Little known statistics about the Second World War

We have seen many pictures about the Second World War. We have read much about the war in books. We have seen umpteen movies about it. We have seen many videos on Youtube. Below are given statistics about the war.

Believe me, it is fascinating reading.

WWII Death Count Per Country:
CountryMilitaryCivilianTotal
USSR12 million17 million29 million
Poland597,0005.86 million6.27 million
Germany3.25 million2.44 million5.69 million
Yugoslavia305,0001.35 million1.66 million
Romania450,000465,000915,000
Hungary200,000600,000800,000
France245,000350,000595,000
Italy380,000153,000533,000
Great Britain403,00092,700495,000
United States407,0006,000413,000
Czechoslovakia7,000315,000322,000
Holland13,700236,000249,000
Greece19,000140,000159,000
Belgium76,00023,00099,000
Death Distribution Of Both World Wars
WarMilitary DeadCivilian Dead
WWI95%5%
WWII33%67%

Number of divisions available for these countries over the course of the war:
Country1939194019411942194319441945End of War
France8610500571414
Germany*78189235261327347319375
Great Britain934353839373131
Italy6736489862910
Poland432222555
Romania1128333133322424
USSR194200220250350400488491
USA**824397695949494
*towards the end of the war, many of these divisions were either incomplete or poorly equipped
**including both Army and Marine divisions and accounting for the Pacific theater
Aircraft Available In Europe
DateBritishUSSovietTOTALGermanAllied Ratio
June 194295000210011,60037003.1:1
December 194211,3001300380016,40034004.8:1
June 194312,7005000560023,30046005.1:1
December 194311,8007500880028,10047006:1
June 194413,20011,80014,70039,70046008.6:1
December 194414,50012,20015,80042,50085005:1

Aircraft Sorties In WWII
CampaignAlliedAxisAllied Kills Per 1000Axis Kills Per 1000Allied Lost Per 1000Axis Lost Per 1000
France 1940448021,00028.612.558.56.1
Britain 194031,00042,00021.829.529.59.6
Pre D-Day 194498,40034,50012.729.310.336.1
Post D-Day 1944203,35731,83317.316.22.5110.6

Major Warships Sunk In WWII
CountryAircraft CarriersBattleshipsCruisersDestroyersSubmarinesTotal
Germany049539941060
Britain952914275260
Italy021599116232
USA*112108252157
France05105865138
USSR0023495131
Holland003111529
Poland001429
*includes figures from the Pacific War
Civilian Air Raid Deaths
CountryDeaths
Germany543,000
Britain60,400

  • According to the law of averages, every rifleman from each division would be killed within a year or two
  • Overall, there was a 50% chance of a WWII infantryman being killed or wounded
German/American Rank Conversion Chart
Waffen SSWehrmachtUS Army
SchützeSchütze/GrenadierPrivate
OberschützeOberschütze/ObergrenadierPrivate First Class
SturmannGefreiter--
RottenführerObergefreiterCorporal
UnterscharführerUnteroffizierSergeant
ScharführerUnterfeldwebelStaff Sergeant
StandartenjunkerFähnrich--
OberscharführerFeldwebelTechnical Sergeant
HauptscharführerOberfeldwebelMaster Sergeant
Standarten-OberjunkerOberfähnrich--
SturmscharführerStabsfeldwebelSergeant Major
UntersturmführerLeutnantSecond Lieutenant
ObersturmführerOberleutnantFirst Lieutenant
HauptsturmführerHauptmannCaptain
SturmbannführerMajorMajor
ObersturmbannführerOberstleutnantLieutenant Colonel
StandartenführerOberstColonel
Oberführer----
BrigadeführerGeneralmajorBrigadier General
GruppenführerGeneralleutnantMajor General
ObergruppenführerGeneral der... (Infanterie, etc.)Lieutenant General
OberstgruppenführerGeneraloberstGeneral
ReichsführerGeneralfeldmarschallGeneral of the Army

German Occupational Forces, 1939-1940
CountryPopulationArea In Sq. Mi.German ForcesGerman Ratio To Population
Balkans21 million403,000200,0001:105
Belgium8 million30,400100,0001:80
Denmark3.6 million22,70040,0001:90
France40 million550,700500,0001:80
Holland8.5 million34,200100,0001:85
Norway2.8 million324,000150,0001:19

Location Of German Divisions In June Of Each Year
Country1941194219431944
USSR34171179157
France, Belgium & Holland38274256
Norway & Finland13161616
Balkans781720
Italy00022
Denmark1123
North Africa2300

A look at fuel consumption of German tanks:
YearTypes Of Tanks In A DivisionTons Of Fuel Consumed Per 100 Miles
1941PzII, PzIII, PzIV, Pz3822.1
1942PzIII, PzIV23.7
1943PzIII, PzIV, Panther, Tiger31.7
1944PzIV, Panther, Tiger35.8

Luftwaffe Aircraft Used Only Against Allied Bombers
MonthYearPercentage
June19400%
June19417%
June194217%
June194321%
June194429%
January194550%

