Why the most egregious civil wars in history were fought and what they led to

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Civil wars are quite rightly called the most destructive form of military conflicts for any country, because it is a confrontation within the country between large groups. As a rule, the struggle is for power; economic, religious, national reasons are possible. Be that as it may, in fact, not a single citizen of the country can stay away from the conflict, even if he does not join one side or another. In addition, the destructive power of civil wars is catastrophic and the world history of such conflicts only confirms this.

Chinese Civil War

1927-1950

The war, which lasted for more than a decade, claimed a huge number of lives, moreover, in such a densely populated China, any military action led to more large-scale casualties than in other territories. The cause of the conflict was a power struggle between the National People's Party and the Chinese Communist Party. The irony of what is happening is that the civil war went on intermittently, in several stages. In 1937, both sides joined forces when an external enemy threatened the country.

After the victory in Japan, the conflict between the parties continued. It is impossible to say unequivocally about the number of victims in this confrontation. Some historians believe the figure is over 12 million. But if we include here all those affected over the years, including refugees, repressed and missing, then the figure rises to 35 million.

It is well known who won this war, but how high was the price that had to be paid for it?

Taiping Uprising

1850-1864

China again, but of an earlier period, this uprising is also called the Peasant War. It went down in history as the most bloody, and not only in the 19th century, but throughout the entire period. An army of peasants led by Hong Xiuquan fought for freedom, and robbers, pirates, and other criminal elements who pursued their interests and benefited from the fall of the Qing empire, which then included China, joined them.

The peasants managed to win several impressive victories, iron discipline reigned in their army and they actually did not count the dead. According to estimates of modern historians, there were up to 20 million of them, the rebels managed to achieve certain benefits, but the price was disproportionate. In addition, soon in the Taiping community, its own internal strife arose, the head of the uprising was lost, and the new state lost its influence.

Russian civil war

1917-1922

This conflict is called the largest in the world, weakened after the First World War, almost immediately after the October Revolution of 1917 and the coming to power of the Bolsheviks, a red-and-white confrontation unfolded in the country. The army of workers and peasants fought for the "Reds", and the landowners, clergy, officers and other intelligentsia fought for the "Whites". There was a struggle for power, moreover, for the establishment of their own state system, for which there was a confrontation.

It is generally accepted that the beginning of the Civil War was caused by the resettlement of opponents of the new Bolshevik regime to the south and the formation of detachments from the "whites" there. Most of them were former officers, who were joined by volunteers who did not agree with the results of the October Revolution. One of the notable names of the anti-Bolsheviks was Kolchak, who attacked from Siberia, although the oppression of the Bolsheviks and the attack on them began everywhere.

At first, especially with foreign support, White had the advantage. The Bolshevik elite even considered the issue of an urgent evacuation, but the course of the Civil War changed, and the balance of power changed. By the 1920s, whites themselves were persecuted and retreated on all fronts. However, the Bolsheviks staged a real Bolshevik terror for them.

The result of the Russian civil war was not only the creation of a new country of councils, but also the migration from Russia of the majority of the elite, capital and outstanding personalities. Many of them fled for a better life to Europe and the West, managing to transport not only their families, resources, but also their own potential. Most of them managed to get a job in migration and did not cease to yearn for their homeland, among them there were many representatives of the creative elite, writers who left a noticeable cultural mark.

Nigerian Civil War

1967-1970

One of the bloodiest wars, the emergence of which seemed quite logical. If in the case when strife occurs in a country that is united by one cultural code, history, and there, indeed, "brother goes against brother", then here the story is completely different. Nigeria is an artificially created state, previously it depended on Great Britain, but in 1960 it gained independence. However, independence immediately went sideways.

At that time, 60 million people lived in this territory, who were representatives of 300 ethnic groups. Such an explosive mixture, dense population and difficult living conditions gave their results - a civil war broke out. The struggle was between the three largest nations, besides, rich oil reserves, only added to the severity of the conflict, attracting foreign forces in the form of financing one side or the other.

After three years of hostilities, as a result of which 3 million people managed to die, the world community intervened, recommending an end to the violence and recognition of the unity of Nigeria. By this time, one of the three parties was already in clear leadership.

Sudanese war

1955-1972 1983-2005

If you add up the years of the first and second civil wars in Sudan, you get 39 years. For almost four decades, the Christian south and the Muslim north (in the historical existence of the territories of Britain and Egypt, respectively) could not come to a compromise. Sudan gained sovereignty in 1956 and most of the state's key facilities were located in the north of the country. This was the reason for the discontent of the south.

Later, the Muslim part of the country did not agree to participate in the formation of the federation and a real war broke out. In total, 2.5 million people died in the first and second wars in Sudan, and not only because of hostilities, but also because of the famine that arose while the population was more occupied with the war, and not with economic development.

The Second Sudanese War has been hailed as one of the most egregious acts of violence that could be waged in the name of oil and religion. Millions of ruined destinies, hunger and poverty, in which several generations of Sudanese have lived, are the result of these strife. On the religious issue, the Christian part of the country opposed the attempt to expand the Islamic government throughout Sudan. In addition, the territory is being divided, part of the land is suitable for farming, and the other contains oil deposits. Attempts to control both that, and another, gave rise to an endless series of conflicts. The above figure for the dead is the data of participants in military conflicts, at the same time, both sides are conducting an ethnic cleansing operation, which no one has counted, its data can be terrifying. Endless persecution, the involvement of children and women, a huge number of refugees - this is the sad result of strife.

