<P> One stark illustration of the effect of war upon economies is the Second World War . The Great Depression of the 1930s ended as nations increased their production of war materials to serve the war effort . The financial cost of World War II is estimated at about a $1.944 trillion U.S. dollars worldwide, making it the most costly war in capital as well as lives . </P> <P> Property damage in the Soviet Union inflicted after the Axis invasion was estimated to a value of 679 billion rubles . The combined damage consisted of complete or partial destruction of 1,710 cities and towns, 70,000 villages / hamlets, 2,508 church buildings, 31,850 industrial establishments, 40,000 miles of railroad, 4100 railroad stations, 40,000 hospitals, 84,000 schools, and 43,000 public libraries . </P>

How population was affected in the world war of europe