Heroes of the Second World War
- Leaders of World War Two Winston Churchill. (1874–1965) Churchill epitomised the British bulldog spirit. ...
- Military heroes Dwight Eisenhower (1890–1969) Supreme Allied Commander for the D-Day Landings. ...
- Spies of the Second World War Odette Sansom (1912–1995) British spy for SOE (Special Operations Executive). ...
- Heroes who resisted the Holocaust ...
- German resistance to Hitler ...
- Audie Murphy. He was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II. ...
- John Clem. At the age of 9 Clem enlisted but was rejected by the 3rd Ohio Infantry and the 22nd Michigan Infantry because of his size and age. ...
- John F. Kennedy. ...
- Help A Hero.
Who is the real hero of World War II?
US soldier Audie Leon Murphy is another well-known and very decorated American soldier due to his heroic exploits during the World War II where he served in Mediterranean and European Theater of Operations. He was only 19 years old when he was presented the Medal of Honor for his defense against German troops on January 1945.
Was World War II the worst war in human history?
World War II was the worst war in history and killed more people than any other war before. It lasted from 1939 to 1945 and starting out from Europe spread to nearly every part of the world About 17 million soldiers died during six years of the war. Even more civilians, men, women and children died from bomb attacks, illnesses or starvation.
Who was the most decorated German soldier?
Who Was The Most Decorated German Soldier Of Ww2? The German veteran Hans-Ulrich Rudel was among the highest ranked military forces in World War II as a ground combat pilot and was decorated with the Knight’s Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds among other honors. As a neo-Nazi in Latin America and West Germany following the war ...
Was World War II an unjust war?
World War II is often called “the good war,” and has been since the U.S. war on Vietnam to which it was then contrasted. World War II so dominates U.S. and therefore Western entertainment and education, that “good” often comes to mean something more than “just.”
Who are the heroes of World War II?
24 real Heroes of World War II (Part 1)Abdol Hossein Sardari.Oskar Schindler. ... Charles Joseph Coward. ... Coronel Jose Arturo Castellanos Contreras. ... Angel Sanz-Briz. ... Giorgio Perlasca. ... Raoul Wallenberg. ... Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz. Mr. ... More items...•
Who is a famous war hero?
Douglas MacArthur escape the Philippines ahead of the Japanese invaders. Pruitt single-handedly captured two machine-guns, killed two German soldiers, and then captured 40 Germans that were in a dugout. He was killed later in the engagement and received the Medal of Honor posthumously.
Who was the first hero of World War 2?
Jimmy DoolittleWith their aircraft carrier still too far out to sea and the enemy closing in, Jimmy Doolittle made a daring decision that risked pilots' lives, but notched an early victory for the U.S. in World War II.
Who were the good guys in World War 2?
In World War II, the three great Allied powers—Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union—formed a Grand Alliance that was the key to victory.
Who was the bravest man in ww2?
Desmond Doss. Desmond Doss was a fearless World War II medic who refused to carry a gun. Dubbed a "conscientious objector," he nevertheless single-handedly saved the lives of 50 to 100 American soldiers on the Maeda Escarpment of Okinawa in 1945.
Who was the best soldier ever?
John J. “Blackjack” Pershing (1860-1948) was promoted to General of the Armies during World War I, the highest rank ever held in the United States Army.
Who was the biggest hero in ww2?
Audie Leon Murphy (20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971) was an American soldier, actor, songwriter, and rancher. He was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II....Audie MurphyService/branchUnited States Army United States Army National Guard United States Army Reserve14 more rows
Who was the most famous soldier in World war 2?
After receiving the Medal of Honor, Murphy was widely celebrated as the most decorated American soldier in World War II and was featured on the cover of Life magazine. After the war, Murphy's national celebrity status brought him to the attention of Hollywood.
Who is the soldier with the most kills?
