Did Any Civil War Veterans Fight in WW2?

With a 76-year gap between the end of the American Civil War in 1865 and the start of World War II in 1941, one might wonder if any of the Civil War veterans could have served in the latter conflict. Unlikely as it may seem, there are some interesting cases and facts surrounding this topic.

Timeline and Age Considerations

Assuming that a person was at least 12 years old to serve, the age gap pushes the potential Civil War veteran to about 88 years old at the start of World War II. While rare, it's not impossible to find examples where a veteran could have been involved.

Eastern Front Veterans

In regions such as the Soviet Union, where the gap between the end of the Civil War (1920) and the beginning of World War II (1939) was significantly smaller, it's more plausible for veterans to have served in both conflicts. For instance, Soviet military leaders like Georgy Zhukov, Aleksandr Vasilevsky, Konstantin Rokossovsky, and Ivan Konev fought in the Civil War and later in World War II.

Finland

The Finnish Civil War ended in 1918. Indeed, Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, the leader of Finland, fought in both the Finnish Civil War and World War II. This is a clear example of the overlap between the two conflicts.

English Civil War

The English Civil War ended in 1651, so its veterans could not have served in World War II. However, the American Civil War ended in 1865, and some veterans of that conflict could have been old enough to serve in World War II, albeit unlikely for active military roles.

Golden Age Veterans

While it is rare to find Civil War veterans who served in World War II, there are documented cases. For example, many members of the German Luftwaffe and the Condor Legion, which fought in the Spanish Civil War, also served in World War II.

Age Restrictions and Realities

A fact that makes it highly improbable for Civil War veterans to have served in World War II is the age requirement for military service. A person born in 1847 would have been 94 in 1941, a vastly outdated age to be involved in active service. Many older veterans, such as the author's great-grandfather, might have wished to contribute but couldn’t physically participate.

Notable Cases

For many veterans born during the Civil War, they were either too old or deceased by the time World War II began. While there were over 500 surviving members of the Union Army on the roster of The Grand Army of the Republic in 1943, none of these veterans saw active service in World War II. The last surviving Union Army veteran died in 1956 at the age of 106.

In conclusion, while the gap between the two wars makes it highly unlikely for any Civil War veterans to have served in World War II, some exceptional cases do exist. The documented examples of those who fought in both conflicts are rare and highlight the impact and longevity of military careers in the early 20th century.