World War II
World War II was one of the most deadliest wars yet. More than 38 million people died and fighting raged in more than 50 nations around the world. Most of Europe was conquered by Nazi Germany, ruled by dictator Adolf Hitler. People fought to end Hitler's tyranny. The war in Europe began with Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939. German Nazis created a campaign of terror against minorities, but mainly against Jews. Japanese armies invaded country after country. On December 7, 1941, Japanese planes bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, causing the U.S. to enter World War II.
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Nurses and doctors needed a solution to save more solider lives. Penicillin increased the number of troops available to fight by curing normal diseases.
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Penicillin saved an estimated 12 to 15% of wounded Allied soldiers' lives. During World War II, the armed forces received 85% of the nation’s production, amounting to 231 billion units in 1945.
In World War I, the death rate from bacterial pneumonia was 18%; in World War II it fell to less than 1%. In addition to pneumonia and blood poisoning- major causes of death in hospitals, syphilis, gonorrhea, rheumatic fever, and many other diseases were treated with penicillin.
In World War I, the death rate from bacterial pneumonia was 18%; in World War II it fell to less than 1%. In addition to pneumonia and blood poisoning- major causes of death in hospitals, syphilis, gonorrhea, rheumatic fever, and many other diseases were treated with penicillin.