Charles Benjamin "Chuck" Mawhinney (born 1949) is a United States Marine who holds the Corps' record for the most confirmed sniper kills, having recorded 103 confirmed kills and 216 probable kills in 16 months during the Vietnam War. Lakeview, Oregon, U.S.
Did Russia win WWII?
While Westerners tend to see the war through the lens of events such as D-Day or the Battle of Britain, it was a conflict largely won by the Soviet Union. An incredible eight out of 10 German war casualties occurred on the Eastern Front.
Was China an ally in WW2?
China was a vital, but often forgotten, member of the Allies battling Japan—two years before the official start of World War II. China was a vital, but often forgotten, member of the Allies battling Japan—two years before the official start of World War II.
How did World war 2 End?
On September 2, World War II ended when U.S. General Douglas MacArthur accepted Japan's formal surrender aboard the U.S. battleship Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay along with a flotilla of more than 250 Allied warships.
What presidents were war heroes?
“Pretty soon they came sneaking back.” To his men, Truman appeared fearless. After the war, he returned home and progressed through politics, first as a judge, then senator. In 1944, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected as president for his fourth term, with Truman as his vice president.
Who were some American heroes of the war?
50 of America's Greatest War HeroesAlvin York. > Rank: Corporal. > Military branch: Army. ... Audie L. Murphy. > Rank: Second lieutenant. ... Daniel J. Daly. > Rank: Gunnery sergeant. ... David McCampbell. > Rank: Commander. ... Desmond Doss. > Rank: Corporal. ... Douglas MacArthur. > Rank: General. ... Edward V. Rickenbacker. ... Eugene B. Fluckey.More items...•
Who is the soldier with the most kills?
Charles Benjamin "Chuck" Mawhinney (born 1949) is a United States Marine who holds the Corps' record for the most confirmed sniper kills, having recorded 103 confirmed kills and 216 probable kills in 16 months during the Vietnam War. Lakeview, Oregon, U.S.
Who were some heroes in the Vietnam War?
4 Vietnam War heroes you've never heard ofDrew Dix — U.S. Army. President Johnson poses with four U.S. servicemen to whom he presented the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam. Left to right: Navy Lt. ... George “Bud” Day — U.S. Air Force. Col. ... Jay Vargas — U.S. Marine Corps. Jay R. ... Thomas Norris – U.S. Navy. Lt.
Who were the heroes of the Second World War?
Heroes of the Second World War – including political leaders, military generals, plus ordinary soldies and civilians who resisted the Nazis.
Who was the British general during World War 2?
Bernar d Montgomery (1887–1976) British General during World War Two. Led Allied troops to the first major victory of the war (El Alamein) when it was desperately needed. He also led British divisions during Operation Overlord and the liberation of occupied Europe.
How many Jews did Sugihara help escape?
It is estimated, because of Sugihara’s actions, 6,000 Jews were able to escape from Lithuania and avoid the holocaust.
Who was the US commander during the Second World War?
General Patton (1885–1945). A US Commander during Second World War, Patton distinguished himself in Africa, Sicily and in the liberation of France – especially during the Battle of the Bulge where he led his Third Army in an important counter-attack to push German troops back.
Who was the Supreme Allied Commander for the D-Day landings?
Dwight Eisenhower (1890–1969) Supreme Allied Commander for the D-Day Landings. Eisenhower oversaw the Allied coalition and was successful in keeping the coalition together. He also oversaw the successful liberation of Europe.
Who was Maximilian Kolbe?
Maximilian Kolbe (1894–1941 ) was a Franciscan priest who encouraged devotion to Mary and was committed to praying for those hostile to the Church. In 1941, he was arrested for sheltering Jews and sent to Auschwitz. He volunteered to take the place of a man condemned to death.
Who was the Ranger who survived Pearl Harbor?
That's where Lt. Col. Henry Mucci comes in. A survivor of Pearl Harbor, he led the 6th Ranger Battalion. PBS reports that one of the men he trained, John Richardson, described the experience as intense, saying "I thought he was going to kill us.".
