75 years later, honoring World War II still matters

Washington, DC, May 6, 2020 — Ahead of the 75^th anniversary of the Allied Forces’ victory over Nazi Germany, an Ipsos survey finds 75% of Americans agreeing on the importance of holding ceremonies in remembrance of World War II. It is the case of 55% of people surveyed across the 28 countries where the poll was conducted.  

Russia, Great Britain, Ukraine, the United States, China, and Poland are the countries surveyed whose citizens most tend to be proud of their nation’s role in the conflict.

Throughout the world, many have a direct, familial link to the conflict. Globally, 40% of those surveyed report that some of their relatives or ancestors served in the armed forces during World War II, 21% that some of them died fighting in it, and 15% that some died because of deliberate genocide, massacres, mass-bombings, disease, or starvation during that war. Compared to the average of people across all 28 countries, Americans are more likely to say they have a relative or an ancestor who served in the armed forces during World War II (57%), but they are less likely to mention that one of their relatives or ancestors died combatting in it (12%) or as result of deliberate genocide, massacres, mass-bombings, disease, or starvation during the conflict (7%).

World War II’s influence is still felt deeply in many countries. Globally, 42% agree that political life in their country is still influenced by the events and the outcomes of the conflict. Among all the countries surveyed, this view is most widely held in Poland, China, Germany, Russia, and Great Britain. It is shared by 47% of Americans.

The survey, titled 75^th Anniversary of the End of World War II: A Global View, was conducted among 20,005 adults under the age of 75 across 28 countries on the Global Advisor online platform between March 20 and April 3, 2020.

Detailed Findings

• Holding ceremonies in remembrance of World War II is deemed important by a majority in 16 of the 28 countries, including the United States, and by 55% globally.
  • Among the countries surveyed, those where holding ceremonies in remembrance of World War II is most widely considered to be important are: Russia, Great Britain, Australia, the Netherlands, Canada, the United States, Ukraine, Poland, China, France and Belgium, all with at least two out of three adults saying it is very or somewhat important.
  • At the opposite end of the spectrum, fewer than one in five in Japan and Saudi Arabia are of this opinion.
  • Globally, while those aged 50-74 are most likely to agree (61%), majorities of those under the age of 35 (52%) and those aged 35-49 (also 52%) agree as well.
  • In the United States, the level of agreement is about 20 points higher overall (75%) and in every age group: 70% among those under 35, 72% among those aged 35-49, and 81% among those aged 50-74.
• Majorities in 12 countries report they are proud of their nation’s role in World War II, including in the United States, where it the case for 73% of those surveyed.
  • Pride is most prevalent in Russia, Great Britain, Ukraine, the United States, China, Poland, Canada and Australia with at least two in three of their citizens surveyed agreeing they are proud of it.
  • Countries where pride is rarest include Germany, Japan, Spain and Chile, with fewer than one in six expressing any.
  • The belief that it is important to commemorate World War II is not necessarily tied with pride in the role one’s own country had in it, especially in Europe. While the countries where ceremonies are widely viewed as important include all countries where citizens are proudest of their country’s role, it also includes several European nations whose citizens are divided on their country’s role: the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Sweden and Italy.
  • Pride in the United States’s role during World War II is more prevalent among Americans aged 50-74 (86%) than it is among those under the age of 35 (59%) and those aged 35-49 (67%).
• Forty-two percent globally and 47% in the United States agree that the events and the outcomes of World War II still have an influence on their nation’s political life.
  • The countries where political life is most perceived to still be influenced by the events and the outcomes of World War II are: Poland, China, Germany, Russia, Great Britain, Ukraine, and Hungary, with at least one-half of their citizens surveyed agreeing it is.
  • In contrast, fewer than one in four in Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Argentina and Chile say it is.
  • There are few differences by age on this measure: globally, the percentage of those agreeing is almost as high among those under the age of 35 (40%) and those aged 35-49 (also 40%) as it is among than those aged 50-74 (45%). This holds true for the United States with 47% of adults under the age of 35, 47% of those aged 35-49 and 48% of those aged 50-74 agreeing.
• Globally, 40% say that some of their relatives or ancestors served in the armed forces during World War II; 21% say some of them died fighting; and 15% say some died due to deliberate genocide, massacres, mass-bombings, disease, or starvation.
  • Service in the armed forces by relatives or ancestors during World War II is most widely reported in Russia (86%), Ukraine (83%), Great Britain (73%), Germany (61%), the United States (57%), and Australia (56%).
  • The countries whose citizens are most likely to report having a relative or an ancestor who died fighting in World War II are: Russia (59%), Ukraine (55%), Germany (44%), and Poland (32%). Twelve percent of Americans say it is the case.
  • Ukraine (37%), Russia (28%), Germany (26%), Poland (25%), India (20%), and Hungary (20%) are the countries where it is most common to have relatives or ancestors who died due to deliberate genocide, massacres, mass-bombings, disease, or starvation. The United States (7%) is one of the countries surveyed where it is least common.
  • Globally, those aged 50-74 are significantly more likely to report having relatives or ancestors who served in the armed forces during World War II (48% vs. 33% of those under 35 and 37% of those aged 35-49); and slightly more likely to say some of them died fighting (24% vs. 19% of those under 35 and 20% of those aged 35-49). However, they are no more likely to say some died because of deliberate genocide, massacres, mass-bombings, disease, or starvation (14% vs.16% of those under 35 and 14% those aged 35-49).
  • Similarly, in the United States, adults aged 50-74 are those most likely to report having relatives or ancestors who served in the armed forces during World War II (68% vs. 44% of adults under the age of 35 and 56% of adults aged 35-49). There is less of difference among age groups on having relatives or ancestors who died fighting in World War II (14% of adults aged 50-74 vs. 12% for those under the age of 35 and 9% of those aged 35-49). However, Americans under the age of 35 are more likely to mention having relatives or ancestors who died in World War II because of deliberate genocide, massacres, mass-bombings, disease, or starvation (13%) than are those aged 35-49 (5%) and those aged 50-74).

About the Study

These are findings from a Global Advisor survey conducted by Ipsos among 20,005 adults aged 18-74 in the United States, Canada, Malaysia, South Africa, and Turkey and 16-74 in 23 other markets, March 20 – April 3, 2020. It was carried out via the Ipsos Online Panel System in 28 markets.

Approximately 1000+ individuals were surveyed in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland), France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, and the U.S. Approximately 500+ individuals were surveyed in Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Hungary, India, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, and Ukraine.

The samples in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the U.S. can be taken as representative of these countries’ general adult population under the age of 75.

The samples in Brazil, Chile, China (mainland), India, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, and Ukraine are more urban, more educated, and/or more affluent than the general population. The survey results for these markets should be viewed as reflecting the views of the more “connected” segment of these populations.

The data is weighted so that each market’s sample composition best reflects the demographic profile of the adult population according to the most recent census data.

Where results do not sum to 100 or the ‘difference’ appears to be +/-1 more/less than the actual, this may be due to rounding, multiple responses or the exclusion of don't knows or not stated responses.

The precision of Ipsos online polls are calculated using a credibility interval with a poll of 1,000 accurate to +/- 3.5 percentage points and of 500 accurate to +/- 4.8 percentage points. For more information on the Ipsos use of credibility intervals, please visit the Ipsos website.

The publication of these findings abides by local rules and regulations.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Nicolas Boyon
Senior Vice President, US
Public Affairs
+1 646 309 4879
[email protected]

Kate Silverstein
Media Relations Specialist, US
Public Affairs
+1 718 755 8829
[email protected]

About Ipsos

Ipsos is the world’s third largest market research company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.

Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions.

Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).

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