Are We on the Brink of a Third World War? A Look at contemporary attitudes across continents
- Author: Patrick Rösing
- Estimated Reading Time: Approx. 6 minutes
Prediction Indicates High Probability of a Third Global Conflict Among Citizens - Majority of respondents believe World War III is imminent, according to survey results.
In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945, YouGov, a renowned polling institute, sought to grasp people's perspectives on World War II and potential future global conflicts. Their investigations delved into the nervousness and expectations of citizens from six nations: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
A Looming Apprehension: Is a Third World War Inevitable?
In all researched nations, a substantial portion deemed a Third World War within the next five to ten years plausible or highly likely, with France recording the highest percentage (55%) of concerned citizens. In contrast, less than half of the German populace shared the apprehension.
Respondents widely viewed the escalating tensions with Russia and Islamic extremism as threats to Europe's tranquility, with an average of 78% expressing concern over Russia and 72% pertaining to Islamic terrorism. Furthermore, 55% of German respondents identified escalating tensions with the United States as a menace to peace.
In case of conflict, Germans possess minimal faith in the Bundeswehr's ability to safeguard the nation effectively. The majority of optimists hail predominantly from the ranks of SPD supporters, who are assisted by Boris Pistorius as the Minister of Defense. Skepticism is most pervasive among AfD and BSW supporters.
When questioned about their willingness to defend a European NATO ally in the event of an attack, an average of 57% of respondents voiced their support. This figure stands highest for German respondents (65%), surpassed only by the United Kingdom.
YouGov further probed respondents' sentiment regarding the feasibility of repetitions of past Nazi atrocities during their lifetime. Europeans largely expressed confidence that such incidents wouldn't reoccur, with a notable exception being Germany. While Germans still entertain doubts, they are generally more hopeful that such events won't occur in the United States or other Western European nations.
Glimpses into the Past and the Present
YouGov posed questions regarding respondents' perspectives on their own nations' military engagements during World War II and the countries that played the most significant role in defeating Nazi Germany. While approval outweighs disapproval in the United States, Britain, and France (the Allies), the opposite is true for the former Axis powers, Germany, and Italy. Despite this, only 70% of German respondents deemed their war participation wrong.
Regarding the key contributors to the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, respondents in most countries attributed the dominant role to the United States. However, in Britain, the majority believes that their own country took the lead.
An interesting footnote: 63% of respondents worldwide answer 'no' when queried about the morality of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the only instances in which nuclear weapons have been utilized in warfare. support for these actions is highest in the United States and lowest in Germany.
Intriguingly, nearly three-quarters of respondents across all countries predict that nuclear weapons would be employed in a potential Third World War.
The UN, NATO, and the European Union: Pillars of Peace?
The survey demonstrated that the majority of Germans view NATO as the primary guarantor of peace in Europe following World War II, with 38% asserting that NATO made "very much" contributions to peacekeeping. Approximately a quarter attributed the aforementioned role to the European Union, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012. Interestingly, supporters of the AfD attribute a significantly smaller role to the EU, while supporters of the Greens value it the highest, placing it on equal footing with NATO. The United Nations (UN) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are generally considered less important players in ensuring global peace.
Historical Awareness Among Germans
With 80 years having elapsed since the end of World War II, how extensively do Germans understand the war and its aftermath? Most respondents declare some or considerable knowledge of the conflict, with men revealing a greater understanding than women.
When questioned about the significance of teaching about World War II in schools, 82% agreed that it should be part of the curriculum. However, this figure demonstrates a marked decline among AfD supporters, with only 26% expressing appreciation for its importance.
Survey Methodology: YouGov conducted polls among adult residents in the nations covered from April 2025. In Germany, 2,318 Germans were surveyed between April 4–7. In the United Kingdom, 1,622 British citizens were surveyed on April 3 and 4. In France, 1,081 citizens from France were polled between April 4 and 14, in Italy, 1,023 people from Italy were surveyed between April 4 and 16, and in Spain, 1,051 individuals from Spain were surveyed between April 4 and 10. In the United States, 1,152 Americans were surveyed between April 10 and 14.
- The polling conducted by YouGov in 2025, 80 years after Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender in 1945, explored the community policy regarding war-and-conflicts, particularly the possibility of a Third World War.
- In the context of vocational training for potential future conflicts, the majority of Germans expressed doubt in their Bundeswehr's capacity to safeguard the nation effectively, exhibiting an average willingness of 57% to defend a European NATO ally in the event of an attack.
- Significantly, a substantial portion of the researched nations, including France, viewed a Third World War within the next five to ten years as imminent, with an average of 78% expressing concern over Russia and 72% regarding Islamic terrorism as threats to Europe's tranquility.
- Policy-and-legislation discussions surrounding War-and-conflicts in 2025 revealed that the average worldwide response to the morality of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was 'no', with support for these actions being highest in the United States and lowest in Germany.
- The survey provided insights into the historical awareness among Germans, with a considerable number expressing extensive knowledge of World War II, and 82% agreeing that teaching about World War II in schools is important; however, this number showed a marked decline among AfD supporters.