Who was the B-24 navigator who saved the 512?
But the people he rescued never forgot, and B-24 navigator Tony Orsini, who was among the 512 saved, said years later, "He was a genius in the way he put the plan together. He was a hero.".
What happened to Gerstein at the end of the war?
At the end of the war, Gerstein surrendered to the French. He wrote a full report on all he'd seen in the camps, but instead of using him as a witness as he'd hoped, he was sent to a Paris prison as a suspected war criminal. There, in 1945, he hanged himself in his cell.
How many men did Mucci rescue?
They rescued all 511 men, mostly Americans soldiers who had been prisoners for around three years. Mucci became a hero in his home town of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and for many years lived in Singapore before retiring to Florida. He died in 1997, aged 88.
How old was Léo Major?
Léo Major was a 19-year-old farmer from Quebec who joined up to fight for the British. According to the New York Times, his military career got off to a shaky start. He trained as a sniper, but lost sight in one eye to a grenade just after D-Day. Then, he broke three vertebrae, an arm, and both ankles in a landmine incident. Insisting he still had the one good eye he needed to shoot, he headed back to the front.
When did the Blitz start?
In 1940, the war came to Britain. The BBC explains that the Blitz started on September 7, 1940, and that London was subjected to a stretch of bombings that hit every night for 57 days. But in addition to the bombs, the capital city had another massive problem: the River Thames.
How old are veterans in WW2?
With the vast majority of war veterans past the age of 90, it won’t be long before only a few WW2 heroes and veterans are left to tell their stories of courage and triumph in the face of murderous odds. While some soldiers and important figures of the time are well known to the culture in general, most aren’t.
How much soap did the soldiers in World War 2 use?
The quantity issued varied between .183 ounces up to .64 ounces per day.
How long did the soldiers have to use the spices in World War II?
Expert field cooks know to bring packets of spices with them to the field, but soldiers used to have them issued. The smallest pack was devised in World War II and served 100 soldiers for 10 days, so soldiers still had to make it to the company headquarters or higher to use the spices.
Who backed the Afghan forces?
Afghan forces backed by the U.S. airpower have intensified the offensive against the insurgents in the country, killing scores of militants including a Taliban shadow governor in fresh air raids, a security official said.
Who slipped Arnold's hand in warm water while he slept?
Pranking your buddy in war has been a pastime of bored soldiers since Gen. George Washington slipped Maj. Gen. Benedict Arnold’s hand in warm water while he slept. (Arnold got back at him by selling the plans to West Point’s defenses).
What war did the USS Hornet serve in?
The USS Hornet saw extensive service in World War II and the Vietnam War, and so it’s no surprise that a couple of ghosts may have decided to make it home.
Who were the Soviet heroes?
Meet the Soviet superheroes! 1. Zinoviy Kolo banov: the tank victory that no one believed. Zin oviy Koloban ov. Jakov Slavin/Wikipedia. When World War II began, Zinoviy Kolobanov already had serious military experience. For example, he fought in the Finnish War of 1939-1940, during which he escaped from a burning tank three times.
How many Soviet soldiers did Pavlichenko kill?
Pavlichenko was faster, however. In the German sniper’s notebook, she found records of the kills of over 400 Soviet and Allied soldiers. In June 1942, Pavlichenko was wounded.
How many times was Nomokonov wounded?
So, he grabbed a nearby gun and shot him dead almost without aiming. That’s how Nomokonov’s sniper career began. In total, Nomokonov was wounded eight times.
What did Sereda do before the war?
Like many Ukrainians, he loved to eat and cooked very well, graduating from culinary college before the war began. Sereda was eager to get into battle, but there were few cooks who could provide healthy nutrition for the troops, so he was left behind to work in the field kitchen.
What medals did Sereda receive?
Later, Sereda received the country’s most prestigious medals, Hero of the Soviet Union, and Order of Lenin, for his fighting prowess. Certainly, it wasn’t for his cooking skills.
