The Most Dangerous Woman Of The 20th Century
Lyudmila Pavlichenko was a skilled markswoman when she marched into the Red Army's recruiting office in Odessa in 1941. She asked to join the infantry. The recruiter scoffed at her, suggesting that she become a nurse. Pavlichenko persisted—and went on to become one of the most elite snipers in history.
A Markswoman Is Born
Mikhail Belov and his wife Elena were living in Bila Tserkva, a city in present-day Ukraine when they welcomed a daughter to their family. Born in 1916, Lyudmila Belov would become the stuff of legends—and a Woody Guthrie song.
A Competitive Tomboy
Pavlichenko was a self-described tomboy while growing up. She was keen to prove that girls could be just as good as—or even better than—boys, especially in athletics.
She Excelled At Marksmanship
When Pavlichenko was 14, her family moved to Kyiv. It was there that she took her first marksmanship class. Pavlichenko quickly earned a Voroshilov Sharpshooter Badge, indicative of an honorary civil title, and a marksmanship certificate in recognition of her skills.
She Married Young
In 1932, when Pavlichenko was still a young teenager, she married Alexei Pavlichenko, a Ukrainian doctor. Together they had a son, Rostislav. However, the marriage was short-lived.
She Divorced Young, Too
Unhappy in her marriage, Pavlichenko soon had it dissolved. She moved back to her parents' home with Rostislav. She kept busy tending to her young son, attending night school, and working at a local arms factory.
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She Studied At Kyiv University
In 1937, at the age of 21, Pavlichenko enrolled at Kyiv University. Interested in history, she planned to become a teacher. She was active in athletics while a student, participating as a sprinter and pole vaulter with the university's track team. During this time, she also took a six-month marksmanship course offered by the Red Army.
Operation Barbarossa
On June 22, 1941, Germany violated its non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union and launched Operation Barbarossa. 3 million Axis personnel and thousands of aircraft and tanks flooded into Ukraine.
She Rushed To The Recruiting Office
On the day the Axis invaded, Pavlichenko was in her fourth year of studies at Kyiv University. She put her dreams of becoming a teacher on hold and rushed to volunteer at the recruiting office in Odessa.
She Refused To Be Pigeonholed By Gender
At the recruiting office, the registrar suggested that she become a nurse. Pavlichenko held firm, producing her Voroshilov badge and documents affirming her marksmanship skills. The registrar relented. Pavlichenko was assigned to the Red Army's 25th Rifle Division.
One Of An Elite Group
Once she joined the infantry, Pavilchenko became one of the Red Army's 2,000 female snipers. Only about 500 of those women survived past 1945.
She Was Given Only A Grenade
Despite her marksmanship skills, she was initially put to work digging trenches and communication routes. Due to shortages, all she was given to protect herself was a single grenade.
Armed And Ready
In late July 1941, one of Pavlichenko's comrades was injured by shrapnel. Unable to carry on, he handed her his Mosin-Nagant bolt-action rifle.
The Defense Of Odessa
On August 8, 1941, the Soviets began the defense of Odessa, as Axis forces launched a siege against the port on the Black Sea. Pavlichenko was armed and in place, with her Number 2 Company, in the center of the first defensive line.
The Number Of Her Casualties Rose Daily
On the very first day of the defense of Odessa, Pavlichenko took out two Axis officers at a distance of about 400 meters. Then, during the defense of Odessa, Pavlichenko picked off at least 187 Axis personnel. To be added to her tally, each casualty had to be documented by another person. It's likely that Pavlichenko's tally far exceeded that which was documented.
Her Patience Was Legendary
Pavlichenko was known for lying motionless for up to 18 hours at a time, hidden from the enemy's sight, and waiting for an opportunity to engage. Often, she ate only bread and water while concealed.
She Was Crafty On The Front
In addition to being highly skilled with her aim and incredibly patient, Pavlichenko had a strong sense of survival. She used various ploys to distract the enemy and keep herself concealed. Her actions were critical to her long-term success. Others in the same role had an average lifespan of about three weeks.
Her Missions Became Increasingly Dangerous
As Pavlichenko's skill became renowned, she was assigned increasingly dangerous missions. Often, she engaged in duels with Axis snipers. Famously, she rarely fired more than once. She won 36 duels by the end of her active service.
She Was Quickly Promoted
Pavlichenko quickly became legendary within the Red Army. By the end of the summer of 1941, she was promoted to the rank of Senior Sergeant.
She Found Love On The Front Lines
In the midst of the chaos and brutality on the front lines, Pavlichenko fell in love with her commanding officer, Alexei Kitsenko. It is perhaps unsurprising that the love affair was doomed.
