MOD's latest veteran statistics show there are 8,616 living war veterans, with 25 of them being WW2 veterans

On 11 November 2022, the world marks the 104th anniversary of the end of World War I and Veterans Day, also known as Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth of Nations. The latest veteran statistics released by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) show that there are 8,616 living war veterans (i.e. WW2 and contemporary war veterans). Of them, 25 were involved in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) during WW2.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “All veterans – whether it be WW2 veterans or contemporary veterans – deserve our inexpressible thanks for their service to the country towards the shared ideals of freedom, humanism and democracy. Today, we remember the acts of courage of the fallen and departed heroes and their endless suffering they endured, hoping that one day they would see a better future for their close ones and future generations – for us.”

According to Director General of the MOD Human Resources Department Martin Jakál, 10,160 soldiers have been granted veteran status by the MOD since 2004. In addition, there are 196 participants of the WW2 national liberation struggle who “fought with weapons in their hands” as members of the Czechoslovak Army in Slovakia and abroad, members of allied armies, and partisans or who took part in WW2 operations as aides to the partisans.