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  4. world war two financial cost

World War Two Financial Cost

War has always been a costly endeavour, and World War Two was the most expensive war in human history. The economic cost of this war has greatly changed the world by altering the power structure of the world. Though World War Two lasted fewer than four years, World War Two was the most expensive war in the history. Adjusted for inflation to today’s dollars, the war cost over $4 trillion.  
 

Wartime Expenditures during the Second World War 1939-1945 in Billions USD

Country

Billions USD

United States of America

$ 341.491

Germany

$ 270.000

Soviet Union

$ 192.000

China

$ 190.000

United Kingdom

$ 120.000

Canada

$ 15.680

Italy

$ 94.000

Japan

$ 56.000

France

$ 15.000

Belgium

$ 3.250

Poland

$ 1.550

Netherlands

$ 0.925

Latin American countries (total)

$ 1.000

Greece

$ 0.220

Yugoslavia

$ 0.200

Total

$ 1,301.316

The table above outline the approximate expenditures of various world nations during World War II. The U.S.A. spent the most on the war, just over 340 billion dollars. All together, this table, which includes more than 15 countries and its allies, totals 1,301.316 billion dollars.

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Neera Sahni, Research Services Leader, Parramatta Heritage Centre, City of Parramatta, 2020

References:

  • https://online.norwich.edu/academic-programs/masters/military-history/resources/infographics/the-cost-of-us-wars-then-and-now
  • https://researchworldwar2.weebly.com/economic-costs.html
  • https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/second-world-war
  • https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II/
 

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