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10 Famous Actors Who Served in World War Two | History Hit

Famous people who fought in ww2

World War II galvanized the public like no other war before or since. Some countries, especially the United States, used celebrities to gain support for the war. some actors even left the comfort of hollywood to engage in active combat.

here is a list of 10 big screen stars who participated in the second world war.

1. david niven

although he was living in hollywood when the war broke out, david niven traveled to britain to rejoin the army where he had served during the 1930s. in addition to making films for the war effort, niven was involved in the invasion of Normandy. he eventually advanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

2. Mel Brooks

Legendary comedian and actor Mel Brooks joined the United States Army towards the end of the war at the tender age of 17. He served as part of a combat engineer battalion, clearing landmines before advancing troops.

3. jimmy stewart

James Stewart, already a movie star, joined the US Air Force in 1941 and first participated in recruiting drives, including radio appearances and propaganda films. He later flew and commanded many bombing missions over Germany and Nazi-occupied Europe. After the war, Stewart remained in the Air Force Reserve, eventually rising to the rank of Brigadier General.

4. kirk douglas

kirk douglas was born issur danielovitch and grew up under the nickname izzy demsky, officially changing his name just before joining the united states navy in 1941. he served as a communications officer in anti-submarine warfare and was properly medically discharged to war injuries in 1944.

5. jason stolen

After graduating from high school in 1940, Jason Robards joined the US Navy. uu. and served as radio operator third class aboard the uss northampton in 1941, which was sunk by japanese torpedoes while robards was on board. He later served aboard the USS Nashville during the invasion of Mindoro in the Philippines.

6. Clark Gable

after the death of his wife, carole lombard, who became the first war-related american casualty in the conflict when her plane crashed on the way home from a tour promoting the sale of bonds war, clark gable enlisted in the us army. uu. cash. Although he enlisted at the ripe old age of 43, after working on a recruiting film, Gable was stationed in England and flew 5 combat missions as an observer-gunner.

7. audrey hepburn

Audrey Hepburn’s British father was a Nazi sympathizer who became estranged from his family before the outbreak of the war. Instead, Hepburn spent the war years in occupied Holland, during which his uncle was executed for sabotage against the Nazi occupation and his half-brother was sent to a German labor camp. she helped the Dutch resistance by giving secret dance shows to raise money and delivering messages and packages.

8. paul newman

paul newman joined the united states navy after graduating from high school in 1943 and served as a radio operator and turret gunner on aircraft carriers in the pacific theater. he also trained replacement fighter pilots and aircrewmen.

9. sir alec guinness

Alec Guinness joined the Royal Navy in 1939 and commanded a landing craft in the 1943 invasion of Italy. He later supplied arms to Yugoslav Partisan fighters.

10. Josephine Baker

josephine baker, american by birth, was a star in france more than in hollywood. she was also a naturalized French citizen who was active in the French resistance. In addition to entertaining troops, Baker hosted refugees and delivered secret messages, including military intelligence. she received the croix de guerre for her dangerous work as a resistance spy.

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