust Victims: The Holocaust, a genocide carried out by Nazi Germany, resulted in the systematic murder of millions of Jews, as well as other minority groups such as Roma (Gypsies), homosexuals, and disabled individuals. The Holocaust accounted for a significant proportion of civilian deaths during World War II.
5. Victims of Ethnic Massacres and Persecution: Other ethnic groups and minorities also suffered significant losses during the war. The Soviet Union, for example, subjected various ethnic groups to forced deportations, mass killings, and repression, resulting in the loss of millions of lives.
6. Victims of Japan's Occupation and Massacres: In Asia and the Pacific, Japanese forces committed numerous war crimes and atrocities during their occupation of various regions. These actions resulted in the deaths of millions of civilians and prisoners of war.
The total number of casualties during World War II is estimated to be in the tens of millions, with some estimates ranging between 70 to 85 million. The exact figures are difficult to determine due to incomplete records, uncertainty surrounding civilian deaths, and the impact of displacement and starvation.