10 Deadliest Wars In History

8. Chinese Civil War (China, 1927-1949): 8 Million Deaths

Returning to China for the second time, the civil war that enveloped the country between 1927 and 1949 saw 8million people lose their lives during a bloody and brutal campaign between the Kuomintang-led government of the Republic of China (KMT) and the forces of of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Arising from an ideological split between the nationalist KMT and the socialist CPC, the Chinese Civil War began when Chiang Kai-Shek's government forces launched the Northern Expedition in order to unify the nation behind the ruling classes. Although there was a 10-year quiet period from late-1937 until early-1946 as the two sides cooperated to form the Second United Front against a Japanese invasion, effectively there was non-stop fighting between 1927 and 1949 - when the newly-formed Communist People's Republic of China seized control of the country's mainland, while the Republic of China became based on the island of Taiwan. Yet both these parties claimed to be the legitimate ruling government of China. No peace treaty or armistice was ever signed - largely due to the fact both sides still claimed to be the legitimate government of China - and it is estimated that up to 3.5million of the 8million deaths were caused by atrocities committed on non-combatants by both sides, including forced conscription and unprovoked massacres.