Facts and Stories from WWII That We Won’t Find in History Books

42. Not the Happiest Numbers Game

The sheer scale of WWII brought about staggering casualties, including a surprising fact: more US soldiers died from accidents—such as automobile and plane crashes, fires, and falls—during this conflict than the total combat deaths of the Vietnam War.

This highlights the perilous nature of wartime beyond the frontline battles, with training, transportation, and the handling of machinery and weapons posing significant risks. The logistics of moving millions of troops and the machinery of war across the globe inevitably led to fatal accidents. The enormous loss of life in WWII, from all causes, remains a profound testament to the war’s brutality and the sacrifices made by those involved.