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{{sidebar military conflict
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Rising from the ashes of the [[Eugenics Wars]] of the mid-[[1990s]], the era of '''World War III''' was a period of global [[conflicts|conflict]] on [[Earth]] that eventually escalated into a [[atomic bomb|nuclear]] [[nuclear holocaust|cataclysm]] and [[genocide|genocidal]] war over issues that included [[genetic engineering|genetic manipulation]] and [[Human]] genome enhancement. World War III itself ultimately lasted from [[2026]] through [[2053]], and resulted in the death of some 600 million Humans. By that time, many of the planet's major cities and governments had also been destroyed. ({{ENT|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II}}; {{film|8}}; {{VOY|In the Flesh}})
  
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|conflict name = World War III
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|part of =
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|image =
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|image2 =
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|twoimg =
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|size =
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|caption =
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|caption2 =
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|date = [[2026]]–[[2053]]
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|location = [[Earth]]
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|result = [[Cease fire]]<br />
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*Six hundred million people are killed<br />
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*Most of Earth's major cities are destroyed<br />
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*A group of [[First Saved|people]] and the [[White Church|East Fork Presbyterian Church]] are transported to [[Terralysium]] by [[Gabrielle Burnham|the Red Angel]]
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<!-- combatant 1 -->
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|combatant1 = [[United States of America]]
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|commander1 =
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|strength1 =
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|losses1 =
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<!-- combatant 2 -->
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|combatant2 = [[Eastern Coalition]]
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|commander2 =
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|strength2 =
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|losses2 =
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}}
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[[File:Soldiers, 2053.jpg|thumb|Soldiers during a nuclear attack in Indiana in 2053]]
   
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{{aquote|In the shadow of this incalculable devastation, we find ourselves facing a colossal challenge. There's an entire world to rebuild. Not only our cities and homes, but mankind itself!|[[Colonel]] [[Phillip Green]]|2056|Demons}}
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[[Image:Q 21st Soldier.jpg|thumb|[[Q]], as a soldier of one of the armies of World War III.]]
  
  +
'''World War III''' ([[2026]] &ndash; [[2053]]) was the last of [[Earth]]'s three world wars. <!--this doesn't seem important enough to point out, but in case anyone is wondering, it's ENT:Judgement that makes it clear there were only three--> The [[conflicts|conflict]] involved [[atomic bomb|nuclear]] [[nuclear holocaust|cataclysm]] as well as [[genocide]] and [[eco-terrorism]]. ({{film|8}}; {{DIS|New Eden}}; {{ENT|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II}}; {{TOS|The Savage Curtain}}) The [[post-atomic horror]] superseding the war lingered as late as [[2079]]. ({{TNG|Encounter at Farpoint}})
⚫
The war was fought in an era where various factions were known to control their [[military]] with [[narcotic]]s. ({{TNG|Encounter at Farpoint}}) Among the parties involved was the [[Eastern Coalition]] (also referred to as "the ECON"), whose direct attacks included those against the [[United States of America]]. ({{film|8}}) In 2026, at the start of the war, [[Colonel]] [[Phillip Green]] led a faction of [[ecoterrorism|eco-terrorists]] that was ultimately responsible for the loss of 37 million lives. ({{TOS|Bread and Circuses|The Savage Curtain}}; {{ENT|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II}})
  
   
  +
The war started in [[2026]] over the issue of [[genetic engineering|genetic manipulation]] and [[Human]] [[genome]] enhancement, and lasted until approximately [[2053]]. It resulted in the death of some six hundred million Humans. By the end, most of the major cities had been destroyed and there were few governments left. ({{ENT|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II}}; {{film|8}}; {{DIS|New Eden}}; {{VOY|In the Flesh}})
⚫
:''Some of this information, such as when the war started and its basic causes, comes from an [[:Image:Historical archive, Starfleet (production resource).jpg|historical archive]] screen seen in "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II". The death toll matches the "despotic" deaths mentioned by [[Spock]] in "Bread and Circuses" as being from WWIII. See the [[Eugenics Wars]] for a discussion of Spock's comment on the "last so-called world war" from "Space Seed."''
  
