There's no single "bravest" person in WW2, as bravery manifested in many ways, but Audie Murphy, the most decorated American soldier (Medal of Honor), and Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector who saved 75 men at Okinawa, are often cited for extraordinary battlefield courage, alongside figures like Poland's Witold Pilecki (infiltrated Auschwitz) or the bear Wojtek who carried ammo. Bravery also came from rescuers like Dijana Budisavljevic (saved 10,000 children) and resistance fighters, highlighting diverse acts of heroism beyond combat.
Audie Murphy was the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II. He received every military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism. Murphy received the Medal of Honor for valor that he demonstrated at the age of 19.
Audie Leon Murphy (June 20, 1925 – May 28, 1971) was an American soldier, actor, and songwriter. He was widely celebrated as the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II, and has been described as the most highly decorated enlisted soldier in U.S. history.
Otto Skorzeny earned himself the nickname of the “Most Dangerous Man in Europe,” but how did this German soldier manage to achieve this title? World War II was certainly a dangerous time to be alive.
Adrian Carton de Wiart , The unkilllable soldier He was shot in the face, head, stomach, ankle, leg, hip, and ear; was blinded in his left eye; survived two plane crashes, tore off his own fingers when a doctor declined to amputate , became an envoy for the Italians after tunnelling out of a POW camp awarded 31 medals ...
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 ...
Hirohito visited Hiroshima in 1947 and continued to publicly mourn the deaths that took place during the atomic attacks throughout his life. He also expressed some contrition for his role in the war. In 1971, Emperor Hirohito expressed that there were parts of the war that he felt “personally sorry for.”
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.
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.
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. But the alliance partners did not share common political aims, and did not always agree on how the war should be fought.
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.
Mainly, the period during World War I when Hitler served as a Gefreiter (lance corporal) in the Bavarian Army, and the era of World War II when he served as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht (German Armed Forces) through his position as Führer of Nazi Germany.
Adolf Hitler, the dictator of Germany from 1934 to 1945, is among the worst single-person disasters to befall the world. Had he never been born, millions would've escaped an untimely, cruel death, and history may have taken a radically different path. Hitler was a madman bent on world domination.
The United States is consistently ranked as having the #1 most powerful military in the world for 2025 by organizations like Global Firepower and Business Insider. This ranking stems from its massive defense budget, advanced technology, global power projection, and dominance in air, sea, and cyber warfare, though China has the largest number of active personnel.
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.
Clint Eastwood was drafted during the Korean War and served as a lifeguard at Fort Ord, California, before being discharged after the war.
August Friedrich Kubizek (3 August 1888 – 23 October 1956) was an Austrian musical conductor and writer of Czech origin best known for being a close friend of Adolf Hitler, when both were in their late teens. He later wrote about their friendship in his book The Young Hitler I Knew (1955).
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.
We fully understand the anguish of my people. However, in accordance with the dictates of fate, We must bear the unbearable and endure the unendurable in order to pave the way for peace for all future generations.
Analysis and hindsight from historians over the years that have followed have led to a view that Japan regretted its decision to attack Pearl Harbor. In 2014, a biography on Emperor Hirohito revealed that the Japanese leader was wary of attacking the USA and that doing so could have consequences for his nation.
The Japanese, naturally, were disappointed to hear of Hitler's death. They were more concerned, however, over how Germany would react. After the collapse of the fascist regime in Italy, Italian fascists formed a rump state and continued to fight on, and the Japanese hoped that Germany would do the same.