Many in US and Western Europe believe World War 3 likely in five to 10 years

Most Western European countries cite Russia as the most probable cause for the outbreak of war.

Eighty years since the Second World War ended, many Europeans and Americans believe a third global conflict is imminent. The war in Gaza and the one between Russia and Ukraine have contributed to the growing sense of instability and destruction.

A recent poll by YouGov conducted across six countries, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the US, revealed that between 41 per cent and 55 per cent in each country think that another World War is likely to occur within the next 5-10 years while 45 per cent of Americans had a similar view.

Nuclear weapons and death toll

Sixty eight per cent to 79 per cent of the respondents said they expected any new conflict would involve the use of nuclear weapons. Compared to any previous global conflict, 57 to 73 per cent of people believe that the Third World War would lead to greater loss of life. Twenty five per cent to 44 per cent said if another war did occur in the next five to 10 years, it would result in the death of most people.

Military preparedness

The poll revealed a sharp contrast in people's confidence in their countries being prepared in the event of a war breaking out.

Sixty six per cent of people in Italy and 89 per cent in Great Britain believe their countries will be involved in the war, however, only 16 per cent in Italy believe that their country will be able to effectively defend their country. In France, 44 per cent trust their military could effectively defend their country.

In contrast, 71 per cent of Americans have faith in their armed forces.

Source of threat

Most Western European countries cite Russia as the most probable cause for the outbreak of a war. Between 72 per cent and 82 per cent of Western Europeans believe this while 69 per cent of Americans have a similar opinion, followed by Islamic terrorism as the cause.

Europe's supposed ally, the United States, is seen by many Europeans as a potential cause of tension with Donald Trump making threats against Greenland, Canada, Panama, and his stance on Ukraine.

Spain (58 per cent), Germany (55 per cent) and France (53 per cent) see tensions between Europe and the US as a major or moderate threat to continental peace according to the poll results.

Looking back

When asked about their knowledge about the Second World War, respondents in France (72 per cent), Germany (70 per cent) and the UK (66 per cent) were the most likely to say they knew a great deal or a fair amount about the conflict.

However, only 40 per cent of respondents from Spain knew about the war.

Studying the war

Eighty two per cent to 90 per cent of respondents from both Western Europe and America believe it is very important that the Second World War is taught in school.

Between 72 per cent and 87 per cent said the events of the conflict and those leading up to it are still relevant today.

Another Holocaust?

Thirty one per cent of Spaniards and 52 per cent of Americans across all six countries said they thought it was possible that “crimes like those committed by the Nazi regime in Germany in the 1930s and 40s” could happen in their own country, during their lifetime.

When asked if they thought Nazi-style crimes could be committed in "another western European country," 44 per cent to 59 per cent of the respondents said yes.

Forty four per cent to 60 per cent, including 52 per cent Americans, also said such a scenario was possible in the US .

Preserving peace

Since the end of the Second World War, 52 per cent to 66 per cent of the respondents from all the six countries believed NATO has done the most to preserve peace while 44 per cent to 60 per cent said United Nations contributed a "great deal" or "fair amount".

Forty five per cent to 56 per cent of Western Europeans and Americans believed the European Union was established with the goal of creating peace in Europe and preventing conflict.