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Conflict frequently reveals humanity's darkest side, causing immense suffering for both soldiers and civilians. This widespread devastation often leads people to search for explanations, though some theories are widely accepted while others remain contentious and fiercely debated.
10. Iran Deceived The United States Into Invading Iraq
The Iraq War has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Coalition troops, with Iraqi casualties potentially reaching half a million. The rise of insurgent groups like ISIS has perpetuated ongoing violence in the region, leaving little hope for peace.
Many criticize the United States' misguided decision to wage war against Iraq. While the invasion was officially justified by the search for weapons of mass destruction, theories about securing oil and gold reserves have gained significant traction. Some attribute the push for war to Ahmed Chalabi, once hailed as “The George Washington of Iraq,” who allegedly encouraged the U.S. to overthrow Saddam Hussein, his sworn enemy, and provided fabricated evidence about Iraq’s nuclear capabilities. There are claims that Chalabi may have collaborated with Iran, another target of U.S. hardliners.
Others argue that Iran orchestrated the entire scheme, with Chalabi and other defectors possibly being manipulated to advance Iran’s goals. One defector was suspected of favoring Iran’s interests over America’s, and experts identified several documents about Iraq’s nuclear program as forgeries. These documents were originally written in Farsi by an Iranian scientist and later translated into Arabic.
9. The Indo-Pakistani War Of 1971 Was A Global Conspiracy
From March to December 1971, approximately 2–3 million civilians were killed in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) during its Liberation War against Pakistan. Pakistani forces unleashed widespread violence, massacring millions and displacing countless others. The atrocities continued unchecked until India intervened on Bangladesh’s side, compelling Pakistan to surrender and acknowledge the new nation’s independence.
Sarmila Bose, a researcher at the University of Oxford, has argued that the extent of Pakistan’s wartime atrocities has been overstated. In her book, she contends that historical accounts of the conflict have been skewed and that both sides, including Bangladeshi forces, share responsibility for the violence. She defends her findings against critics who view them as a “betrayal,” asserting that they are merely resistant to uncomfortable truths.
Another report reveals that Pakistani children are taught misleading narratives during their early education. School curriculums often include conspiracy theories about the war, omitting the brutal actions of the Pakistani military. Some textbooks reference a fabricated group of 10 million Hindus in East Pakistan, allegedly spying for India to bolster its regional economic influence. Additionally, students are taught about a supposed “global conspiracy” involving India, Russia, and the United States to undermine Pakistan.
8. The Casualties Of The Yugoslav Wars Were Highly Exaggerated
In July 1995, the Srebrenica Massacre resulted in the brutal killing of more than 7,000 Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) men and boys. Additionally, over 20,000 civilians were forcibly displaced, left to survive amidst the turmoil of the collapsing Yugoslav state.
The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) ruled that the mass killings and forced expulsions constituted genocide. The United Nations acknowledged its failure to safeguard the population. Years later, in 2010, the Serbian National Assembly issued an apology for not preventing the massacre.
However, some individuals have offered alternative perspectives on the tragedy. Diana Johnstone, an American author, publicly disputed the mainstream narrative, asserting there was “no evidence whatsoever” of genocide. Although her book was rejected by Swedish publishers, it has garnered a surprising number of defenders.
Ed Hermann, another scholar, established the Srebrenica Research Group, which sought to downplay the incident and refute the conclusions of the UN and ICTY. George Bogdanich, a filmmaker with pro-Serb leanings, contributed to disseminating a revisionist account of the events, claiming the actual death toll was no more than 700.
7. Lincoln Instigated The Civil War For Personal Gain
A peculiar notion persists that the Union, led by President Abraham Lincoln and the Republicans, deliberately provoked the Civil War for personal gain, resulting in years of devastation. This theory, largely propagated by Confederate sympathizers, argues that the South was merely defending itself against Union aggression.
Lincoln’s renewed popularity, often depicted in media as a composed leader facing political resistance or even battling vampires, overlooks his controversial traits. We’ve previously reported that Lincoln frequently used racial slurs and allegedly considered relocating freed black individuals to Panama rather than integrating them into U.S. society. These lesser-known facts are often used to support this theory.
