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 SK Moravská Slavia Brno (1935–36) and SK Prostějov (1937–39) and French club FC Metz (1936–37). An Obergefreiter (Corporal) in a German Army tank regiment, he was killed in action on the Eastern Front in Russia on 10 August 1943 aged 34. Family obituary Franz Cisar, Das Kleine Blatt newspaper, 13 September 1943, p.7. 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.Otto Fischer at liepajajews.org 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. Rapid Wiena archive, Wilhelm Holec. 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.Retrieved 29 August 2022 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.Dein ist mein ganzes Herz (Fritz Löhner-Beda) by Günther Schwarberg (2000) Johann Luef - player in national team (1929-33). Played as forward for Rapid Wien (1926-37), KSV Strassenbahn Wien (1937-39) and Vorwarts Steyr (1939-45). Died of wounds received in action as soldier in hospital in East Prussia on 3 April 1945 aged 39. 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,Bernhard Hachleitner, Matthias Maschik, Rudolf Mulner, Johann Skocek, A football team from Vienna: FK Austria under National Socialism 1936–1945, p.289 (2019), Bohlan Verlag, Vienna, Cologne and Weimar; German language. 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 aged at least 45.Dating with regard to Scheur's death based on the opening of Drancy internment camp. His death would have preceded the liberation of Auschwitz in January 1945. Bolchover places the arrest under Vichy France, where the south of France was unoccupied by the Germans until November 1942. 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). He was arrested by occupying German troops and shot at Faenza in 1943 aged 60. Karl Wahlmuller – competed internationally at the 1936 Summer Olympics as midfielder. Played for SV Ufahr Linz and LSV Adlerhorst Weis. A corporal in a Luftwaffe field unit, he was killed in action on the Eastern Front Death report in newspaper Kleine Wiener Kriegszeitung of 17 November 1944, page 7, third column. He is mis-named "Franz". in Toila, Estonia, on 16 February 1944 aged 30. Walter Werginz – competed internationally at the 1936 Summer Olympics. He was missing in action serving under German command, later declared dead, in Ukraine on the Eastern Front on 21 March 1942 aged 31.

Belgium Henri Bierna – non-playing reserve member at the 1928 Summer Olympics, competed internationally in the national team (1927–28), and domestically for US Liege (1926–39). A civilian in the war, he was killed in an American air raid on Waremme, Belgium, on 28 August 1944 aged 38. Frans Christiaens – goalkeeper with the national team (1935–36), who played for Lierse S.K. 1925–43. A civilian in the war, he was killed in an American air raid on Mortsel, Belgium, on 5 May 1943 aged 29. Online victims list of bombardment of Mortsel, created by Pieter Serrien (language Dutch) 2018, accessed 27 March 2022. Hector Goetinck – played in the national team (1906–23), and twice managed it (1930–34 and 1939–40). Midfielder with the Club Brugge (1903–14 and 1919–28) and their manager (1930–33), as well as with A.S. Oostende (1933–39). A civilian in the war, he was killed by a German bomb dropped at Knokke-Heist, Belgium, on 26 June 1943 aged 57. Rene Joannes-Powell – played in youth for FC Liege until 1910, subsequently branching out into field and track sport, for which he became more distinguished as a hurdler. A civilian in the war, he was accidentally killed as a spectator to the deliberate destruction of a bridge at Liège in attempt to halt the German invasion of Belgium on 11 May 1940 aged 44. Jean Petit – played four times with the national team in 1938. Defender with Standard de Liege (1930–39). A civilian doctor in the war, he was killed in an Allied air raid on Liege, Belgium, on 25 May 1944 aged 30.La Légia 30 May 1944 pages 2 and 3) (French language) accessed 18 August 2022.

China Chen Zhenhe – competed internationally at the 1936 Summer Olympics and Far Eastern Games (1930 and 1934). Played for Shanghai team You-You. A Squadron Leader in the Chinese Air Force, he was killed on active service when he crashed on first flying a new aircraft near Lanzhou, China, on 28 January 1941 aged 34.https://web.archive.org/web/20200417131327/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ch/chen-zhenhe-1.html Biography page

Czechoslovakia František Kloz – in the national team (1929–37) and twice top First League goalscorer (1931 and 1937). Played mainly for SK Kladno between 1928 and 1940, where he became manager (1942–43), and for SK Slavia Praha (1931) and Sparta Prague (1933). Anti-Nazi during his country's German occupation while continuing to professionally play, he was wounded when as a civilian volunteer he took part in a raid on an ammunition store in May and died in hospital at Louny on 13 June 1945 aged 40.

Estonia Erich Altosaar – though better known as a basketball player, he played for Kalev when they won the 1930 Estonian Football Championship. A civilian police officer, after Estonia's annexation by the Soviet Union, he was arrested by the NKVD on charge of anti-Soviet activity and shot at a Gulag camp in Kirov Oblast, Russia, on 11 October 1941 aged 33.Altosaar, Erich. Eesti spordi biograafiline leksikon Eduard Eelma (known until 1936 as Eduard-Wilhelm Ellman) – competed internationally at the 1924 Summer Olympics, in the national team (1921–35). Played for Kalev (1919–25), TJK (1925–30) and JS Estonia Tallinn (1930–35). He was arrested by the NKVD following Estonia's annexation by the Soviet Union, deported to Siberia and executed in prison at Kirov on 16 November 1941 aged 39. William Fiskar – played for Meteor (1910–11) and Kalev (1911–12) (when Estonia was then part of the Russian Empire), becoming a founder of Estonia Football Association in 1921. A civilian in the war, he was arrested by the NKVD in 1940 following annexation by the Soviet Union on possible espionage charges, then transferred in 1941 to custody in Nazi Germany where he was executed for anti-German activity charges on 26 February 1942 aged 51 at Oranienburg concentration camp. Harald Kaarmann – competed internationally at the 1924 Summer Olympics, in the national team (1921–26). Played for Kalev (1920–25) and Tallinna Jalgpalliklubi (1925–26). A civilian state policeman in Estonia, he was arrested by Soviet authorities in 1941 following the Soviet annexation and deported to Siberia where he was executed at a prison camp in Sverdlovsk on 19 August 1942 aged 40. Valter Neeris – played in the national team (1934–40). Mobilized into the Red Army in 1941, killed in action in Battle of Velikiye Luki on 30 December 1942 aged 27. Heinrich Paal – competed internationally at the 1924 Summer Olympics, in the national team (1920–30). Deported to Siberia following Soviet annexation he died in prison camp at Vyatlag on 20 September 1942 aged 47. Heinrich Paal, ESBL in Estonian. Egon Parbo – played in the national team (1931–39). Arrested by the NKVD in 1941 and died in a prison camp in Sosva on 24 April 1942 aged 32. Viktor Piisang – played in the national team (1938–40). Played for club JS Estonia Tallinn. Drafted into the Red Army in 1941, he was wounded at the Battle of Velikiye Luki and was killed while in transport at Kohila, Estonia, on 24 September 1944 aged 26. Voldemar Rõks – played in the national team (1923–24) and for JK Tallinna Kalev (1923–24). A bank official, he was deported to Siberia and died in Soviet prison camp at Solikamsk on 27 December 1941 aged 40.