World War III

For the TV story of the same name, see World War Three.

World War III was a nickname given on Earth to a potential nuclear war. The Doctor prevented this war from breaking out on several occasions. (DW: The Mind of Evil, Robot) Adam Mitchell said he nearly caused World War III, when, in the late 1990s, he hacked into American Department of Defense computers. (DW: Dalek) The Slitheen set about trying to deliberately cause World War III so that they could make use of Earth's radioactive remains. (DW: Aliens of London / World War Three)

Mention of World War V, which happened prior to 5000 (DW: The Talons of Weng-Chiang) indicate that World War III did occur at some point in Earth's history.

Alternative timelines

In one timeline, Shura, a 22nd century anti-Dalek resistance fighter from the traveled back to the late 20th century and set off a Dalekanium bomb, which destroyed Auderly House and indirectly, as various global factions accused each other. The accusations ended in the start of World War III. In the aftermath of the nuclear war, the Daleks appeared, ruled over the survivors and created Shura's past. However, he un-did the damage by ensuring that when the bomb went off, the delegates had left safely. (DW: Day of the Daleks)