Another piece of evidence cited by theorists is Lincoln’s decision to supply Fort Sumter. Congress initially feared this move would provoke the South, but Lincoln proceeded, deeming the mission a “success.” This act is seen as a strategic move to escalate tensions, ultimately advancing his political ambitions.
An alternative theory suggests the Civil War was less about moral principles like preserving the Union or abolishing slavery and more about maintaining the substantial revenues generated by the South. Advocates point to an incident before the war where Lincoln reportedly reassured supporters of his backing for slave-catchers and bounty hunters targeting runaway slaves.
6. The Halifax Explosion Was An Act Of Sabotage
On December 6, 1917, the French munitions vessel Mont Blanc collided with the Norwegian ship Imo in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Mont Blanc caught fire as it drifted into the harbor, and moments later, it exploded catastrophically. The blast and ensuing fire killed 1,800 people instantly, injured 9,000 more (including over 200 who lost their sight permanently), and leveled 1,600 homes. Known as the Halifax Explosion, the event was later analyzed to understand the destructive power of atomic weapons.
Just three days after the tragedy, a controversial theory emerged among survivors and across Canada. Supporters claimed the Halifax Explosion was not an accident but a deliberate act of sabotage orchestrated by the Central Powers to inflict maximum casualties and damage. A local newspaper added to the speculation by reporting the arrest of 16 enemy civilians as part of a citywide sweep targeting German residents.
Suspicion also fell on the crew of the Mont Blanc, who abandoned their ship instead of trying to prevent the disaster. Many locals interpreted this as evidence that French-Canadians were unwilling to “share the burden” of the war effort.
5. The Jews Caused The Armenian Genocide
We’ve previously explored a shocking conspiracy theory suggesting that Jews were the masterminds behind the Holocaust. Surprisingly, a similar claim has been made about the Armenian Genocide.
The ethnic cleansing of Armenians by the Ottomans between 1915 and 1916 was largely overshadowed by the escalating events of World War I. Approximately 1.75 million Armenians were forcibly displaced, leading to an estimated 600,000–1,500,000 deaths due to massacres, starvation, and other atrocities.
While the Young Turks, a reformist faction within the Ottoman Empire, were widely blamed for the genocide, some theorists argue that the group was led by Jews. A 1929 book claimed that the Young Turks were primarily composed of Balkan Jews. Additionally, Emmanuel Carasso, a Jewish man, was identified as a key figure in the movement, allegedly founding a secret society within his Masonic lodge in Greece that included high-ranking Young Turks.
Another theory suggests that the mass killings were justified as a “necessary cost” to gain control over the oil-rich regions in the area. The Rothschilds were particularly interested in the oil fields of Baku, Russia, but required a route to transport these resources to the Suez Canal. To achieve this, over a million people were forcibly removed and displaced.
The Ottomans not only embraced conspiracy theories but also propagated one themselves, accusing Armenian separatists of sabotaging their war efforts. This claim even reached Imperial Germany, though it was met with skepticism.
4. World War I Was An Illuminati Plot
Catastrophes and disasters are often attributed to secret societies plotting for global control. Some historians and conspiracy theorists argue that World War I was one such event. The theory begins with the outlandish claim that the British royal family had close connections to influential Jewish businessmen. Some even believe that Queen Victoria’s children were fathered by a member of the Rothschild family.
Once this connection is established, the theory shifts focus to Europe’s unstable political climate. Germany, having emerged as a powerful nation, was seen as a threat to the New World Order’s agenda. To curb Germany’s ambitions, the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, combined with Europe’s complex alliance system, was allegedly orchestrated to ignite a global conflict.
Theorists also highlight America’s eventual involvement in the war. The sinking of the Lusitania, though not the sole catalyst for U.S. entry, allegedly advanced the goals of pro-war factions. They claim that influential banking families and economists pressured the civilian liner to transport munitions, and Winston Churchill may have been aware of this. Churchill is also accused of knowing the locations of German U-boats and recalling the Lusitania’s escort, leaving the ship defenseless and resulting in the deaths of over 1,000 passengers.
Supporters of this theory argue that the war’s conclusion and the establishment of the League of Nations marked the initial move toward a unified global government.
