There are no World War I (WW1) veterans still alive today, as the last verified veteran, Florence Green, died in the United Kingdom on February 4, 2012, at the age of 110. While some lists mention other last veterans by country, all have since passed, with the last combat veteran being Claude Choules (d. 2011) and the last trench soldier Harry Patch (d. 2009).
The last combat veteran was Claude Choules, who served in the British Royal Navy (and later the Royal Australian Navy) and died 5 May 2011, aged 110. The last veteran who served in the trenches was Harry Patch (British Army), who died on 25 July 2009, aged 111.
On September 28, 1918, in an incident that would go down in the lore of World War I history—although the details of the event are still unclear—Private Henry Tandey, a British soldier serving near the French village of Marcoing, reportedly encounters a wounded German soldier and declines to shoot him, sparing the life ...
Frank MacDonald MM (26 June 1896 – 23 August 2003) was an Australian World War I veteran, notable for having been the last surviving veteran from Tasmania, and the last surviving decorated Australian veteran. At the time of his death, MacDonald was also the oldest surviving World War I veteran.
The youngest authenticated British soldier in World War I was twelve-year-old Sidney Lewis, who fought at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Lewis' claim was not authenticated until 2013.
WW2 soldiers carried condoms primarily for disease prevention (STDs like syphilis and gonorrhea) and for practical combat uses, such as keeping sand and mud out of their rifle barrels, protecting small items, or even as makeshift waterproof bags, although the weapon-protection use is sometimes exaggerated in popular culture. The military distributed them widely (often in "prophylactic kits") to maintain troop strength, recognizing the significant manpower lost to venereal diseases in past conflicts.
Private George Lawrence Price is believed to be the last Canadian soldier to die in battle during the First World War. He died at Mons, Belgium, about 2 minutes before the signing of the Armistice.
Alec Campbell, the final surviving participant of the Gallipoli campaign, died of pneumonia on 16 May 2002, aged 103. With his passing, Gallipoli ceased to be a part of living memory and Campbell became a symbol for Australia's connection with a mythology that continues today.
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel held great respect for Australian soldiers, viewing them as tough, skilled, and formidable fighters, especially in attack, famously stating he'd use Australians to take hell and New Zealanders to hold it, though some historians question the exact phrasing while confirming his admiration for their fighting prowess in North Africa, documented in his letters.
Soviet records allege that the burnt remains of Hitler and Braun were recovered, despite eyewitness accounts that they were almost completely reduced to ashes.
British troops tended to call German soldiers Fritz or Fritzie (a German pet form of Friedrich) or Jerry (short for German, but also modelled on the English name).
Then, saying "It is finished, goodbye", Hitler took Eva back into their rooms for the last time. During the afternoon Hitler shot himself and Eva took the poison capsule that he had given her.
GENERAL THEODORE ROOSEVELT JR. Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the eldest son of American President Theodore Roosevelt, fought in both world wars. In 1919, after fathering the creation of The American Legion, Roosevelt fought off all efforts to be elected national commander.
All told among Allies, there were over 11,000 casualties, including 2,738 killed, on the morning of November 11. The very last of these was Pvt. Henry Gunther, a 23-year-old German American who had worked as a clerk and bookkeeper for National Bank of Baltimore before getting his draft notice.
Varying estimates suggest that Russia may have suffered the highest number of military and total fatalities in the First World War.
1957: Prime Minister Kishi Nobusuke said to the people of Australia: "It is my official duty, and my personal desire, to express to you and through you to the people of Australia, our heartfelt sorrow for what occurred in the war."
Like the dreaded 88, Rommel became a legend and earned the grudging respect of his enemies. In early 1942, Prime Minister Winston Churchill told Parliament, “We have a very daring and skillful opponent against us, and, may I say across the havoc of war, a great general.”
The Nazis considered Jews to be their number one enemy. During World War II, Nazi Germany and its allies and collaborators murdered six million Jews in a genocide now known as the Holocaust.
There's no single "best" soldier, but Lieutenant Colonel Harry Murray (most decorated infantryman) and General Sir John Monash (brilliant WWI strategist) are top contenders, alongside modern VC recipients like Mark Donaldson and figures like "Weary" Dunlop, with legendary figures like sniper Billy Sing also remembered for bravery, highlighting different forms of exceptional service.
Neither side succeeded. Some 8,700 Australians lost their lives and some 18,000 were wounded during the campaign. The most successful operation of the campaign was the eventual Allied evacuation. In the Anzac sector this ended on 19–20 December 1915 and was conducted under a well-planned deception operation.
German soldiers generally held a mix of fear, deep respect, and admiration for Australian troops in both World Wars, recognizing them as exceptionally tough, cunning, and tenacious fighters, with figures like Erwin Rommel praising their fighting spirit and describing them as magnificent in attack and defense, though some German press also dismissed them as a small population incapable of sustaining a major war effort.
WW2 soldiers carried condoms primarily for disease prevention (STDs like syphilis and gonorrhea) and for practical combat uses, such as keeping sand and mud out of their rifle barrels, protecting small items, or even as makeshift waterproof bags, although the weapon-protection use is sometimes exaggerated in popular culture. The military distributed them widely (often in "prophylactic kits") to maintain troop strength, recognizing the significant manpower lost to venereal diseases in past conflicts.
John Wayne didn't serve in WWII due to a combination of age (34 at Pearl Harbor), family status (deferment for wife and kids), and, crucially, occupational deferments secured by his studio, Republic Pictures, who argued his films were vital for national morale, though he reportedly wanted to enlist, leading to lifelong guilt and a reputation as a "draft dodger" despite his patriotic image.