11,000 American Jewish soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines were killed in World War II. Overall, some 300,000 Jewish soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines died serving in the armies of the Allies as well as the Partisans in Eastern Europe during in World War II; and between 1,000,000 and 1,500,000 Jewish servicemen served in the armies of the Allied Powers and Partisans. Large numbers of Jewish scientists played a decisive role in developing the atom bomb, thus saving millions of American and allied lives from dying in an invasion of Japan with the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima. There were hundreds of Jewish generals and admirals in the various militaries. Many played key roles as army and division commanders in the militaries of the different countries.
A number of Jewish-American soldiers distinguished themselves and were awarded medals. Three received the Medal of Honor, 157 received the Distinguished Service Medal, and more than 1,600 received the Silver Star; about 52,000 more were given other awards or citations for bravery. Some of the Jewish-Americans who distinguished themselves the most included:
Chaplain Alexander Goode, one of the "Four Chaplains" from four different faiths who in February 1943 gave up their life jackets and helped to save other soldiers; Chaplain Goode and the others prayed for the men and helped the wounded, and then went down with their ship rather than trying to save themselves.
General Maurice Rose, who commanded the US 3rd Armored Division in France, advancing 100 miles in one day with his division in 1944. (killed in 1945 on a patrol).
General Boris Chernyahovsky, who was a gifted Soviet army commander who fought on the Soviet Front, and was killed in action liberating the Baltic states.
Brigadier Frederick Kisch was the chief combat engineer of the British Eighth army under Montgomery in North Africa (killed in action in Tunisia)
Also note the following:
2,956 British Jewish servicemen and women killed
700+ Palestinian Jews died serving in the British Commonwealth Forces; there was a 5,000 strong Jewish infantry brigade in the British army that fought in Italy in 1945. At least 35 Israeli generals served in this unit in WW II.
200,000 Soviet Jewish servicemen were killed in the war (500,000 served in all) There were lots of Jewish officers in the Soviet military in World War II, who served with distinction. The majority were purged from the Soviet military by 1950, with a tiny minority posted to Siberia or military academies.
30,000 Polish Jews were killed in action in 1939 campaign to defend Poland during the German invasion that started World War II (with many more killed serving in the Free Polish Forces in Italy, North Africa and other fronts)
And thousands of Jewish soldiers died in the French Army in 1940, as well as in the Free Greek, Czech, Free French, Belgian, Commonwealth (i.e. Canada, New Zealand, etc.) that fought on many fronts; there were even Jewish soldiers in the British Indian army that fought in Italy, Burma, etc. (Iraqi and Bene Israel Jews).
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