The Soviet Union, which includes modern-day Russia, experienced the most significant loss of life during World War II. Estimates suggest that between 26.6 and 40 million Soviet citizens perished during the war.
This staggering number includes:
- Military casualties: Millions of soldiers died in combat, from disease, or from injuries sustained during the war.
- Civilian casualties: Millions of civilians died from starvation, disease, or were executed by the Nazi regime.
- Forced labor: Many Soviet citizens were forced into labor by the Nazis, often in brutal conditions that led to their deaths.
The exact number of Soviet deaths during World War II remains a subject of debate among historians, but the scale of the loss is undeniable. The war had a devastating impact on the Soviet Union, both in terms of human life and economic development.