   
  +
Prior to the war, in [[1968]], when a [[Time travel|time-displaced]] {{Captain}} [[James T. Kirk]] was trying to reason on whether or not he should trust [[Gary Seven]] to stop a [[nuclear weapon]], Seven warned Kirk that if he didn't allow Seven to stop the weapon, World War III would commence then. ({{TOS|Assignment: Earth}}) The [[Eugenics Wars]] of 1992-1996 in which thirty-seven million died were also, at times, referred to as World War III. ({{TOS|Space Seed|Bread and Circuses}})
−
[[Image:Phillip_Green,_TOS.jpg|thumb|left|Colonel Green as recreated by the [[Excalbian]]s in 2269]]
  
⚫
Colonel Green's activities during the war are often cited as "genocidal" and treacherous. He and his troops personally killed hundreds of thousands of individuals affected with [[radiation sickness]] and other "impurities," using as a rationale that it was necessary in order to prevent their passing on such traits to later generations. ({{ENT|Demons|Terra Prime}}) He was notorious into the [[23rd century]] for striking at his enemies in the midst of negotiating with them. ({{TOS|The Savage Curtain}})
 
   
  +
== History ==
−
Despite an escalating and ongoing global conflict, manned space exploration continued into the early [[2030]]s with at least one mission to [[Mars]]. ({{VOY|One Small Step}}) The [[New United Nations]] was also founded during these early years of World War III, and was among the first attempts to rebuild humanity during this era; for instance, by [[2036]], it had declared that no Human being would be held accountable "for the crimes of their race or forebearers." But not everyone would heed or respect this decree and some parts of world would later "abolish all United Earth nonsense." ({{TNG|Encounter at Farpoint}})
  
  ⚫
[[File:Q 21st Soldier.jpg|thumb|[[Q]], dressed as a soldier of one of the armies of World War III and using a retractable stimulant dispenser]]
  ⚫
World War III was fought in an era where various factions were known to control their [[military]] with [[narcotic]]s. ({{TNG|Encounter at Farpoint}}) Among the parties involved was the [[Eastern Coalition]] (also referred to as "the ECON"), whose direct attacks included those against the [[United States of America]]. ({{film|8}}) In 2026, at the start of the war, [[Colonel]] [[Phillip Green]] led a faction of [[ecoterrorism|eco-terrorists]] that was responsible for the loss of thirty-seven million lives. Green continued to be active several years after the war ended. ({{TOS|Bread and Circuses|The Savage Curtain}}; {{ENT|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II|Demons}})
  ⚫
{{bginfo|Green might have been the one instigating the war, as in "The Savage Curtain" he was introduced as having "led" a genocidal war in the early 21st century.|Some of this information, such as when the war started and its basic causes, comes from [[:File:Historical archive, Starfleet (production resource).jpg|an historical archive screen]] in "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II". The initial death toll matches the "despotic" deaths mentioned by [[Spock]] in "Bread and Circuses" as being from WWIII. See the [[Eugenics Wars]] for a discussion of Spock's comment on the "last so-called world war" from "Space Seed."}}
   
−
[[Image:Phillip Green, ENT.jpg|thumb|Colonel Green in 2055]]
 +
[[File:Phillip Green, 2269.jpg|thumb|left|Colonel {{dis|Phillip Green|Excalbian|Green}} as recreated by the [[Excalbian]]s in 2269]]
  ⚫
Colonel Green's activities during the war were often cited as "genocidal" and treacherous. He and his troops personally killed hundreds of thousands of individuals affected with [[radiation sickness]] and other "impurities," using as a rationale that it was necessary in order to prevent their passing on such traits to later generations. ({{ENT|Demons|Terra Prime}}) He was notorious into the [[23rd century]] for striking at his enemies in the midst of negotiating with them. ({{TOS|The Savage Curtain}})
−
Humanity eventually turned over a new leaf when a few courageous people began to realize they could make a difference. ({{ENT|Judgment}}) The war finally culminated circa 2053, when several of Earth's governments met in [[San Francisco]] to declare a cease-fire, effectively ending the war. ({{ENT|Demons}}) As a result of this world war, like the two that came before it, whole generations were nearly wiped out. ({{ENT|Judgment}}) The subsequent use of nuclear weapons engulfed Earth with a immense dust cloud, which ultimately resulted in numerous [[nuclear winter]]s. ({{TNG|A Matter of Time}}) When it was over, Earth was irradiated with a detectably-heightened amount of [[radioactive]] [[isotope]]s in the [[atmosphere]]. ({{film|8}})
 
