The Red Army's Sharpshooter
Lyudmila Pavlichenko
In the annals of World War II, amidst the thunderous clash of armies and the heroic exploits of soldiers, one name stands out as a symbol of courage, skill, and determination: Lyudmila Pavlichenko. Born on July 12, 1916, in a small Ukrainian village, Pavlichenko would go on to become one of the deadliest snipers in history, leaving an indelible mark on the battlefield and rewriting the narrative of women's roles in warfare.
Pavlichenko's early life was marked by hardship and resilience. Born in Ukraine in 1916, she relocated to the city of Kyiv with her family at the age of 14. Growing up in a tumultuous period in Russian history, she witnessed firsthand the chaos and upheaval of the Russian Revolution and the subsequent civil war. Despite the challenges of her upbringing, Pavlichenko showed exceptional intelligence and determination from a young age. Described as a tomboy, she exhibited a rebellious streak in the classroom and possessed a fierce competitive spirit, refusing to be overshadowed by anyone, particularly boys. When a neighbor's son boasted about his shooting prowess, she eagerly joined a paramilitary youth sports group to prove that a girl could excel just as much. Demonstrating remarkable talent, she not only matched her male counterparts but became an accomplished amateur marksman as well, earning a Voroshilov Marksman badge and her marksman certificate.
However, at the age of 15, with two years of high school still ahead of her, she faced an unexpected pregnancy, which she described as a moment of profound despair, feeling as though her world had come crashing down. She referred to it as her "first schoolgirl love," a decision made in youthful naivety. Despite this challenge, she married Alexei Pavlichenko and welcomed their son into the world. However, their marriage ultimately ended in failure, leading her to return to her parents' home. During this period, she juggled attending night school to complete her high school education with working during the day as a metal grinder at an ammunitions factory.
In 1937, at the age of 21, she began her studies in history at Kyiv University, harboring aspirations of becoming a teacher and scholar. Alongside her academic pursuits, she also found time to compete as a sprinter and pole vaulter on the university's track team. Additionally, during her time at university, she joined the local shooting club, where her natural talent as a sharpshooter quickly became evident. Her prowess with a rifle caught the attention of Soviet military officials, who were actively recruiting skilled marksmen for service in the Red Army. She seized the opportunity to attend an elite sniper school operated by the military.
At the age of 24, in June 1941, Lyudmila Pavlichenko was in her fourth year of studies when Nazi Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, initiating the invasion of the Soviet Union by the Wehrmacht. Pavlichenko eagerly volunteered at the Odessa recruiting office, expressing her desire to join the infantry. However, the male registrar initially rejected her, undermining her abilities and suggesting she become a nurse. Determined to serve in combat, she refused this offer. Armed with her certifications, Pavlichenko impressed military officials and following basic training, she was assigned to the Red Army's 25th Rifle Division, joining the ranks of 2,000 female snipers. Shockingly, only 500 of them survived the war. Remarkably, Lyudmila Pavlichenko was the sole recipient of the Hero of the Soviet Union award among those 500, earning the military's highest honor while still alive.
Initially, however, due to a shortage in supply of arms, the Red Army failed to provide her with a rifle, leaving her with only a single grenade. However, the situation changed on August 8, 1941. Seizing the opportunity, she acquired a Mosin-Nagant rifle from a dying Red Army soldier and swiftly demonstrated her marksmanship skills. By eliminating two Romanian soldiers from the vantage point of a hill controlled by the Soviets, Pavlichenko silenced her skeptics and proved her prowess with a rifle from a distance of 400 metres.
During the Siege of Odessa, she bravely fought on the front lines for two and a half months, amassing a documented 187 kills. In recognition of her exceptional skill and valor, she was promoted to Senior Sergeant in August of that year. Continuing her remarkable record, she added another 100 kills to her official tally.