  • Germany got 45% of its oil supplies from Romania, which was captured by the Soviets in August 1944
  • In spite of fuel shortages, German tank production doubled in 1943 and went up another 50% in 1944
Oil Production In Tons
YearGermanyUSA
19398 millionN/A
19406.7 millionN/A
19417.3 millionN/A
19427.7 million184 million
19438.9 million200 million
19446.4 million223 million
Percentage Of German Forces On The Eastern Front Each Year
Unit1941194219431944
Divisions67%75%60%57%
Troops84%74%72%40%
Aircraft64%65%42%45%

  • By D-Day the Germans had 1.5 million railway workers operating 988,000 freight cars and used 29,000 per day
Germany's casualty statistics:
  • By D-Day, 35% of all German soldiers had been wounded at least once,
    11% twice, 6% three times, 2% four times and 2% more than 4 times
  • The average officer slot had to be refilled 9.2 times
  • Germany lost 136 Generals, which averages out to be 1 dead General every 2 weeks
  • Germany lost 110 Division Commanders in combat
  • Air attacks caused 1/3 of German Generals' deaths
  • 84 German Generals were executed by Hitler
  • Germany lost 40-45% of their aircraft to accidents
U-Boat Losses
Sunk By1939194019411942194319441945Total
Aircraft Carrier023361406840289
Ships5112432596817216
Bombs00002243662
Mines320319725
Submarines121245318
Other045617431792
Total9233586236235122746

  • By late 1944, the Waffen SS accounted for 10% of the German military and 25% of the German armor
  • German bullets had less flash and smoke than American bullets so it was harder to see where the Germans were firing from
German Flak
Unit193919401941194219431944
Heavy Guns2600316438884772852010,600
Light Guns67008290902010,70017,50019,360
Searchlights298834503905465052007500
% Under The Luftwaffe50%61%54%64%74%70%

Mid-Year Manpower On The Eastern Front
YearSovietGerman
19415 million3.3 million
19425 million3.1 million
19436.2 million2.9 million
19446.8 million3.1 million

  • 80% of Soviet males born in 1923 didn't survive WWII
  • There was a Polish General named Juliuz Rommel, although if they were related it would only be distantly
8th Air Force:
fired 76.9 million rounds of .50 caliber
fired .7 million rounds of .30 caliber
downed 6090 enemy aircraft
had an average of 1 enemy plane shot down for each 12,700 rounds fired (1/12,700)
15th Air Force:
fired 30 million rounds of .50 caliber
downed 2110 enemy aircraft
had an average of 1/14,200
The Germans' average was 1/12,000
Percentage Of All Allied Bombs Dropped
Year%
1940.8%
19412%
19423%
194312.8%
194457.9%
194523.5%

  • 12,000 heavy bombers were shot down in WWII
  • Between 1939 and 1945 the Allies dropped 3.4 million tons of bombs
  • That averages out to be 27,700 tons of bombs a month
  • 2/3 of Allied bomber crews were lost for each plane destroyed
  • 3 or 4 ground men were wounded for each killed
  • 6 bomber crewmen were killed for each one wounded
  • Over 100,000 Allied bomber crewmen were killed over Europe
Tour Of Duty% KIA or MIA
Fighters (300 combat hours)24%
Medium bombers (50 missions48%
Heavy bombers (30 missions)71%
D-Day Statistics:
UnitAlliesGermansRatio
Ground Troops1 million700,0001.43:1
Replacements120,00020,0006:1
Other Men1.75 million780,0002.25:1
Total2.87 million1.5 million1.92:1

UnitAlliesGermansRatio
Tanks550014003.93:1
Artillery480032001.5:1
Others20008002.5:1

Air ForceBombersFightersTotal
RAF62421722796
USAAF192213113233
Luftwaffe400420820
Ratio6.4:18.3:17.4:1

The Canadians' contributions in WWII are often overlooked, yet they had the 4th largest air force and the 3rd largest navy, who helped protect Allied convoys in the Atlantic. They gave an added industrial output as well as 6 army divisions, of whom 45,000 gave their lives for the Allies.
  • There were 433 Medals of Honor awarded during WWII, 219 of them were given after the receipiant's death
  • From 6 June 1944 to 8 May 1945 in Europe the Allies had 200,000 dead and 550,000 wounded
  • The US had the lowest casualty rates of the major powers in WWII
The American Sub-Division Of Army Units In WWII:
  • squad--around a dozen men
  • platoon--3 or 4 squads
  • company--3 or 4 platoons
  • battalion--3 or 4 companies
  • regiment--3 or 4 battalions
  • division--3 or 4 regiments
  • corps
  • army
  • army group
US Infantry Regiment In 1944:
6 105mm Howitzers, 9 57mm anti-tank guns, 55 .50 caliber machine guns, many .30 caliber machine guns and enough Jeeps & ammunition to opperate
US Infantry Company In 1944:
193 men, 15 BARs, 2 M1919A4s, 1 .50 caliber machine gun and 6 submachine guns
US Infantry Platoon In 1944:
41 men, 1 M2 carbine, 3 BARs
US Airborne Infantry Company:
176 men, 9 machine guns, 9 BARs, 3 60mm mortars and 3 bazookas
US Airborne Infantry Platoon:
36 men, 2 M1919A6s, 22 rifles, 14 M2 carbines, 1 60mm mortar, 1 sniper rifle and 1 bazooka
  • 1/3 of US Airborne troops landed by parachute, 2/3 by glider
Percentage Of Combat Strength Kept In Non-Divisional Formations (regiment, battalion, etc.)
Country%
USA45%
USSR20%
Germany10%