   
  +
Despite an escalating and ongoing global conflict, manned space exploration continued at least into the [[2030]]s, for example the ''[[Ares IV]]'' mission to [[Mars]] in [[2032]] and the launch of the ''[[Charybdis]]'' in [[2037]], Humanity's first mission to leave the [[Sol system]]. ({{TNG|The Royale}}; {{VOY|One Small Step}})
⚫
[[2055|Two years later]], Colonel Green gave an impassioned speech asking for the impure to once again be purged from society. ({{ENT|Demons}})
 
   
−
[[Image:PostAtomicHorrorTrial.jpg|thumb|left|A trial in an area heavily affected by World War III]]
 +
[[File:World War III.jpg|thumb|People seeking refuge in a church in Richmond, Indiana during a nuclear attack in 2053]]
  +
In [[2053]], [[jet]]s dropped [[atomic weapon|nuclear bombs]] near [[Richmond, Indiana]]. [[First Saved|A group of people]] that took [[refugee|refuge]] in the [[East Fork Presbyterian Church]] located there were saved, along with their [[church]], when it was transported to [[Terralysium]] by a [[time travel]]ing [[Gabrielle Burnham]] using the [[Red Angel]] suit. The rescued built a colony called [[New Eden]] and thought that they were saved by extraterrestrial [[angel]]s, a belief they passed on to their descendants. ({{DIS|New Eden}})
⚫
In [[2063]], a short time after Earth emerged from this global war, [[first contact]] was made with the [[Vulcan]]s, leading to increased recovery from the war for parts of the world. ({{film|8}}) When news of this event reached [[Vulcan (planet)|Vulcan]], some Vulcans, including [[V'Lar]], were fascinated by humanity, but also worried, believing the idea that Humans had deemed themselves ready to join the interstellar community, so soon after the war, seemed premature. ({{ENT|Fallen Hero}}) Indeed, for several years after first contact, various parts of Earth were still affected by what became known as the "[[post-atomic horror]]." In [[2079]], for instance, one such culture reverted to a state of near-barbarism that followed the credo: "[Kill] all the lawyers," and "[Guilty] until proven innocent." ({{TNG|Encounter at Farpoint}}) Due to these and other factors, parts of Earth continued to be in &ndash; as Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard]] put it in [[2365]] &ndash; "chaos" well into the early 22nd century. ({{TNG|Up The Long Ladder}})
 
  +
{{clear}}
   
  +
==Aftermath and legacy==
−
The post-atomic horror gave way to the stirrings of new attempts at establishing various unified world alliances, including the [[European Hegemony]] in [[2123]]. ({{TNG|Up The Long Ladder}}) These alliances would eventually be instrumental in the establishment of the [[United Earth Government]] in [[2150]]. ({{TNG|Attached}})
 
  +
The war ended with a [[cease fire]]. ({{ENT|Demons}}) Earth's [[atmosphere]] continued to contain [[radioactive isotope]]s indicative of the conflict a decade later. ({{film|8}})
   
  +
[[File:Phillip Green, 2056.jpg|thumb|left|Colonel Green in 2056]]
⚫
By the early [[2100s]] &ndash; less than two generations of the post-atomic horror &ndash; humanity was finally able to eliminate most all poverty, disease, war and hunger. Along with it a lot of other things disappeared from humanity, including hopelessness, despair, and cruelty. ({{TNG|Time's Arrow, Part II}}; {{film|8}}; {{ENT|Broken Bow}})
  
