World War II

1. World War II Why was WW2 so destructive? How accurate are modern video games in their depiction of WW2?

2. Why was WW2 so destructive? WW2 was destructive because of the weapons. The comparison between WW1 and WW2 weapons means a lot more deaths, accurate explosions and quicker firing round. Guns were a lot more accurate, meaning that the range of the weapon was extended, and the number of bullets that could be fired in a short space of time went up too. Also, their were a lot more deaths, totalling more than 60 million compared to the 20 million in WW1, including at least 9 million innocent Jews. There were a lot more people involved in the war, including more advances strategies, better trained troops equipped to do more damage to the opposition. There was more innocent slaughter, directed at the Jews, Gypsies and Homo-Sexuals. This was a directed racial attack, which nations Britain, USA, France, Belgium and Russia. The battle was not just in Europe though, as the Americans had a fierce battle with the unforgiving Japanese in the middle east.

3. Why was WW2 so destructive? As a lot of the war was fought it Russia, the environmental conditions played a big part. In the summers that went on, the Land was extremely hot, used to the Russians but not so familiar with the German's. As for the Winters, it was biting cold and the Germans were not prepared, lots of Germany soldiers lost their lives in the war not because of a bullet but because of the unpredictability of nature. A lot of destruction involved civilians of different countries. Some reasons civilians got bombed were to lower moral in the country and to pressurise the government to give in, forced by the public. But in a way this had an opposite effect, with some civilians wanting revenge and vengeance, by either joining the army themselves or supporting those who did. Another reason of bombing the civilians was to cut off the supply to the armies. The people that stayed back at home had jobs to supply the armies with killing mechanisms in the form of weapons and ammunition, cut off the supply cut off the entire army was the apparent basis of thought.

4. Why was WW2 so destructive? Civilians in Japan had a different story though. The war in Europe ended when Nazi Germany signed its instrument of surrender on 8 May, but the Pacific War continued. Together with the United Kingdom and the Republic of China, the United States called for a surrender of Japan in 26 July 1945, threatening Japan with "prompt and utter destruction". The Japanese government ignored this ultimatum, and two nuclear weapons developed and deployed. Little Boy was dropped on the city of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, followed by the Fat Man over Nagasaki on 9 August. Within the first few months of the bombings, 90,000 – 166,000 people died in Hiroshima, and 60,000 to 80,000 The Hiroshima prefecture health department estimated that, of the people who died on the day of the explosion, 60% died from flash or flame burns, 30% from falling debris and 10% from other causes. During the following months, large numbers died from the effect of burns, radiation sickness, and other injuries, compounded by illness. In a US estimate of the total immediate and short term cause of death, 15–20% died from radiation sickness, 20–30% from burns, and 50–60% from other injuries, compounded by illness. In both cities, most of the dead were civilians, although Hiroshima had a big army within its city.

5. How accurate are modern video games in their depiction of WW2? I think the accuracy varies, because the historic events that happened have been rein acted as the video games shows, but I think it stops about there. In the game world there is a second life, no fear to be shared or no other circumstance comes into account. You cannot understand what is was like through the game, only what happened. It is far from reality, as no emotions come into account but only the comfort of the room you are playing it and no worry for you to be loosing your own life, never seeing your family or the same fear for a friend. The complete gruesomeness of the war is hidden apart from the odd spray of blood which is not what the troops had to face. I think there are different opinions on whether they are appropriate or not. And they definitely influence people views on war, turning them into a sort of entertainment! I think there is an appropriate age limit on these type of games but barely any even apply in peoples heads, all they see is they are killing people for fun. I myself play of Call of Duty, which incorporates War into its gaming, killing people and thinking nothing about it for entertainment which sounds shocking when you think about the historical events that has just passes, making them seem less dramatic which is not appropriate.

6. How accurate are modern video games in their depiction of WW2? Below are two links, one of modern day gaming footage from Call of Duty 5 (World at War), and the other is a real life clip. Look how Call of Duty has accurate guns, historical footage but no footage of emotional factors. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4N4c6s3o_s Call of Duty Real life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg6YFOK121Y

7. By Tom Bolton