Total Number Of Weapons During WWII
Weapon TypeWorldUSAUS %
Aircraft542,000283,00052%
Vehicles5.1 million2.47 million48%

Convoy Battles
DateConvoy CodeShipsSunkTonnageGerman SubsSunk
October 1940SC-71, HX-797932154,600120
September 1941SC-42701873,200192
July 1942PQ-174216102,300110
November 1942SC-107421582,800183
December 1942ONS-154451974,500191
March 1943SC-121, HX-2281191679,900372

  • 800 U-Boats sank 2640 ships in the Atlantic
  • YearTotal Ships SunkSunk By Submarine
    1939222114
    19401059471
    19411299432
    194216641160
    1943597377
    1944205132
    194510556

    • 40,000 men served on U-Boats during WWII; 30,000 never returned
    • US Daily Ammunition Expenditure In Tons
      ActionArmor divisionsInfantry divisions155mm battalions
      Attack436-832353-65866-121
      Defense596-969472-76886-142
      Pursuit1078315
      Delay32125651

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Quotes about war....

"War grows out of the desire of the individual to gain advantage at the expense of his fellow man."
--Napoleon Hill

"We have failed to grasp the fact that mankind is becoming a single unit, and that for a unit to fight against itself is suicide."
--Havelock Ellis

'Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed."
--Mao Tse-Tung (1893 - 1976)

"I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in."
--George McGovern

"The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic."
--Joseph Stalin

It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.
--Voltaire, War

In war, truth is the first casualty.
-- Aeschylus

"The ability and inclination to use physical strength is no indication of bravery or tenacity to life. The greatest cowards are often the greatest bullies. Nothing is cheaper and more common than physical bravery."
--Clarence Darrow, Resist Not Evil

"The victor will never be asked if he told the truth."
--Adolf Hitler

"To walk through the ruined cities of Germany is to feel an actual doubt about the continuity of civilization."
--George Orwell

"Patriots always talk of dying for their country and never of killing for their country."
--Bertrand Russell

Men are at war with each other because each man is at war with himself.
--Francis Meehan

Snippets From History

German Soldiers in Russia: Part 1

Hubert Menzel was a major in the General Operations Department of the OKH (the Oberkommando des Heers, the German Army headquarters), and for him the idea of invading the Soviet Union in 1941 had the smack of cold, clear logic to it: 'We knew that in two years' time, that is by the end of 1942, beginning of 1943, the English would be ready, the Americans would be ready, the Russians would be ready too, and then we would have to deal with all three of them at the same time.... We had to try to remove the greatest threat from the East.... At the time it seemed possible.'
==========

Battle for Berlin, 1945

'We started to fire at the masses,' says one former German machine gunner. 'They weren't human beings for us. It was a wall of attacking beasts who were trying to kill us. You yourself were no longer human.'

==========

Berlin after it fell to the Russians, 1945

"Vladlen Anchishkin, a Soviet battery commander on the 1st Ukrainian Front, sums up the horror of the whole event, when he tells how he took personal revenge on German soldiers: 'I can admit it now, I was in such a state, I was in such a frenzy. I said, 'Bring them here for an interrogation' and I had a knife, and I cut him. I cut a lot of them. I thought, 'You wanted to kill me, now it's your turn.'
Read More

========

Dramatic Pictures: Battle For Stalingrad
"...Effective command no longer possible... further defense senseless. Collapse inevitable. Army requests immediate permission to surrender in order to save lives of remaining troops."
General Paulus' radio message to Hitler on January 24, 1943

"...Capitulation is impossible. The 6th Army will do its historic duty at Stalingrad until the last man, the last bullet..."

Hitler's response to General Friedrich Paulus' request to withdraw from the city

READ MORE>>>

Points To Ponder....

The fall of France was shocking. It reduced France to virtually a non-player in the Second World War. The efforts of Charles de Gualle were more symbolic than material. But the martial instincts of the French must never be doubted. Under Napoleon they were a formidable military power. The French definitely have more iron in their blood then say, the Italians [I do not mean it in a derogatory sense. War never makes sense]

============

Bias Of Western Historians

Soviet resistance made possible a successful Allied invasion of France, and ensured the final Allied victory over Germany.

It can hardly be called mere 'resistance'! If it hadn't been for the Russians, Hitler would have made mincemeat of British forces in Africa and landed on British shores in no time. Hitler attacked Russia first because it had more land and resources than Britain. It is as simple as that.

READ MORE>>>>
Eastern Front: Bias Of Western Historians