  ⚫
[[2056|Three years]] after the cease-fire, Colonel Green was recorded giving an impassioned speech, asking for the impure to be purged from society. ({{ENT|Demons}})
   
  ⚫
Approximately ten years after the end of the war, in [[2063]], [[First Contact]] was made with the Vulcans. The realization that Humans were not alone in the universe united Humanity in a way no one ever thought possible, and within fifty years, less than two [[generation]]s after the post-atomic horror, Humanity was finally able to eliminate [[poverty]], [[disease]], [[war]], and [[hunger]]. Along with poverty, a lot of other things disappeared from Humanity, including hopelessness, despair, and cruelty. ({{TNG|Time's Arrow, Part II}}; {{film|8}}; {{ENT|Broken Bow|Demons}})
⚫
The legacy of the war was felt in many ways during the hundred years after its conclusion. It was the subject of many films during that time, and in [[2153]] one of these epics won a majority of [[movie awards]]. ({{ENT|Home}}) In the early [[22nd century]], the philosophy of [[Neo-Transcendentalism]] was founded by [[Liam Dieghan]]; he advocated "a return to a simpler life" in response to the war's carnage. ({{TNG|Up The Long Ladder}}) The war additionally influenced the powerful [[xenophobia|xenophobic]] movement of the mid-[[22nd century]] on Earth known as [[Terra Prime]]. Led by [[John Frederick Paxton]], the organization drew inspiration from the war through adoption of Colonel Green's goals and teachings concerning a "pure" Human race. It also blamed the Vulcans for not stopping the war with their superior technology, and thereby saving the lives of hundreds of millions of people. This blame was then channeled into a general distrust of all non-Humans. ({{ENT|Demons|Terra Prime}})
  
  +
  +
[[File:PostAtomicHorrorTrial.jpg|thumb|A trial during the post-atomic horror]]
  ⚫
When news of the Vulcan contact reached {{dis|Vulcan|planet}}, some Vulcans, including [[V'Lar]], were fascinated by Humanity, but also worried, believing the idea that Humans had deemed themselves ready to join the interstellar community, so soon after the war, seemed premature. ({{ENT|Fallen Hero}}) Indeed, for several years after first contact, various parts of Earth were still affected by what became known as the "[[post-atomic horror]]." In [[2079]], one such culture reverted to a state of near-barbarism that followed the credo "[[kill]] all the lawyers," and "guilty until proven innocent." ({{TNG|Encounter at Farpoint}}) Due to these and other factors, parts of Earth continued to be in &ndash; as Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard]] put it in [[2365]] &ndash; "chaos" well into the early [[22nd century]]. ({{TNG|Up The Long Ladder}})
  +
  +
[[File:Terra Prime logo.png|thumb|left|Terra Prime's philosophy drew on Colonel Green's views]]
  +
The legacy of the war was felt in many ways during the hundred years after its conclusion. It was the subject of many [[film|movies]] during that time and, in [[2153]], one of these [[epic]]s swept the [[Medals and awards|awards]]. ({{ENT|Home}})
  +
  +
In the early 22nd century, the [[Neo-Transcendentalist]] movement was founded by [[Liam Dieghan]]; he advocated "''a return to a simpler life''" in response to the war's carnage. ({{TNG|Up The Long Ladder}})
  +
  ⚫
The war additionally influenced a powerful [[xenophobic]] movement of mid-22nd century Earth known as [[Terra Prime]]. Led by [[John Frederick Paxton]], the organization drew inspiration from the war through adoption of Colonel Green's goals and teachings concerning a "pure" Human race. It also blamed the Vulcans for not stopping the war with their superior technology, and thereby saving the lives of hundreds of millions of people. This blame was then channeled into a general distrust of all non-Humans. ({{ENT|Demons|Terra Prime}})
   