What was the name of the woman who died in the Soviet Union?
Nicknamed “Lady Death” by American journalists, in the Soviet Union her name was associated not with death, but with righteous vengeance. In her youth, Pavlichenko studied to become a historian. When the war started, she had already finished her thesis work, but volunteered for the army.
Who destroyed the Kolobanov tank?
Clearly, they didn’t spot Kolobanov’s tank in a hull-down. Andrey Usov, Kolobanov’s ace gunner, destroyed the first and the last of the 22 tanks in the enemy column, effectively blocking them on a narrow road surrounded by swamp.
How many Americans died in the Battle of Iwo Jima?
Block took part in the Battle of Iwo Jima, which lasted five weeks; about 7,000 Americans and 20,000 Japanese died in the fighting. When Mount Suribachi at the southwest corner of the island was secured, Block was part of a platoon tasked with raising the Stars and Stripes.
How many Nazis did Murphy kill?
Aided by U.S. fighter-bombers, he killed or wounded 50 Nazis. After the war, Murphy embarked on a 20-year acting career in which he usually played himself or a variation thereof.
Who is the highest ranking actor in the military?
1. James “Jimmy” Stewart: The Highest-Ranking Actor in Military History. James “Jimmy” Stewart was already an Academy Award-winning actor and civilian pilot with 400 logged flight hours when he first enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941.
What was the first movie that Stewart enlisted in?
Known for his roles in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, ” “It’s a Wonderful Life” and many other classic films, Stewart became the first major Hollywood actor to enlist in the military at the onset of the United States’ entry into World War II. Stewart initially served as a flight instructor.
How old was Adam Driver when he joined the military?
Driver was 18 years old on September 11, 2001, and the attacks on American soil inspired him to join the military. Before he was an actor, Adam Driver was a Marine, inspired to join the military after the attacks of 9/11. | Photo credit U.S. Marine Corps.
Who was the actor who played the Hustler in the movie?
2. Paul Newman: In the Navy and Aboard the USS Bunker Hill. Paul Newman may be known for his starring roles in iconic films such as “Cool Hand Luke,” “The Hustler” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” but the actor also served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
When did Elvis join the army?
Elvis Presley, actor and King of Rock and Roll, was drafted and joined the Army in 1958, serving for a total of six years with a tour overseas. Almost every branch of the military offered Presley so-called “cushy jobs” that would have allowed him to simply serve as a recruiting model, or play music for the troops.
Leaders of World War Two
Military Heroes
- Dwight Eisenhower(1890–1969) Supreme Allied Commander for the D-Day Landings. Eisenhower oversaw the Allied coalition and was successful in keeping the coalition together. He also oversaw the successful liberation of Europe. General Patton(1885–1945). A US Commander during Second World War, Patton distinguished himself in Africa, Sicily and in the ...
Spies of The Second World War
- Odette Sansom(1912–1995) British spy for SOE (Special Operations Executive). Parachuted into France and worked for the French underground. Caught by the Gestapo she was tortured and sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp. Awarded George Cross and Legion d’honneur. Noor Inayat Khan. (1914–1944) British spy of Indian descent. Member of the SOE who operated as a …
Heroes Who Resisted The Holocaust
- Maximilian Kolbe (1894–1941 ) was a Franciscan priest who encouraged devotion to Mary and was committed to praying for those hostile to the Church. In 1941, he was arrested for sheltering Jews and sent to Auschwitz. He volunteered to take the place of a man condemned to death. Oskar Schindler(1908–1974) An ethnic German who joined the Nazi party and bought a factory i…
German Resistance to Hitler
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945 ) was a Lutheran Pastor who was an influential critic of Hitler and Nazism, executed in 1945. He publically spoke against the Nazi policy of euthanasia and the murder of Jews. He was executed in a Nazi concentration camp, shortly before the end of the war. Sophie and Hans Scholl (1921/ 1918–1943). The Scholls opposed the Nazi ideology of Hitler’s G…