They mention in the books that Grindelwald was the "Dark Lord" before Voldemort, and that Dumbledore was the one to stop him by taking the Elder Wand in a fair duel.
What I couldn't find was the specifics on the rise of the dark wizard Grindelwald, and the devastation he caused. So here goes with my question:
How bad (numerically by deaths) was Grindelwald's reign of terror compared to Voldemort's?
Answer
After much researching I haven't found an exact figure related to how many people Grindelwald killed or even imprisoned in Nurmengard. However, there was a line from wikia - Gellert Grindelwald
He had absolutely no complaints about the murder of hundreds of innocent people who, from his perspective, were lesser than he
This, however, doesn't confirm explicitly that he murdered them himself, potentially his followers could have committed these crimes. Yet if it was him it does at least offer some indication as to how many people he killed.
To reinforce the above quote there is also another from Dumbledore:
"People were dying and he seemed unstoppable, and I had to do what I could." —Albus Dumbledore
This does confirm as we know that people were dying under Grindelwald's reign of terror. Albeit not offering up a figure.
In interviews with JKR there are hints and suggestions, as well as being noted by other people who have answered this question that Grindelwald had been one of Hitler's allies. Thereby potentially placing the number of deaths that he was involved in into millions.
Grindelwald terrorised all of Europe
There is evidence that indicates that Grindelwald wished to be more of a ruler than a murderer.
Firstly
He was not a wanton killer or torturer, but he and his followers (in a single-minded and unpopular quest; one's allies must often be unsavoury characters) committed numerous crimes, including several known murders and eventually genocide.
Secondly
his decision to stun Gregorovitch, not kill, when he acquired the Elder Wand hints at a willingness not to kill simply as a matter of course
Thirdly
Grindelwald merely wanted to dominate and rule Muggles, whereas Voldemort wished to kill them outright, along with anyone he considered not of pure blood
Fourthly
He succeeded in creating a prison, Nurmengard, to serve as a form of containment for his enemies...Though he certainly wasn't as blatantly murderous as Voldemort
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