 
In [[2372]], [[Admiral]] [[Leyton]] described the threat of the [[Founder]]s of the [[Dominion]] infiltrating Earth and its facilities as being "maybe the greatest danger it's faced since the last world war." ({{DS9|Homefront}})
  
In [[2372]], [[Admiral]] [[Leyton]] described the threat of the [[Founder]]s of the [[Dominion]] infiltrating Earth and its facilities as being "maybe the greatest danger it's faced since the last world war." ({{DS9|Homefront}})
   
−
{{Earthwars}}
 +
{{Earth wars}}
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==Background==
  
⚫
[[Image:World War III flag.png|thumb|A flag seen in the mirror universe]]
  
⚫
Following [[Miles O'Brien]] and [[Kira Nerys]] visit to [[San Francisco]] during an [[alternate timeline|alternate]] [[2048]] (where the [[Bell Riots]] had not occurred) in {{DS9|Past Tense, Part II}}, O'Brien had noted that ''that'' was "''not the mid-21st century that [he] had read about in school,''" adding "''[[Human history|Earth history]] had its rough patches, but never ''that'' rough.''" It would be interesting to know what O'Brien saw that was more "rough" than a nuclear war responsible for 600 million casualties.
 
   
  +
== Appendices ==
⚫
Like the [[Earth-Romulan War]], very few details have been presented in ''Star Trek'' on this event. In {{y|1996}}, World War III received a [[Trekker's Choice Awards|Trekker's Choice Award]] for the 'Oft Heard but Never Seen' Award, as being "the favorite historical moment only alluded to in Star Trek."
 
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=== Appearances ===
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<div class="appear">
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*{{DIS|New Eden}}
  +
</div>
   
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=== References ===
⚫
According to the [[40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection]] auction catalogue, during the middle of [[ENT Season 4]], plans were in place for an episode to feature Colonel Green. It was planned to link [[Q]]'s World War III uniform to the Colonel by having the emblem on Q's hood appear on flags representing Green. Such a flag was created for {{e|In a Mirror, Darkly}}, and seen in the [[briefing room]] aboard the {{ISS|Enterprise|NX-01}}. When ''Enterprise'' was canceled, plans for the episode fell through and all that remains of the link between Q's uniform and Colonel Green is the flag seen in the [[mirror universe]].
  
  +
<div class="appear">
  ⚫
*{{s|TOS}}
  +
**{{e|Space Seed}}
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**{{e|Bread and Circuses}}
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**{{e|Assignment: Earth}}
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**{{e|The Savage Curtain}}
  +
*{{s|TNG}}
  +
**{{e|Encounter at Farpoint}}
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**{{e|Up The Long Ladder}}
  +
*{{DS9|Homefront}}
  +
*{{VOY|In the Flesh}}
  +
*{{s|ENT}}
  +
**{{e|Judgment}}
  +
**{{e|Home}}
  +
**{{e|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II}} {{small|(mentioned only on a data screen)}}
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**{{e|Demons}}
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**{{e|Terra Prime}}
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* {{Star Trek films}}:
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** {{Film|8}}
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</div>
   
  ⚫
=== Background information ===
⚫
==External links==
  
  +
During development of {{TOS|The Corbomite Maneuver}}, World War III was alluded to as a potential result of the [[Sino-Western trouble]]. Although not referred to in the final draft of the script (dated {{d|3|May|1966}}), the war was addressed by [[NBC]] executive [[Stanley Robertson]] in a letter he wrote about the first revised final draft of the teleplay and sent to [[Gene Roddenberry]] on [[17 May]] 1966. In that letter, Robertson stated, "''As we discussed, a suggestion would be that on Page 48 of this draft, it be made pointedly clear that there was no 'World War III' between the Sino-Western powers. Let's keep emphasizing with our writers, as we know you have been, that this is a topic we'd like to avoid.''" In the second revised final draft of the script (dated [[20 May]] 1966) and a [[deleted scene]] from "The Corbomite Maneuver", World War III was referred to as having been averted, in the outcome of the Sino-Western trouble. ("Inside the Roddenberry Vault, Part I", ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series - The Roddenberry Vault]]'' special features)
⚫
* {{NCwiki}}
  
