The hidden victims: civilian casualties of the two world wars

In his latest book, which forms the basis of this lecture, Cormac O'Grada argues that previous estimates of civilian deaths in the two world wars are almost certainly too low.

By carefully evaluating the available evidence, he estimates that these wars cost not the 35 million lives commonly agreed on but, in reality, 65 million lives - nearly two thirds of the 100 million total killed. O'Grada's book is the first to attempt to measure and describe the full scale of civilian deaths from all causes including genocide, starvation, aerial bombardment and disease. As he shows, getting the numbers right is important as it enables us to argue with those who try to deny, minimise, or exaggerate wartime savagery.

Meet our speaker and chair

Cormac Ó Gráda is an economic historian and Professor Emeritus of Economics at University College Dublin. He was awarded the RIA Gold Medal in the Humanities in 2010. Several of his recent publications, on topics ranging from the origins of the Industrial Revolution to London’s last plague epidemics, have been collaborations with Morgan Kelly. His best-known books are Ireland: A New Economic History, Jewish Ireland in the Age of Joyce: A New Economic History, and Famine: A Short History. He is past Editor of the European Review of Economic History.

Eric Schneider (@ericbschneider) is Professor of Economic History in the Department of Economic History at LSE. He is currently conducting research on three broad topics in the history of health and historical economic demography.

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LSE holds a wide range of events, covering many of the most controversial issues of the day, and speakers at our events may express views that cause offence. The views expressed by speakers at LSE events do not reflect the position or views of the London School of Economics and Political Science.