In 2005, an official ceasefire was declared, but southern Sudan became an independent state only in 2011, but this did not mark the end of hostilities. Skirmishes, skirmishes, now and then arising between north and south - these are realities.

Rwandan Civil War

1990-1994

The conflict took place between those who supported the incumbent president and the revolutionaries who called themselves the patriotic front. The war began with the fact that the armed forces invaded the country and demanded the fulfillment of their conditions. Three years later, the parties came to a compromise and signed an agreement that satisfied both parties.

It would seem that the conflict was settled, but in 1994 the president's plane, on which he was returning from the conference, was shot down. The President of Burundi was on board with him. Both leaders were killed. This became a new starting point for the civil war, a real genocide began on the part of patriots, according to some sources, up to one million people were killed for one hundred of it.

Revolution in Haiti

1791-1803

It is not customary to call this armed conflict a civil war, it is more often referred to as an uprising, but in fact it is a civil war. In history, this is the only fact of a successful slave uprising. Haiti was a French colony with over 500,000 slaves and about 40,000 colonists.

The harsh living conditions reduced the population by 7% annually. After the patience of the local population came to an end, not a single army, which was sent to suppress the uprising, was unable to cope with the rebels. Although among them was even Napoleon's army.

The result of this battle was the creation of the Republic of Haiti. However, this is where everything positive in this story ends. There is a monstrous and stupid part in any war, it has not been done in this one. The leader of the republic suddenly proclaimed himself to be no one, but the emperor, and one of his first instructions was the destruction of the white population.

As a result of the fact that yesterday's slaves and masters changed places, more than 40 thousand white colonists were destroyed, and the total number of those killed in this war was about 450 thousand people.

War in Burma

1948-2012

This country has been called the Republic of the Union of Myanmar since 2010. Previously, it was a colony of Great Britain, after it became independent, a war immediately broke out in the country, however, nothing unusual. However, if we focus on what caused the armed conflict, then it becomes uncomfortable.

The current government of Burma was at war, and for almost 65 years with the communists. But it was not the power in the state and the establishment of the state system that was at stake, but control over the traffic of narcotic products. Yes, the confrontation with the communists was not as brutal as in China, and the number of victims is incomparable, only 200 thousand people, and this is given the time span. However, the very reasons for the war clearly demonstrate the standard of living and crime in the country, it is possible that the revolution is not the worst thing that can happen there.

American Civil War

1861-1865

This was a confrontation between the south and the north, and in the first there was a slave system. This became one of the reasons for the armed confrontation, historians call the taxation system another reason. Although the system as such at that time simply did not exist. The North sought to raise taxes in order to ensure industrial production, and was strongly opposed to slavery. While the economy of the south was based on slaves, the taxes adopted in the north of the country only hindered trade with the world.

The South organized the Confederate States of America, its position was supported by world leaders - Britain, France. But the North was supported by only one world power - Russia. More than 600 thousand people died in this war, more than two thousand battles were fought.

Syrian war

2011

The confrontation between the government and the armed Islamist groups has been going on for several years. Despite the fact that the official version of the UN does not go further than a religious conflict, neither side agrees that they are fighting for religion and nothing else. However, no one is ready to provide a capacious and meaningful explanation of the causes of the conflict.

If you look at the situation differently, it becomes clear that it is rather difficult to call a civil war when so many foreign forces are involved. In addition, the howling no longer even remember what they are fighting for.

It would be easy for the world community to restore peace in this territory, simply by ceasing to support one of the parties. But 8 million refugees and half a million dead - and this is only official.

Spanish Civil War

1936-1939

One of the most famous civil wars in history, remembered for its atrocities and cruelties. She was between the Republican Democrats, who were at that time in the government and the nationalists. Both sides behaved extremely harshly, did not hesitate to purge and destroy everyone sympathetic to the opposing side.

As a result of the military conflict, half a million Spaniards became victims, and the same number received refugee status, since they chose to flee to save their lives. The consequences for the country itself were phenomenal and led to a dictatorship of fascism that lasted almost four decades. In fact, Spain became a training ground for World War II. The Nazis used Spain as a testing ground for their soldiers and new military technology.

Civil wars in France

1562-1598

It was a veritable series of wars between Catholics and Protestants. Perhaps one of the most famous wars in world history with religious reasons. Both sides were supported by very authoritative persons, so the conflict could not be resolved for a long time, too many people who wanted to try to solve their own issues with someone else's hands.

The Bourbons began to support the Huguenots, Catherine de Medici stood up for the Catholics, and with her the Gizov party. Open confrontation began after the attack on the Huguenots, which was organized by the Duke de Guise. In response, Orleans was taken, which later became the center of the Huguenot movement. The Queen of Great Britain began to support the Protestants, the Spanish king and the Pope began to fight for the Catholics.

The first settlement agreement was signed after the leaders of both sides died, it guaranteed freedom of religion in all territories, which, however, did not solve the cause of the conflict, but rather froze it. Further skirmishes on this basis arose due to the fact that both sides tried to play with the clauses of this agreement. As soon as the money in the treasury ran out, the conflict was brought to naught. Massacre of Protestants in Paris and St. Bartholomew's Night, which became the personification of cruelty and arbitrariness. As a result, the Huguenot leader, who became king, manages to unite the state around him and come to a world that would be truly strong, and not collapse as soon as the treasury is full.