Yes, there are still World War II veterans alive in early 2026, but their numbers are rapidly declining, with only tens of thousands (or fewer) remaining in countries like the U.S., while globally there are likely a few million across all nations, though exact figures are hard to pin down due to age and record-keeping challenges. These veterans are now in their late 90s or over 100 years old, and organizations like The National WWII Museum and history projects are working to preserve their crucial firsthand accounts as they pass away, with projections suggesting the last may pass in the 2040s.
Every day, memories of World War II are disappearing from living history. The men and women who fought and won this great conflict are now in their 90s or older; according to US Department of Veterans Affairs statistics, 45,418 of the 16.4 million Americans who served in World War II are alive as of 2025.
There are only a tiny number of D-Day veterans alive today
As of 2023, across the world, there are estimated to be a few thousand D-Day veterans still alive today.
The Department for Veterans Affairs estimated about 2,500 Australian World War II veterans are still alive. Brigadier Orders said all veterans, regardless of when and where they served, deserved their appropriate recognition.
Ilie Ciocan (born 28 May 1913) of Romania is the current oldest living world war II veteran in the world.
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.
The youngest U.S. serviceman to serve and fight during World War II was Calvin Graham. He enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 12 and served as a gunner on the USS South Dakota. Graham lied about his age and joined in August 1942.
The Soviet Union lost around 27 million people during the war, including 8.7 million military and 19 million civilians. This represents the most military deaths of any nation by a large margin. Germany sustained 5.3 million military losses, mostly on the Eastern Front and during the final battles in Germany.
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.
Florence Green, a British citizen who served in the Allied armed forces as a Royal Air Force (WRAF) service member, is generally considered to have been the last verified veteran of the war at her death on 4 February 2012, aged 110.
The 'D' in D-Day stands simply for 'day' and the term was used to describe the first day of any large military operation.
It is estimated that only three survivors of Iwo Jima are still alive, and Caminiti is one of them. He served as a gunner on an amphibious vehicle. One hundred people from Connecticut died at Iwo Jima.
Most surviving World War II veterans are now in their late 90s or have reached 100 years old. The youngest veterans who could have served would have been born around 1927, making them at least 97 years old today. The majority of survivors were born between 1920-1925, placing them well into their centenarian years.
Only California (5,094), Florida (3,753) and Texas (2,720) have more living World War II veterans than the Keystone State. Nationwide, there are 45,418 veterans from this era. The VA projects that only 330 veterans from World War II will still be alive a decade from now, in 2035.
As of 2025 some 45,000 (under 0.5%) of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II remain alive. Living members of this generation are either in their late 90s or are centenarians.
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.
Overview table. This first table gives a convenient overview of the general categories and broad causes. The leading cause is cardiovascular disease at 31.59% of all deaths.
1] 88mm gun
Most Americans killed on battlefields in Europe during WW2 were torn apart by artillery fire. The most feared of all German weapons was the legendary “Acht-acht,” as the Germans called it. Designed as an anti-aircraft weapon, it proved so effective that it was adapted into a tank-killer and artillery piece.
(http://www.historyshots.com/usarmy/backstory.cfm) This maintains that the US Army fielded a 35% ratio of infantry/combat element to support personnel. If you were drafted and went into the Army, there is a good chance you wouldn't even end up in a Ground Forces unit.
Towards the end of the war, the Germans established an entire SS Panzer Division with the majority of its recruits being 16- and 17-year-old boys from the Hitler Youth brigades. In the 1st Battalion over 65% were under 18 years old, and only 3% were over 25. There were more than 10,000 boys in this division.
Although he had tried to return to his ship, he was discharged from the Navy on April 1, 1943, and his awards were revoked. The South Dakota's gunnery officer who was involved in handling his case was Sargent Shriver. He then worked in a Houston shipyard as a welder after dropping out of school.
However, as a married man with dependents, he was a long way down the priority list for being drafted. Crosby wanted to do as much as possible for the war effort pending being drafted but it soon became evident that he was unlikely to be conscripted because of his age and his family.
American draft evaders who left for Canada and became prominent there include politician Jim Green, gay rights advocate Michael Hendricks, attorney Jeffry House, author Keith Maillard, playwright John Murrell, television personality Eric Nagler, film critic Jay Scott, and musician Jesse Winchester.
However, Army files reported that Sinatra had actually been rejected because he was "not acceptable material from a psychiatric viewpoint;" Sinatra's emotional instability was hidden to avoid "undue unpleasantness for both the selectee and the induction service".