At the age of 25, she married fellow sniper Alexei Kitsenko, and together they shared the trenches, spending the initial days of their marriage hunting Nazis. Pavlichenko humorously remarked, "The honeymoon had a positive effect on my shooting." However, their marital bliss was tragically short-lived. In March of 1942, Kitsenko sustained mortal wounds from a mortar shell and passed away several days later. With her husband's death, the war took on a deeply personal meaning for Lyudmila Pavlichenko.
But it was during the Battle of Sevastopol in 1942 that Pavlichenko would cement her place in history. Following the Romanian Army's occupation of Odessa in October 1941, her unit was relocated to Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula. In Sevastopol, she undertook the responsibility of training other snipers, who collectively eliminated over 100 Axis soldiers during the city's siege. By May 1942, having been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, Pavlichenko was recognized for her exceptional performance, with citations documenting her responsibility for the elimination of 257 Axis soldiers.
As Pavlichenko's tally of confirmed kills continued to climb, her mission assignments grew increasingly perilous. These tasks often involved counter-sniping, entailing duels with enemy sharpshooters. Remarkably, Pavlichenko emerged victorious from every duel she engaged in, including one that endured for three days. Reflecting on her experiences, she recounted how her adversary eventually made "one move too many," leading to his demise. In total, Pavlichenko eliminated 36 enemy snipers throughout her service.
In June 1942, while engaged in combat in Sevastopol, Pavlichenko sustained injuries when shrapnel from a mortar round struck her face. Recognizing Pavlichenko's immense value as a sniper, the military opted to withdraw her from battle before she could fully recuperate. At the time of her withdrawal, Pavlichenko had amassed an impressive record of 309 confirmed kills. Due to her exceptional marksmanship skills, she had earned the moniker "Lady Death," a reputation that was well-known even among the German Army.
The German Army made attempts to entice her with offers of chocolate and promises of a high-ranking position in their ranks. As the war progressed, these attempts turned into threats, with one message menacingly declaring their intention to dismember her body into 309 pieces. Pavlichenko, undeterred by the threats, expressed satisfaction that the enemy recognized her achievements accurately. Following her recovery, Pavlichenko was reassigned to a new role by the Soviet command, transitioning from the front lines to a position in propaganda.
The Red Army, recognizing Pavlichenko as a symbol of heroism, was hesitant to risk losing her in combat. At the young age of 25, having endured the rigors of battle and sustained injuries four times, Pavlichenko had become a living legend. Despite her limited English proficiency, she embarked on a publicity tour at the behest of the Soviet Union, aimed at persuading its allies to launch a second front against Nazi Germany. Her journey took her to Great Britain and the United States, where she had the opportunity to meet with Eleanor Roosevelt. She made history as the first Soviet citizen to be formally received by a U.S. president, with Franklin D. Roosevelt extending a warm welcome to her at the White House. Following this, Eleanor Roosevelt extended an invitation for her to join a nationwide tour, where she could share her experiences as a woman engaged in combat with American audiences. Grateful for the opportunity, she formed a close bond with the First Lady as they embarked on this journey together.
Despite addressing large crowds alongside her translator, she faced skepticism from the ever misogynistic media. Often dubbed the "Sevastopol Amazon," she was treated more as a spectacle than a serious figure, with some viewing her as a traitor to her gender through a male-centric lens. The New York Times even labeled her the "Girl Sniper," fixating on trivial aspects such as the perceived lack of style in her uniform. In one particularly belittling instance, a reporter inquired about whether snipers wore makeup on the front lines, to which she cheekily responded that there were no restrictions against it, but also remarked with acerbic wit, "Who has time to worry about a shiny nose when there's a battle to be fought?"
The American press seemed to be her adversary at every place she went. When facing reporters in Washington, she was bewildered and dumbfounded by their ridiculous inquiries, recalling one who criticized the length of her uniform skirt, suggesting it made her look fat compared to American women who wore shorter skirts. Frustrated with such remarks, especially when a war was going on, she fired back, declaring, "I wear my uniform with honor. It bears the Order of Lenin and has been stained with blood in battle. It's evident that American women are more concerned with what they wear underneath their uniforms. They have yet to grasp the significance of the uniform itself." Once, she challenged a particularly sexist reporter to a fistfight!
