Was the use of women combat units an exercise in equality by the Soviet Propaganda machine or a sensible Military decision? How many women served in front-line units? Any idea of casualty figures? What was the largest women only formation, Battalion, Brigade, Division? Eastern Front not my strong point so would like to learn more.
"Thousands of Russian women and girls fought for their Rodina (Motherland), serving with the Voyenno-Vozdushniye Sily (Air Forces, in Russian). In 1942, three air regiments were formed from female volunteers: The 586th Women's Fighter Regiment (initially equipped with Yakovlyev YaK-1s and later YaK-7Bs) The 587th Women's Day Bomber Regiment (flying Petlyakov Pe-2 2-engined bombers) The 588th Women's Night Bomber Regiment, the famous "Night Witches" (flying Polikarpov Po-2 biplanes) Many other women also served integrated with men with other aviation units. For example, in 1944, 1,749 girls served with Zabaikalsky Front, 3,000 women and girls served with the Far East 10th Air Army, 437 women served with the 4th Air Army of the Second Belorussian Front that comprised the crack 46th Guards Women Air Regiment that comprised 237 women-officers, 862 sergeants, 1,125 enlisted women and 2,117 auxiliaries. They also served flying and as gunners in the famous Il-2 and Il-2M3 Shturmovik tank busters, the "Flying Bathtub"." more info on Soviet female pilots @ http://pratt.edu/%7Ersilva/sovwomen.htm
Thanks Kyt. Just reading up your link and looking at another site about Lilya Vladimirovna Litvyak, The white rose of Stalingrad. http://users.pandora.be/stalingrad/russianpart/ruslitvyak.html This bit seems odd to me,viewing from a man's perspective . A great fighter-pilot but still gives the plane a feminine touch. They say the white rose on her Yak had drawn her killers to her. The morning before her flight she found some wild flowers and pinned a little bunch to the side of the instrument panel. Those who loved her like to think that at the end Lieutenant Litvyak's last glimpse was of the flowers in the corner of her cockpit
Thanks Kyt. Just reading up your link and looking at another site about Lilya Vladimirovna Litvyak, The white rose of Stalingrad. http://users.pandora.be/stalingrad/russianpart/ruslitvyak.html This bit seems odd to me,viewing from a man's perspective . A great fighter-pilot but still gives the plane a feminine touch. I suppose it was try keep a touch of feminity in such a brutish atmosphere. I found a list of references on Amazon that may help but you'll need access to a good library or deep pockets! http://www.amazon.com/Top-Ten-on-Soviet-Military-Women-in-WWII/lm/12F9R3KVHAI7
Thanks Kyt. Well Christmas is coming. Like the look of this one, just had a read inside. On the Road to Stalingrad: Memoirs of a Woman Machine Gunner.by Zoya Matveyevna Smirnova-Medvedeva. http://www.amazon.com/Road-Stalingrad-Memoirs-Machine-Gunner/dp/0968270204/ref=cm_lm_fullview_prod_2/104-3166333-0211130 Bit of a suicide job that one. Machine-gunners hardly likely to be taken prisoner and as a woman she wouldn't want to be anyway.
Er, I know you're probably sick of my posts but just one more reference that I've just skimmed and know that I'll be reading over the weekend. (serves you right for arosing my interest in the subject!!) "UNIT COHESION AMONG THE THREE SOVIET WOMEN’S AIR REGIMENTS" http://etd.lib.fsu.edu/theses/available/etd-03302004-154056/unrestricted/BhuvasorakulThesis.pdf DURING WORLD WAR II
The Russians had woman battalions even in ww1. Here in Bulgaria we never used a womans in the army even now they are only surving food or on the radios.
even now they are only surving food or on the radios. :wow: And Bulgaria wants to be in the EU! You'll have to be a bit more politically correct than that! Ok a serious question: This woman has been in my "My Pictures" file for some time, because she is beautiful and mysterious and dangerous (with that gun) and therefore more sexy that all the Bond girls put together. Does anyone know who she was? Is it just a Soviet propaganda photo?
:wow: And Bulgaria wants to be in the EU! You'll have to be a bit more politically correct than that! Ok a serious question: This woman has been in my "My Pictures" file for some time, because she is beautiful and mysterious and dangerous (with that gun) and therefore more sexy that all the Bond girls put together. Does anyone know who she was? Is it just a Soviet propaganda photo? She appears to be wearing the Order of the Red Star (top badge) (almost 3 million awards made!) and teh Guards badge. The original picture appears to have come from "usatruth.by. ru" (a post war Russian propoganda web site that is now defunct). Where the original picture, well I tried and haven't found any help. Good luck
:wow: And Bulgaria wants to be in the EU! You'll have to be a bit more politically correct than that! Ok a serious question: This woman has been in my "My Pictures" file for some time, because she is beautiful and mysterious and dangerous (with that gun) and therefore more sexy that all the Bond girls put together. Does anyone know who she was? Is it just a Soviet propaganda photo? What in the damn hell makes you think that we want to be in EU? A lot of speculations have been made and anyone is saying "Bulgaria is entering in Europe" we build the first churches while the british peoples still lived in caves(dont take offence). Our culture is different from yours our mantalitet is different and far more confused because in fact we fough many battles with stronger enemys. And please dont compere Soviet Union with Bulgaria Soviet army and culture is far more different then ours. I already said that one Soviet girl is like a western man.
Does anyone know who she was? Is it just a Soviet propaganda photo? I don't think it will be possible to trace a corporal, even from the Guards an with the Order of the Red Star, as these were awarded by the truckload. If she were a Heroine of the Soviet Union it would be different, as there is a website with the complete list, but it is in Russian and you have to open all the female names and see which one fits. Don't ask me how I know :p :m6:
I don't think it will be possible to trace a corporal, even from the Guards an with the Order of the Red Star, as these were awarded by the truckload. If she were a Heroine of the Soviet Union it would be different, as there is a website with the complete list, but it is in Russian and you have to open all the female names and see which one fits. Don't ask me how I know :p :m6: It does look like a "doctored" propoganda shot. If they were trying to make her look like a normal soldier, they did not succeed.
Here is one Soviet woman who didn't make it home from Finland. click link http://www.kevos4.com/images/Russian%20bodies%201.jpg From http://www.kevos4.com/Wartime%20Photos%205.htm
To my knolage soviet women were employed in skilled roles: Snipers Tank Drivers Piolts etc And - most notably - as the "Smersh" informers (infamous Soviet counterintelligence).
Here is one Soviet woman who didn't make it home from Finland. click link http://www.kevos4.com/images/Russian%20bodies%201.jpg From http://www.kevos4.com/Wartime%20Photos%205.htm She was even raped.Thats make my point on why woman dont have place on the front for now.
It does look like a "doctored" propoganda shot. If they were trying to make her look like a normal soldier, they did not succeed. they did succeed. at least, the photo looks quite natural.
