Many former professional and top-level association footballers lost their lives during World War II, either while serving in their own or other countries' armed forces, as civilian casualties of enemy action or in enemy captivity. In addition, a number of Jewish players became victims of the Nazi Holocaust.
In the case of players whose countries were annexed by others or who migrated from their country of birth, they are classified under the nation of football association in which they spent most if not all of their playing careers.
Those who died as a result of the war or service in it, include:
Austria
Heinrich Belohlavek – midfielder who played in the national team in one match (1910), and for Vienna club SC Rudolfshugel. A political resister of the Nazi regime following the annexation by Germany in 1938, he was arrested for running a cell of the banned Austrian Communist Party at his factory and executed by beheading at Plotzensee Prison, Berlin, on 2 March 1943 aged 53. Franz Cisar – played in the national team (1933–34), as well as for Hertha Wien (1926–29), Wiener A.C. (1929–35), Czech teams Moravska Slavia Brno (1935–36) and SK Prostejov (1937–39) and French club F.C. Metz (1936–37). An Obergefreiter (Corporal) in a German Army tank regiment, he was killed in action on the Eastern Front in Russia in August 1943 aged 34. Fritz Dunmann – Jewish striker who played in the national team (1906–07), and for Rapid Wien. He was imprisoned in 1941 and ultimately deported to Auschwitz concentration camp where he was killed on 5 June 1942 aged 57. Otto Fischer – a Jewish player in the national team (1923–28) and for Hakoah Vienna (1926–30), and was coach for Italian club S.S.C. Napoli (1928) and Olimpia Liepaja in Latvia where he settled in 1936. Following German occupation of Latvia, he was killed in the Liepāja massacres, on 1 July 1941 aged 40. Karl Gall – played in the national team (1931–36). A Gefreiter (lance corporal) in the German army, he was killed in action on the Eastern Front near Staraya Russa, Russia, on 27 February 1943 aged 37. Leopold Giebisch – played in the national team (1927–29). An Unteroffizier (corporal) in the German army, he was killed in action on the Eastern Front at Pillau, East Prussia, on 20 April 1945 aged 43. Wilhelm Holec – a striker who played in the national team (1935). Played for SK Viktoria XXI (1932), First Vienna FC (1932–37) and SK Rapid Wien (1937–42). Reported missing in action serving under German command in Broasca, Romania, on the Eastern Front on 23 August 1944 aged 30. Franz Jelinek – a forward who represented Germany (1940) after the Anschluss. Played for Wiener Sport-Club. He served as a corporal in the German army and was killed in action in Italy on 20 May 1944 aged 21. Eduard Kanhauser – goalkeeper who appeared in the national team (1922–25). Played for Wiener Sport-Club (1921–26). An Unteroffizier in the German Army, he was reported missing in action in Italy on 22 May 1944 aged 42. Franz Kellinger – played in the national team (1929). A soldat (private) in the German army, he died while serving at Barlad, Romania, on 14 June 1941 aged 35. Ernst Künz – competed internationally at the 1936 Summer Olympics two years before the Anschluss. He was killed in action serving on the Eastern Front under German command in Lithuania on 21 August 1944 aged 32. Fritz Löhner-Beda – though better known as a lyricist and librettist, he was a founder player with Hakoah Vienna in 1909. Jewish, he was arrested after the German annexation of Austria and was in concentration camps the rest of his life. Beaten to death at Auschitz Monowitz III camp in Poland on 4 December 1942 aged 59. Franz Riegler II – a forward whose senior career was spent entirely under the Nazi Anschluss, enabling him to appear in the national team (1941–42). Played for Austria Wien (1939–43) and LSV Markersdorf/Peilach (1943–44). A civilian in the war apart from service in the Wehrmacht during 1942–43, he was killed in an Allied air raid on Vienna on 15 February 1945 aged 23. Max Scheuer – Jewish player in the national team (1923). Played for Hakoah Vienna and later in French team Olympique de Marseille. He was arrested by the Nazis while trying to flee France and via Drancy internment camp was deported to Auschwitz concentration camp where he died after August 1941. Karl Stürmer – played in the national team (1903–05). Played for First Vienna in 1898 and Wiener A.C., which he managed 1918–19 before settling into managing a series of teams in Italy including Reggiana (1920–22 and 1924–26), Torino (1922–24, 1929–30), Alessandria (1931-31 and 1936–37), Lazio (1932–34), Cremonese (1940–41), Verona (1941–42) and Cesena (1942–43).