The American press perceived her responses as blunt and devoid of emotion. However, once she found her voice, she captivated audiences with tales of her youth, the devastating impact of the German invasion, and her remarkable combat achievements. She consistently emphasized that women were not only capable of fighting but vital in the war effort. It was during an event in Chicago where she boldly asserted, "Gentlemen, I am 25 years old and I have killed 309 fascist invaders. Don’t you think, gentlemen, that you have been hiding behind my back for too long?" Her statement was met with a moment of stunned silence, followed by resounding applause and support from the audience.
She engaged in a whirlwind of activities during her time in the United States, addressing factory workers, attending formal dinners and events, demonstrating sharpshooting skills to American marksmen, fundraising for the Red Army, and mingling with notable figures like Charlie Chaplin. After four months, she returned to Moscow eager to resume her fight. However, her elevated status as an officer rendered her too valuable to be sent back to the front lines. Instead, she was appointed as a sniping instructor for the upcoming generation of Red Army sharpshooters, a role she fulfilled until 1944. In recognition of her exceptional service, she was honored with the Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union in 1943, along with the Order of Lenin, the Soviet Union's highest civilian decoration, awarded to her twice.
Upon the war's conclusion, she resumed her studies at Kyiv University and pursued her ambition of becoming a historian. Between 1945 and 1953, she served as a research assistant at Soviet Navy headquarters. In 1957, 15 years after Lyudmila Pavlichenko's tour of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt visited Moscow. Determined to reconnect with her old friend, Mrs. Roosevelt insisted on visiting Pavlichenko. Despite Cold War constraints, they managed to steal a moment away from their attendants in Pavlichenko's small Moscow apartment. Amidst high tensions between the US and Russia at the time, the two women shared laughter, caught up on each other's lives, and reminisced about their time together in the United States, creating, if only for a few minutes, a friendship that surpassed political boundaries. They were just two women who had shattered the glass ceiling, albeit in vastly different ways.
Pavlichenko's exploits on the battlefield captured the imagination of the Soviet people and made her a national hero. Her name became synonymous with courage and resistance, inspiring countless men and women to take up arms against the fascist invaders. But perhaps most importantly, Pavlichenko shattered stereotypes and challenged traditional gender roles, proving that women were more than capable of holding their own on the battlefield.
Regrettably, like numerous soldiers, Pavlichenko grappled with PTSD, depression, and alcoholism for years after her service. On October 10, 1974, she passed away due to a stroke. In her honor, the Soviet Union issued two commemorative postage stamps—one in 1943, celebrating her wartime achievements, and another in 1976, commemorating her legacy after her death. Today, in Russia, Pavlichenko is revered as a military hero and is celebrated as the most accomplished female sniper in history.
Throughout her life, Pavlichenko remained a symbol of courage, resilience, and defiance in the face of adversity. Her story serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by millions of men and women during World War II and the enduring legacy of those who fought for freedom and justice. Lyudmila Pavlichenko may have been just one person, but her actions and achievements echo through the ages, inspiring generations to come.
References:
Levins, S. (2022, April 20). History’s Deadliest Female Sniper: Ukraine’s Lyudmila Pavlichenko. WednesdaysWomen. https://wednesdayswomen.com/historys-deadliest-female-sniper-ukraines-lyudmila-pavlichenko/
Wikipedia Contributors. (2020, January 14). Lyudmila Pavlichenko. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyudmila_Pavlichenko
Gentry, C. (2021, March 22). “Lady Death” of the Red Army: Lyudmila Pavlichenko. The National WWII Museum | New Orleans. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/lady-death-red-army-lyudmila-pavlichenko
Collins, J. (2022, May 17). Greatest Marksmen: Lyudmila Pavlichenko. Sonoran Desert Institute. https://sdi.edu/greatest-marksmen-lyudmila-pavlichenko/
