How Many American Soldiers Were Killed During World War 2?

Although the United States’ entry made the most significant impact on the allies’ victory in World War 2, they had to lose many hundred thousand soldiers during the combat against Axis forces.

So, the question is how many American soldiers were killed or died during the deadly World War 2?

As per historical sources, the total number of US military death was 407,300, which is, of course, a very big number.

In the year 1939, the United States’ total population was 131,028,000.

So, from this perspective, the number represents the death of 0.32 percent of their entire population.

However, 12,100 civilian death numbers are also included in this 0.32 percent.

Including civilians, the number of total death is 419,400.

671,801 soldiers were also severely injured during the combats.

10 Main Campaigns, Locations, And The Deaths of American Soldiers During World War 2

• Battle of Normandy (29,204 soldiers), France
• Battles of the Meuse-Argonne (26,277 soldiers), France
• Battle of the Bulge (19,276 soldiers), Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany
• Central Europe Campaign (15,009)
• Battle of Okinawa (14,000 soldiers), Japan
• Hürtgen Forest Battle (12,000 soldiers), Germany
• North Apennines Campaign (8,486 soldiers), Northern Italy
• Battle of Luzon (8,310 soldiers), Luzon, Philippines
• Operation Anvil (7, 301 soldiers), France
• Battle of Guadalcanal (7,100), British Solomon Islands

How Many US Soldiers Participated In The War?

Not fully confirmed, but some historians say that around 16,112,566 US soldiers participated in the battles of World War 2.

This participation was more than ten percent of the United States’ entire population. The majority of the participants were volunteers.

Apart from getting killed, 130,201 were also captured by enemies as war prisoners.

However, once the war ended, 116,129 soldiers returned back to their homes. 

Why The Deaths of American Civilians Is Quite Less In This Second Great War?

The main reason is the geographical distance of the United States from Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The country was far away from the main war zone.

The center of World War 2 was Europe and Asia, but not the continent of America.

Hence, no significant battle of WW2 was fought on the USA’s mainland.

Though Japan attacked America’s Pearl Harbor Island, it was far away from the country’s mainland.

Here only sixty-eight civilians lost their lives.

Geographical distance is the main reason, why we see fewer American civilian deaths than in other Asian and European countries.

Most of the deaths of the 12,100 civilians happened in other countries’ land segments.

For example, due to the attacks of German U-Boats, around 5000 US civilians lost their lives in a foreign area.

Top 3 Military Leaders In World War II From The United States

1. Douglas MacArthur: Douglas MacArthur was one of the most popular army generals of the United States during World War 2.

MacArthur led many major campaigns of the United States army. Some of his major campaigns were:

• Philippines Campaign (1941–1942, 1944-1945)
• Campaign of Solomon Islands (1942-1945)
• Campaign of Japan (1942-1945)

His campaigns mostly focused on the Empire of Japan.

2. George S. Patton: General George Smith Patton Jr. commanded the United States army in the Mediterranean.

He also led the US army in France and Germany after the battle of Normandy.

Some of his major campaigns were:

• Allied Invasion of Sicily (9 July – 17 August 1943)
• Battle of The Bulge (16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945)
• Battle of El Guettar (23 March – 3 April 1943)

3. Dwight D. Eisenhower: Dwight D. Eisenhower was a five-star general of the United States army.

During World War 2, Eisenhower served as the supreme commander of the Allied expeditionary force in Europe.

Some of his main campaigns were:

• Western Allied Invasion of Nazi Germany (22 March to 8 May 1945) 
• North African Campaign (10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943)
• Western Front (3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945)

Later, from January 20th, 1953 to January 20th, 1961, he also served as the 34th president of the United States of America.