Did They Marry—Or Didn't They?
Some sources say that Pavlichenko and Kitsenko married during the defense of Odessa. Others say that Pavlichenko couldn't remarry because her previous marriage hadn't been officially dissolved. In any case, the two considered themselves married on the day Pavlichenko's heart was broken forever.
The Loss Of Kitsenko
In early October 1941, Pavlichenko was lightly wounded by shrapnel. Sadly, Kitsenko was seriously injured in the same battle. He took his last breath a few days later. Pavlichenko never remarried.
Withdrawal From Odessa
Just days after Kitsenko's passing, the Axis forces successfully seized Odessa. Pavlichenko and her unit were withdrawn from the area. They were relocated to Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula.
The Defense Of Sevastopol
The siege of Sevastopol was part of Operation Barbarossa. Axis land forces arrived at the Crimean Peninsula in the fall of 1941 and quickly overtook most of the area except for Sevastopol. The Red Army—including Pavlichenko—moved in to defend the city, an important port for the Soviets.
Her Reputation Grew At Sevastopol
Pavlichenko's incredible skill continued to cut down the enemy at Sevastopol. By May 1942, the number of her casualties rose to 257 and she was promoted once again, this time to the rank of Lieutenant.
She Trained Others
Pavlichenko began training others in her skillset while she was stationed at Sevastopol. Together, her trainees were credited with taking out over 100 Axis personnel during the Red Army's defense of the city.
Her Fourth Injury Was Her Last
In May 1942, Pavlichenko was hit in the face with shrapnel. It was her fourth injury on the front. Red Army officials understood her value to the Soviet Union at large and whisked her away from Sevastopol by submarine.
She Never Engaged In Combat Again
By her last day of combat, Pavlichenko had an official count of 309 casualties. It's possible that her tally was much higher, but that number ensured her place as one of the most elite snipers in history.
She Became A Spokesperson To Rally International Support
Shortly after being removed from combat, Pavlichenko undertook a publicity tour to the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. Acting on behalf of the Soviet Union, her intent was to convince other Allied nations to send more personnel and resources to the front lines, and ultimately open a second front against the Axis.
She Was The First Soviet Citizen Received By An American President
Pavlichenko's first stop was the White House, where she was warmly welcomed by President Franklin D Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor. Pavlichenko holds the distinction of being the first citizen of the Soviet Union to be received by a sitting US president.
She Became Friends With Eleanor Roosevelt
The American First Lady befriended Pavlichenko and invited her to tour the United States to tell Americans about her experiences at the front lines. After the tour, the two remained lifelong friends. They spent time together again in 1957 when the former First Lady visited the Soviet Union.
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She Was Not A Diplomat
Pavlichenko struggled with the tour. As it wound through several American cities, she did her best to rally Americans to provide more support to the front lines even though she was shy, battle-scarred, and did not speak any English.
The American Press Puzzled Her
During her tour of the United States in 1942, Pavlichenko expressed puzzlement and frustration over the questions posed to her by the American press. Quizzed about her unflattering uniform, her undergarments, and the use of cosmetics during battle, Pavlichenko's replies stressed the brutal realities of life at the front lines.
She Returned Home As A Hero
Although her publicity tour did not raise immediate support from the Allies, she returned home as a hero. She was awarded two high distinctions by the Soviet government. In 1943, she received the Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union, which was awarded to only 44 individuals. She was also awarded the Order of Lenin twice.
She Continued Training Others
On her return home from the publicity tour, Pavlichenko remained active in the Red Army, training other personnel in her skillset.
She Finished Her Schooling
Pavlichenko returned to Kyiv University once her active service was no longer required. With her schooling finished, she began a career as a historian.
She Suffered From The Effects Of War In Later Life
Like many of those who were active on the front lines, Pavlichenko struggled with PTSD, depression, and alcoholism for much of the remainder of her life. Her conditions were exacerbated by the memory of losing her beloved Kitsenko on the battlefield. She lived only until the age of 58.
She Was Immortalized By Woody Guthrie
During her lifetime, Pavlichenko was immortalized in song by the iconic American folk artist Woody Guthrie. In his song "Miss Pavlichenko", Guthrie declared that, "The whole world will love her for a long time to come".
She Was Known To The Axis
During her time in combat, Pavlichenko took pride in the fact that the Axis knew her name. They tried to entice her to leave the Red Army by promising her chocolate and a promotion. When that didn't work, they resorted to threats and assigned their own personnel to engage in duels with her.