Who was the greatest murderer in human history?
History records countless leaders and rulers whose actions resulted in the deaths of millions. But if one person had to be named history’s greatest killer, who would it be? This question is complex and has multiple answers depending on historical and political conditions.
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A few names that immediately come to mind are Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin and Genghis Khan, responsible for countless deaths and mass atrocities. However, according to several studies, the Chinese leader Mao Zedong, founder of the People’s Republic of China, is considered the greatest murderer of mankind.
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Why is Mao Zedong considered the greatest killer?
From 1949 until his death in 1976, Mao ruled China and transformed it into a communist world power. To achieve this goal, he did whatever he saw fit, even if it resulted in the deaths of millions of Chinese citizens. His harsh policies led to a famine that killed an estimated 45 million people between 1958 and 1962.
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Who are the other great killers in history?
Other notable political leaders with high death tolls include Genghis Khan, who ruled Mongolia between 1206 and 1227. During his rule, the Mongol Empire grew into the largest land empire in history, albeit with a loss of approximately 40 million deaths.
For Stalin, on the other hand, the numbers are more difficult to assess, but it is estimated that the Soviet dictator’s policies resulted in the deaths of 6 to 20 million people or even more from starvation and mass executions.
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Already Adolf Hitler caused enormous suffering in Europe, especially in the Second World War. His Holocaust policies, aimed at the annihilation of Jews and other minority groups, resulted in the deaths of at least 11 million people, not counting soldiers in combat.
And the greatest killer in their own hands?
In the context of those who killed other people directly, the Finn Simo Häyhä stands out, the deadliest sniper of the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union, with an estimated 500 to 542 Soviet dead in 100 days of conflict. Colombian serial killer Luis Garavito confessed to killing about 140 children between the ages of 6 and 16 between 1992 and 1999.
Therefore, there are still several possible interpretations and answers to the question of who is the greatest murderer in history, depending on the definition and context. But it is undeniable that figures such as Mao Zedong, Genghis Khan, Adolf Hitler and Stalin have shaped history with their destructive and deadly acts.
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