One characteristic is the use of the desolate and ruined landscapes of the war - torn areas. These settings add to the sense of horror and hopelessness. In many ww1 horror novels, the authors also show the dehumanization of the soldiers. They become almost like machines of war, numbed by the continuous violence. The novels may also include elements of the supernatural, as war often makes people believe in things beyond the normal, like ghosts of fallen comrades or omens in the battlefields.
WW2 horror novels usually blend historical facts with fictional horror elements. For example, they may incorporate real - life events such as bombings or concentration camps and add a supernatural or monstrous element to them. This combination makes the horror seem more real and grounded, as the reader can relate to the historical context. Also, the characters in these novels are often in extreme situations due to the war, which heightens the sense of horror and desperation.
One of the best is 'The Keep' by F. Paul Wilson. It combines elements of World War II with horror as the Nazis encounter an ancient and terrifying evil in a Romanian keep. The novel builds a sense of dread as the soldiers are gradually consumed by the malevolent force within the keep's walls.
One well - known ww1 horror novel is 'The Great War: A Novel of the First World War' which contains some elements that verge on horror as it shows the brutalities of the war in a very vivid and disturbing way. Another could be 'Birdsong' which, while not strictly a horror novel, has some very harrowing and terrifying scenes set during ww1 that leave a deep impact on the reader.
A great ww2 horror novel is 'The Reapers Are the Angels' by Alden Bell. Although it is set in a post - apocalyptic world that was shaped by a war that has elements reminiscent of World War II. It features a strong female lead and a world filled with zombies and other terrors.
One main theme is the insignificance of humanity. In the context of WW2, with all its destruction and chaos, the Lovecraftian elements add another layer where humans are just tiny specks in a vast, unknowable cosmos. For example, in some novels, the great powers at war are still powerless against the cosmic entities from Lovecraft's lore.
During World War 1, in the Ottoman Empire, there were tales of soldiers lost in the desolate battlefields. One such horror story was about a small unit that got separated from the main army. As night fell, they found themselves in an old, abandoned village. Strange noises started to come from the dilapidated houses. They soon realized they were not alone. Shadows seemed to move on their own, and a cold wind blew through even though there were no open spaces. One by one, the soldiers started to disappear. The last soldier left could only hear the screams of his comrades as he ran blindly through the dark, never to be seen again.
One horror story from WW2 was the Holocaust. Millions of Jews were systematically persecuted, tortured, and killed in concentration camps. Innocent people were forced into slave labor, starved, and experimented on by the Nazis. Another is the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The sudden and massive destruction, along with the long - term effects of radiation on the survivors, was truly horrifying.
Sure. 'The Exorcist' by William Peter Blatty. Although it's mainly about demonic possession, it was written in a time when the after - effects of WW2 were still lingering. The sense of evil and the battle against it in the novel can be seen as a metaphor for the fight against the horrors of the war that had just ended.
A good example could be 'The Innsmouth Legacy in WW2'. It takes the classic Lovecraftian concepts from 'The Shadow over Innsmouth' and transplants them into the chaos of World War 2. The story might involve the Nazis getting involved with the Deep Ones or other Lovecraftian entities, creating a truly horrifying scenario. The characters have to deal with not only the war but also the otherworldly threats that lurk in the shadows.