  +
  ⚫
In {{DS9|Past Tense, Part II}}, following [[Kira Nerys]] and [[Miles O'Brien]]'s visit to [[San Francisco]] during an [[alternate timeline|alternate]] [[2048]] (where the [[Bell Riots]] had not occurred), O'Brien noted that ''that'' was "''not the mid-21st century that [he] had read about in school,''" adding, "''[[Human history|Earth history]] had its rough patches, but never ''that'' rough.''" It might be interesting to know what O'Brien saw that was more "rough" than a nuclear war responsible for six hundred million casualties.
  +
  ⚫
Like the [[Earth-Romulan War]], very few details have been presented in ''[[Star Trek]]'' on World War III. In {{y|1996}}, this event received a [[Trekker's Choice Awards|Trekker's Choice Award]] for the '[[Talk:World War III/references|Oft Heard but Never Seen]]' Award, as being "the favorite historical moment only alluded to in ''Star Trek''."
  +
  +
Also likely linked to this war are the multiple [[nuclear winter]]s Earth was said to have seen in its [[21st century]] in {{e|A Matter of Time}}. Furthermore, in {{e|Judgment}}, Archer talks about thousands of years of Human conflict, and its three world wars in specific, saying that whole generations were nearly wiped out. However, he does not make it explicit that this happened in World War III.
  +
  ⚫
[[File:World War III flag.png|thumb|A flag seen in the mirror universe]]
  ⚫
According to the ''[[40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection]]'' auction catalog, during the middle of [[ENT Season 4]], plans were in place for an episode to feature Colonel Green. It was planned to link [[Q]]'s World War III uniform to the colonel by having the emblem on Q's hood appear on flags representing Green. Such a flag was created for {{e|In a Mirror, Darkly}}, and seen in the [[briefing room]] aboard the {{ISS|Enterprise|NX-01}}. When ''Enterprise'' was canceled, plans for the episode fell through and all that remains of the link between Q's uniform and Colonel Green is the flag seen in the [[mirror universe]].
  +
  +
In an early script of {{film|8}}, upon seeing [[Beverly Crusher]]'s new [[tricorder|more advanced]] scanner, a doctor wondered if it was [[Japanese]].
  +
  ⚫
=== External links ===
  +
* {{mbeta|World War III}}
 
* {{wikipedia}}
  
* {{wikipedia}}
 
* {{wikipedia|World War III in popular culture}}
  
* {{wikipedia|World War III in popular culture}}
  +
−
{{featured}}
  
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{{featured|date=February 2009|id=926760}}
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[[Category:Earth conflicts]]
  
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[[de:Dritter Weltkrieg]]
  
[[de:Dritter Weltkrieg]]
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[[es:Tercera Guerra Mundial]]
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[[fr:Troisième Guerre Mondiale]]
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[[Category:Earth conflicts]]

Latest revision as of 23:45, 3 November 2020

Soldiers during a nuclear attack in Indiana in 2053

"In the shadow of this incalculable devastation, we find ourselves facing a colossal challenge. There's an entire world to rebuild. Not only our cities and homes, but mankind itself!"

World War III (2026 – 2053) was the last of Earth's three world wars. The conflict involved nuclear cataclysm as well as genocide and eco-terrorism. (Star Trek: First Contact; DIS: "New Eden"; ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II"; TOS: "The Savage Curtain") The post-atomic horror superseding the war lingered as late as 2079. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")

The war started in 2026 over the issue of genetic manipulation and Human genome enhancement, and lasted until approximately 2053. It resulted in the death of some six hundred million Humans. By the end, most of the major cities had been destroyed and there were few governments left. (ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II"; Star Trek: First Contact; DIS: "New Eden"; VOY: "In the Flesh")

