Or maybe it was. There is some good reasons to believe they were one and the same. You of course need to forget the references to the 1990's, which I feel is good idea at this point anyway.The Eugenics war wasn't part of WW3 though.
Spock calls Eugeninics Wars "last of your so-called World Wars", but certainly WWIII, is the last? And if EW was major global war, why it is not numbered among world wars? Furthermore, In both 'Space Seed' and 'The Wrath of Khan' it is stated that EW was two centuries ago, but that's way closer to mid 21st century of WWIII, than late 20th century.
So some statements about the EG must clearly be wrong, so I think it is just easier to assume that WWIII and Eugenics Wars are names for one and same conflict, just as the Great War and WWI, and it took place in mid 21st century. That way we also conveniently get rid of that major alternative history angle and can still continue to pretend that Trek is our future.
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