Lyudmila Pavlichenko

Role in War: Sniper

 

Lyudmila Pavlichenko is regarded as the most successful female sniper with 309 confirmed kills. Serving during WW2, the Nazi’s gave her the nickname “Lady Death”.  In every duel she fought against other snipers, she won.

 

In 1941, the Germans invaded the Soviet Union. Lyudmila, at age 24, set aside her university course to enlist at the recruiting office; though they pushed her to become a nurse Lyudmila resisted this and was eventually enrolled into the Red Army’s 25^th Rifle Division as a sniper. Lyudmila was not the only female sniper, there were in fact 2000 female snipers, with 500 of those snipers surviving the war. 

           In 1943, Pavlichenko was awarded the Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union 

Lyudmila took an active role in fighting, going to the frontlines where she participated in the Siege of Odessa and later the Siege of Sevastopol. 

 

Despite enduring a serious injury in 1942, Lyudmila continued her duty, now as a public spokeswoman for the Red Army travelling to countries like UK, Canada, and the United States. Notably she became great friends with First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, and was able to cope with the critics of American Newspapers, 

 

“ Don’t you think, gentlemen, that you have been hiding behind my back for too long?” 

 

                                        

                                     Pavlichenko with U.S First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt 

 

Lyudmila’s story is inspiring, her unmatched skills of marksmanship, her continued war effort and her desire to display that women had as much capability as men. 

 

Pictures from: 1, 2

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