all fronts. This was supported by Americans as it brought upon them a sense of security and the 3.6% GDP they were contributing to was a large decrease from the whopping amounts of capital being spent during WWII that exceeded 41%, before decreasing to 10% during the Cold War and for about two more decades after, including the Vietnam War, before beginning to decrease in the 1970s down to 6%, then 5.5% in 1979 before beginning to steadily incline once again. After 2001, though, and the September 11 terrorist attacks, defense spending spiked again, peaking at 5.7% in 2010. Russian Empire: 21% French Third Republic: 27% British Empire: 39% German Empire: 43% Empire of Japan: 55% See also List of countries by military expenditures Past military expenditure by country List of countries by military expenditure per capita Arms industry History of military technology Military–industrial complex List of countries by Global Militarization Index References External links Government budgets Budget