Prior to the war, in 1968, when a time-displaced Captain James T. Kirk was trying to reason on whether or not he should trust Gary Seven to stop a nuclear weapon, Seven warned Kirk that if he didn't allow Seven to stop the weapon, World War III would commence then. (TOS: "Assignment: Earth") The Eugenics Wars of 1992-1996 in which thirty-seven million died were also, at times, referred to as World War III. (TOS: "Space Seed", "Bread and Circuses")

History

Q, dressed as a soldier of one of the armies of World War III and using a retractable stimulant dispenser

World War III was fought in an era where various factions were known to control their military with narcotics. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint") Among the parties involved was the Eastern Coalition (also referred to as "the ECON"), whose direct attacks included those against the United States of America. (Star Trek: First Contact) In 2026, at the start of the war, Colonel Phillip Green led a faction of eco-terrorists that was responsible for the loss of thirty-seven million lives. Green continued to be active several years after the war ended. (TOS: "Bread and Circuses", "The Savage Curtain"; ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II", "Demons")

Green might have been the one instigating the war, as in "The Savage Curtain" he was introduced as having "led" a genocidal war in the early 21st century.
Some of this information, such as when the war started and its basic causes, comes from an historical archive screen in "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II". The initial death toll matches the "despotic" deaths mentioned by Spock in "Bread and Circuses" as being from WWIII. See the Eugenics Wars for a discussion of Spock's comment on the "last so-called world war" from "Space Seed."

Colonel Green as recreated by the Excalbians in 2269

Colonel Green's activities during the war were often cited as "genocidal" and treacherous. He and his troops personally killed hundreds of thousands of individuals affected with radiation sickness and other "impurities," using as a rationale that it was necessary in order to prevent their passing on such traits to later generations. (ENT: "Demons", "Terra Prime") He was notorious into the 23rd century for striking at his enemies in the midst of negotiating with them. (TOS: "The Savage Curtain")

Despite an escalating and ongoing global conflict, manned space exploration continued at least into the 2030s, for example the Ares IV mission to Mars in 2032 and the launch of the Charybdis in 2037, Humanity's first mission to leave the Sol system. (TNG: "The Royale"; VOY: "One Small Step")

People seeking refuge in a church in Richmond, Indiana during a nuclear attack in 2053

In 2053, jets dropped nuclear bombs near Richmond, Indiana. A group of people that took refuge in the East Fork Presbyterian Church located there were saved, along with their church, when it was transported to Terralysium by a time traveling Gabrielle Burnham using the Red Angel suit. The rescued built a colony called New Eden and thought that they were saved by extraterrestrial angels, a belief they passed on to their descendants. (DIS: "New Eden")

Aftermath and legacy

The war ended with a cease fire. (ENT: "Demons") Earth's atmosphere continued to contain radioactive isotopes indicative of the conflict a decade later. (Star Trek: First Contact)

Colonel Green in 2056

Three years after the cease-fire, Colonel Green was recorded giving an impassioned speech, asking for the impure to be purged from society. (ENT: "Demons")

Approximately ten years after the end of the war, in 2063, First Contact was made with the Vulcans. The realization that Humans were not alone in the universe united Humanity in a way no one ever thought possible, and within fifty years, less than two generations after the post-atomic horror, Humanity was finally able to eliminate poverty, disease, war, and hunger. Along with poverty, a lot of other things disappeared from Humanity, including hopelessness, despair, and cruelty. (TNG: "Time's Arrow, Part II"; Star Trek: First Contact; ENT: "Broken Bow", "Demons")

A trial during the post-atomic horror

When news of the Vulcan contact reached Vulcan, some Vulcans, including V'Lar, were fascinated by Humanity, but also worried, believing the idea that Humans had deemed themselves ready to join the interstellar community, so soon after the war, seemed premature. (ENT: "Fallen Hero") Indeed, for several years after first contact, various parts of Earth were still affected by what became known as the "post-atomic horror." In 2079, one such culture reverted to a state of near-barbarism that followed the credo "kill all the lawyers," and "guilty until proven innocent." (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint") Due to these and other factors, parts of Earth continued to be in – as Captain Jean-Luc Picard put it in 2365 – "chaos" well into the early 22nd century. (TNG: "Up The Long Ladder")

