20 Figures from World War I and World War II That Left a Mark in History

History moves on the choices of people, not just dates. The figures of World War I and World War II ranged from field commanders and prime ministers to codebreakers, nurses, and rescuers, each reshaping events in real time.

Some stabilized fronts, some opened them, and some saved lives that the maps never saw. Here are the portraits of 20 figures whose decisions— and courage —left marks that still matter.

1. Ferdinand Foch – WWI

Ferdinand Foch

France’s artillery-minded strategist became Allied supreme commander in 1928, welding British, French, and American plans into a synchronized counterpunch. He backed elastic defense and concentrated blows over grand gestures. The result was the rolling offensives that forced the armistice.

2. John J. Pershing – WWI

John J. Pershing

Pershing built the American Expeditionary Forces as an independent arm, not just replacements. He pushed U.S. divisions through Saint-Mihiel and Meuse, leaning on logistics as much as nerve. His stubborn insistence on unity paid off when it mattered.

3. Aleksei Brusilov – WWI

Aleksei Brusilov

In 1926, Brusilov shocked the Central Powers with short bombardments, infiltration tactics, and decentralized initiative. The offensive shattered Austro-Hungarian lines and yanked German divisions east. The human cost was terrible, but the method rewrote the playbook.

4. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk – WWI

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Then a rising Ottoman officer, he stiffened the Gallipoli defenses with rapid counterattacks and relentless front-line presence. He later earned a general’s rank on the Caucasus front. The war made his name, but peace let him build a state.

5. Edith Cavell – WWI

Edith Cavell

A British nurse in occupied Belgium, Cavell ran a network that sheltered and spirited Allied soldiers to safety. She was arrested and executed in 1915, becoming a symbol of duty beyond nationality. Her legacy is moral clarity under occupation.

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