3. The Rape Of Nanking Never Happened
On December 13, 1937, one of the ugliest massacres in history occurred in the city of Nanking in China. Part of the growing Sino-Japanese conflict, the Rape of Nanking, as it came to be known, saw the ruthless murder of around 200,000 civilians. Many were women and children, who were raped and mutilated. The atrocity committed by the Imperial Japanese Army shamed its commanders and politicians after the end of World War II, but revisionist theories persisted in the ensuing years.
In 1971, right-wing conservatives claimed that the entire fiasco never happened. Journals such as Every Gentlemen allowed these views to circulate among the public, while some books simply advocate the absolution of Japan. It was China, they say, who was to blame for committing these atrocities.
Japan’s Ministry of Education considered the book Nanking Incident an official history text on the time period. The book reduced the casualty estimates to around 38,000–42,000 unnecessary deaths, since the “killing of captured soldiers must not be considered a massacre.”
Ishihara Shintaro, former Governor of Tokyo and member of the Japanese Diet, stated in an interview in Playboy that the Nanking Massacre never happened. “It was all made up by the Chinese . . . it was a lie.” Of course, Ishihara had also called on the Japanese government to embrace the use of nuclear weapons.
The topic remains a sensitive issue in Japan. In February 2014, Naoki Hyakuta, a senior member of the broadcasting company NHK, caused outraged indignation among aggrieved parties and historians when he publicly denied that the massacre took place. However, the Japanese government determined that his statement did not violate broadcasting laws.
2. Hitler Allegedly Prevented the Spread of Communism in Europe
In a discussion with Finnish Field Marshal Mannerheim, Adolf Hitler expressed his shock upon discovering the massive military buildup by Russia along its western frontier. He highlighted the presence of millions of soldiers, thousands of vehicles, and extensive weaponry, suggesting that Russia’s intentions went far beyond mere defensive measures.
Vladimir Rezun, a former Soviet intelligence officer who defected to Britain in 1978, published several works under the pen name Viktor Suvorov. In his 1990 book Icebreaker and subsequent writings, Rezun argued that Hitler’s concerns about Russia’s ambitions were likely justified. Drawing from his experience with the Spetsnaz and GRU, he claimed that Stalin had planned to invade Europe to impose Communism through sheer military force.
The operation was reportedly set to begin in early 1941 but faced substantial delays. By the time it was ready to start, Hitler had already initiated Operation Barbarossa. Contrary to the notion of seeking lebensraum (or “living space”) for Germany, Hitler framed the invasion as a preemptive strike to protect the West by disrupting Soviet military preparations before they could fully mobilize.
Certain unverified eyewitness testimonies have supported this theory, though they lack concrete evidence. One account describes the Wehrmacht discovering numerous supply depots, temporary airfields, tanks, and even Soviet airborne units. If accurate, these findings suggest preparations far exceeding defensive needs, making it difficult to believe Stalin was unaware of Germany’s intentions.
Although the idea of a Soviet invasion of Europe predates Rezun’s work, his publications attracted both a dedicated following and significant criticism. Despite historians highlighting numerous flaws and inaccuracies in his arguments, his provocative theory continues to hold sway in specific groups within Russia and Germany.
1. Jewish Capitalists and President Woodrow Wilson Are Blamed for Every Major Russian Catastrophe in the 20th Century
Conspiracy theorists attribute every major Russian disaster of the 20th century, including the wars and uprisings after the rise of Communism, Stalin’s purges, and deliberate famines, to the alleged influence of Jewish capitalists.
The origin of this theory traces back to a critical event during World War I: Lenin’s journey back to Russia on April 16, 1917, via a sealed train from Germany. Accompanied by his close companion, Inessa Armand, and carrying $10 million to finance the Bolshevik Revolution, the operation is widely believed to have been orchestrated by Germany to force Russia’s surrender and redirect troops to the Western Front. However, conspiracy theorists argue that Jewish capitalists and politicians across Europe and the United States were also involved in the scheme.
For example, one writer has made the controversial assertion that President Woodrow Wilson assisted Leon Trotsky, another key Communist revolutionary, in entering Russia using an American passport. Others allege that influential British figures, such as Lord Alfred Milner, funded the revolution, while wealthy families controlled significant Russian industries, particularly oil. The Rockefellers are said to have provided $750 million in loans for oil-rich properties in the Caucasus. After seizing power, Lenin reportedly transferred substantial amounts of gold bullion into the private accounts of his affluent backers.