Terra Prime's philosophy drew on Colonel Green's views

The legacy of the war was felt in many ways during the hundred years after its conclusion. It was the subject of many movies during that time and, in 2153, one of these epics swept the awards. (ENT: "Home")

In the early 22nd century, the Neo-Transcendentalist movement was founded by Liam Dieghan; he advocated "a return to a simpler life" in response to the war's carnage. (TNG: "Up The Long Ladder")

The war additionally influenced a powerful xenophobic movement of mid-22nd century Earth known as Terra Prime. Led by John Frederick Paxton, the organization drew inspiration from the war through adoption of Colonel Green's goals and teachings concerning a "pure" Human race. It also blamed the Vulcans for not stopping the war with their superior technology, and thereby saving the lives of hundreds of millions of people. This blame was then channeled into a general distrust of all non-Humans. (ENT: "Demons", "Terra Prime")

In 2372, Admiral Leyton described the threat of the Founders of the Dominion infiltrating Earth and its facilities as being "maybe the greatest danger it's faced since the last world war." (DS9: "Homefront")

Earth wars prior to the Federation
Crusades • American Revolution • American Civil War • World War I • World War II • Brush Wars • Earth Cold War • Eugenics Wars • World War III • Earth-Kzin Wars • Xindi incident • Earth-Romulan War

Appendices

Appearances

References

Background information

During development of TOS: "The Corbomite Maneuver", World War III was alluded to as a potential result of the Sino-Western trouble. Although not referred to in the final draft of the script (dated 3 May 1966), the war was addressed by NBC executive Stanley Robertson in a letter he wrote about the first revised final draft of the teleplay and sent to Gene Roddenberry on 17 May 1966. In that letter, Robertson stated, "As we discussed, a suggestion would be that on Page 48 of this draft, it be made pointedly clear that there was no 'World War III' between the Sino-Western powers. Let's keep emphasizing with our writers, as we know you have been, that this is a topic we'd like to avoid." In the second revised final draft of the script (dated 20 May 1966) and a deleted scene from "The Corbomite Maneuver", World War III was referred to as having been averted, in the outcome of the Sino-Western trouble. ("Inside the Roddenberry Vault, Part I", Star Trek: The Original Series - The Roddenberry Vault special features)

In DS9: "Past Tense, Part II", following Kira Nerys and Miles O'Brien's visit to San Francisco during an alternate 2048 (where the Bell Riots had not occurred), O'Brien noted that that was "not the mid-21st century that [he] had read about in school," adding, "Earth history had its rough patches, but never that rough." It might be interesting to know what O'Brien saw that was more "rough" than a nuclear war responsible for six hundred million casualties.

Like the Earth-Romulan War, very few details have been presented in Star Trek on World War III. In 1996, this event received a Trekker's Choice Award for the 'Oft Heard but Never Seen' Award, as being "the favorite historical moment only alluded to in Star Trek."

Also likely linked to this war are the multiple nuclear winters Earth was said to have seen in its 21st century in "A Matter of Time". Furthermore, in "Judgment", Archer talks about thousands of years of Human conflict, and its three world wars in specific, saying that whole generations were nearly wiped out. However, he does not make it explicit that this happened in World War III.

A flag seen in the mirror universe

According to the 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection auction catalog, during the middle of ENT Season 4, plans were in place for an episode to feature Colonel Green. It was planned to link Q's World War III uniform to the colonel by having the emblem on Q's hood appear on flags representing Green. Such a flag was created for "In a Mirror, Darkly", and seen in the briefing room aboard the ISS Enterprise. When Enterprise was canceled, plans for the episode fell through and all that remains of the link between Q's uniform and Colonel Green is the flag seen in the mirror universe.

In an early script of Star Trek: First Contact, upon seeing Beverly Crusher's new more advanced scanner, a doctor wondered if it was Japanese.

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