There were a lot of heroes in II World War. Those are apparently, completely ordinary people that can always give more than is expected of them. If we look deeper and overcome the external frames, we will rate them as fearless fighters in the battle field but also as visionaries who with their acts regardless of the side they fought for, caused admiration and respect, not only from their brothers in arms but also from the enemy.
On their example many can learn; many look at them and get inspired and encouraged to earn the etiquette of a legend. To be brave and bold takes a lot of will, strength and readiness to act. But to have that ability and resolve to despite everything go on towards the desired goal, opens the door of countless possibilities. Precisely those qualities are attributes to 10 biggest legends and heroes of II World War.
10LIEUTENANT AUDIE MURPHY
He was most decorated American soldier ever – killed over 200 Nazis. Once climbed onboard a burning tank destroyed and held off an entire company with its machine gun.
09AIR VICE MARSHAL WITOLD URBANOWICZ
Poland´s top fighter ace of WWII, with 28 kills. He went on to command the Warsaw 303, the highest scoring RAF squadron in the Battle of Britain.
08SWCOND LIWUTENANT SIMO “WHITE DEATH HAYHA”
He was the most successful sniper, killing more than 500 Soviet troops with an unscoped rifle. Once hit in the face an exploding rounde, he lived to 97 years old.
07CAPITAN JUAN PAJOTA
Capitan Juan was guerilla leader whose unit held off 8.000 Japanese soldiers. This gave time for 500 American POWs to escape a death camp.
06COLONEL XIE JINYUAN
He led 414 Chinese soldiers who held out against overwhelming Japanese forces, defended a concrete warehouse with no heavy weapons, covering the retreat from Shanghai.
05SS-OBERSTURMBANNFUHRER OTTO SKORZENY
Skorzeny rescued Mussolini from a mountain fort without firing a single shot. His elite unit disguised as US soldiers in the Battle of the Bulge and caused such confusion, Eisenhower ordered a manhunt on him.
04HAVILDAR LACHHIMAN GURUNG
He defended against 200 Japanese after his arm was blown off by a grenade, continued to fire his rifle, single-handedly beating back the attackers for four hours, screaming “Come and fight a Gurkha”.
03SENIOR LIEUTENANT LYDIA LITVYAK
One of two of the world´s only female fighter aces. She racked up 12 solo kills in a Yak-1, an awfully unreliable and dated plane compared to German Me-109s.
02SERGEANT TOMMY PRINCE
Sergeant Prince joined Canada´s “Devil´s Brigade”, the team that Inglourious Basterds is based on. He could sneak into enemy lines, killing entire machine gun nests silently with his knife.
01LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN “MAD JACK” CHURCHILL
He led commando raids with his broadsword, playing the bagpipes. Has the only confirmed kill in the war with a longbow and in one night, alone, took 42 prisoners inly his sword.