WWII’s 10 Most Unbelievable Soldier Feats

World War II was a conflict that brought immense suffering, but it also highlighted incredible acts of courage and resilience. Amidst the chaos and destruction, some soldiers rose to the occasion, performing feats that seemed almost superhuman. These are stories of ordinary men thrust into extraordinary circumstances, demonstrating bravery and ingenuity that defy belief.

10. Dirk J. Vlug

Dirk J. Vlug, a Private First Class in the Philippines, faced a fierce Japanese attack on December 15, 1944. Under heavy machine-gun fire, Vlug single-handedly destroyed an enemy tank with a rocket launcher. Not content with this, he eliminated the gunner of a second tank with his pistol and then destroyed the tank with another rocket. When three more tanks advanced, Vlug flanked the first and destroyed it, then took out a fourth before sending the last one down an embankment. In total, he destroyed five tanks all by himself.

9. Charles Carpenter

Lieutenant Colonel Charles Carpenter, known as “Bazooka Charlie,” was an observation pilot during World War II. During the siege of Lorient in 1944, he decided to equip his observation plane with six rocket launchers designed for foot soldiers. Naming his plane “Rosie the Rocketeer,” Carpenter flew solo attack missions, destroying up to six enemy tanks and several armored cars. His innovative use of an observation plane turned him into a tank-busting legend.

8. James Hill

British Army Officer James Hill led the 1st Parachute Brigade in North Africa. On November 22, 1942, his battalion faced a fortified Italian and German position, including three light tanks. After a grenade accident eliminated his Royal Engineers, Hill charged the tanks armed only with a revolver. He dodged fire and subdued the crews of two tanks by sticking his revolver through the observation holes. While approaching the third tank, he was hit three times but survived, creating an opening for his men, who were then victorious.

7. Fritz Christen

Fritz Christen was a soldier in the Totenkopf division of the Waffen-SS during the invasion of the USSR. On September 24, 1941, he found himself alone manning an anti-tank battery after Soviet soldiers killed the rest of his crew. Without food, supplies, or sleep, Christen single-handedly operated the 50mm cannon for three days, knocking out 13 Soviet tanks and killing nearly 100 soldiers.

6. Ivan Pavlovich

Ivan Pavlovich, a cook for the 91st Tank Regiment of the Red Army, showed incredible bravery in August 1941. When a German tank stalled near his field kitchen, Ivan grabbed a rifle and an axe and charged at the crew as they exited the tank. The surprised crew retreated back inside, and Ivan climbed onto the tank, bending the machine gun barrel with his axe. He then covered the observation hole with a tarpaulin and loudly ordered imaginary comrades to bring him a grenade, convincing the four-man crew to surrender.

5. Aubrey Cosens

Aubrey Cosens of the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada distinguished himself in Mooshof, Germany, on February 25 and 26, 1945. After his platoon faced a heavy counterattack while trying to seize three farmhouses held by the Germans, Cosens took command. Under intense fire, he directed the last Allied tank to ram one of the buildings, then entered alone, killing several occupants and taking the rest prisoner. He single-handedly cleared the second and third buildings, securing the enemy stronghold before being fatally shot by a sniper.

4. Havildar Lachhiman Gurung

Havildar Lachhiman Gurung, a rifleman in the 8th Gurkha Rifles, displayed extraordinary courage in Burma on May 12 and 13, 1945. Positioned at the most forward post of his platoon, he faced an attack by at least 200 Japanese soldiers. After throwing back two grenades, he attempted to throw back a third, but it detonated, blowing off his right hand. For the next four hours, Gurung reloaded his rifle with one arm, fighting off the enemy until reinforcements arrived. Thirty-one dead Japanese soldiers were found around his position, all killed by him.

3. Leo Major

Leo Major, a Canadian soldier in the Régiment de la Chaudière, volunteered to liberate the city of Zwolle, Holland, with only one other man on the night of April 13, 1945. After his partner was killed, Major continued alone. He captured a German officer, informed him that the city would be leveled by artillery if they didn’t surrender, and then ran through the city, firing his machine gun and throwing grenades. Confusing the Germans into thinking the Canadians were attacking in force, he captured German positions and escorted prisoners to the city limits. He even set fire to the Gestapo headquarters, fighting and killing several Nazi officers. By 4:30 AM, the Germans had left, sparing Zwolle from bombardment.

2. Warren G.H. Crecy

Warren G.H. Crecy, a tank commander for the 761st Tank Battalion, earned the nickname “Baddest Man in the 761st” on November 10, 1944. After his tank was disabled, he commandeered a machine gun-armed vehicle, eliminating the German soldiers who had knocked out his tank. When his replacement tank got stuck in the mud, he exited under fire to free the tracks. Attacked by ground troops, Warren held off the enemy advance single-handedly, forcing them to retreat.

1. Fazal Din

Fazal Din, an Acting Naik in the 7th Battalion of the British Indian Army, displayed incredible bravery on March 2, 1945, in Burma. During an attack on a Japanese position, Din’s section was caught by machine gun fire. After attacking the position with grenades, Fazal led his men against a bunker, from which six Japanese soldiers emerged. After one of Din’s men was killed by a Japanese officer, Fazal charged the officer, who impaled him in the chest. Despite being wounded, Fazal grabbed the officer’s sword and killed him and another Japanese soldier before collapsing and dying of his wounds.