Why did civilians became targets in world war 2?

Civilians became targets in World War II due to the total war strategy adopted by many nations, where the distinction between military and civilian objectives blurred. Bombing campaigns, such as those in Germany and Japan, aimed to destroy industrial capabilities and morale, leading to significant civilian casualties. Additionally, oppressive regimes, like the Nazis, intentionally targeted specific civilian populations for extermination based on ideology, resulting in atrocities such as the Holocaust. This shift in warfare reflected a belief that undermining civilian support could hasten military victory.