The exact length of service for individuals during World War II varied widely depending on country and military branch. In the United States, most men had to serve one year in the military. But the U.S. Army had the wartime draft of January 1942, which offered a choice of either one-year of military service or an eighteen-month period of service with a four-year service requirement after the war.
In many other countries, the requirement of military service could be much longer. In Germany, for example, the minimum length of service was 15 months, but individuals could be asked to remain in the army for longer than this.
Many other countries also had versions of conscription or the draft requiring their citizens to serve for a specified length of time.
Despite the various lengths of service, the individual experiences of military personnel during World War II were often greatly influenced by the scope of the conflict. Many individuals served for longer than their required or anticipated amount of time, either by choice or because of the exigencies of war.
Additionally, many soldiers were deployed to various theatres of warfare around the world, which often resulted in extended periods of service beyond the original enlistment term.
Did ww2 soldiers get to go home?
The answer depends on the specific soldier and their individual situation during World War II. Generally speaking, soldiers were not able to get much in the way of time off to go home during wartime.
However, in some cases, soldiers could get leave for various reasons such as recovering from injuries, attending funerals, or compassionate leave. In the UK, for example, soldiers could apply for leave if they had been in service for more than 28 days.
In the US, if a soldier’s family member died, they might be granted leave for three days. Other leave requests were looked at on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, as the war was winding down in 1945, some soldiers were granted leave to go home for special reasons such as reunions or anniversaries.
After the war ended in 1945, all soldiers were eventually discharged, often with a final leave home before heading back to civilian life.
What was the oldest age drafted in WWII?
The oldest age drafted in WWII was 45. Although men as old as 45 could volunteer for service, the maximum age for draft eligibility was 45. However it was quite rare for men in this age group to be drafted, and only 5,720 men aged 45 or older were drafted into military service out of the more than 10 million men drafted in total during WWII.
Many of these older men filled support roles in the military or served as officers. Though the age limit was established at 45, some men even older than this served in the armed forces during WWII either through volunteering or by being allowed to stay in the military following Amercia’s entry into the war.
What were the enlistment requirements for ww2?
The enlistment requirements for World War II varied based on factors such as age, citizenship and health. Generally, the minimum age of enlistment was 18 and the maximum was 38, although some men lied about their age in order to participate.
Those who wished to enlist had to be a United States citizen, although non-citizens were allowed to serve in the U.S. military in certain circumstances. Additionally, enlistees had to be of acceptable mental and physical health, meaning that certain physical impairments or illnesses would disqualify them from enlistment.
To determine physical fitness, enlistees had to undergo a physical examination that tested various aspects of their body. Mental fitness was determined through psychological tests, where individuals were asked a variety of questions that tested their attention, memory, and creativity.
Who served the longest in ww2?
The longest-serving soldier in World War Two was Harold E. “Ted” Bond from the United States Army Air Force. Bond served from the beginning of the war in 1941, through its end in 1945, a total of five years.
Bond flew in hundreds of combat and reconnaissance missions, eventually rising to the rank of Brigadier General and receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross for courage in the face of danger. Bond’s service was recognized as the longest among all participants in World War Two after his death in 2009, at the age of 90.
