Mariya Oktyabrskaya, The Tank Woman

January 28, 2025 | Ethan Vestby

Mariya Oktyabrskaya, The Tank Woman


This Legendary Soldier Helped Define The Stakes Of WWII

Global conflicts often don’t come down to the generals or presidents, but rather the grunts on the ground fighting the battles. Case in point: This Soviet woman showed the resolve that helped Germany be defeated when global stakes were at their highest. 

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Who Is Mariya Vasilyevna Oktyabrskaya?

Put succinctly, Mariya Vasilyevna Oktyabrskaya was one of the most inspiring figures of WWII and likely the Soviet history, period. But while she would go on to play a key role in one of the world’s most pivotal conflicts, this fearless soldier had humble beginnings. 

Bust of Mariya Oktyabrskaya in TomskAndreyTomskiy, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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She Had A Humble Beginning

She was born in what today is called Crimea but referred to during her August 1905 birth as the Taurida Governorate of the Russian Empire. She was one of 10 children

Orthodox Church of Christ's ResurrectionDerevyagin Igor, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

She Had A Humble Beginning

Raised by a peasant family, expectations for Oktyabrskaya's life weren’t enormous. Her first jobs were in a cannery and as a telephone operator.

 Women as telephone operatorWikimedia Commons, Picryl

She Had A Connection To The Soviet Forces

In 1925, she married a Soviet officer named Ilya Fedotovich Ryadnenko, The couple changed their last name to “Oktyabrskaya” in reference to the October Revolution of 1920.

Bolsheviks, The October Revolution. National Archives and Records Administration, Wikimedia Commons

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She Had A Connection To The Soviet Forces

Oktyabrskaya’s marriage led to her interest in the Soviet armed forces. She served as a military nurse and joined a council for wives of service members. 

Red Army In MoscowUnknown Artist, Wikimedia Commons

The Soviets Versus Germany

The strength of the Soviets on multiple fronts, be it their combat skills or moral will, was put to the test when coming into conflict with Germany during the outbreak of WWII. 

German soldiers in WWIIBundesarchiv, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Soviets Versus Germany

While Germany and The Soviet Union had initially signed a non-aggression pact in 1939, Hitler changed his mind in the new decade and came up with the plan for Operation Barbarossa to invade the nation. He saw the Soviet’s Bolshevik ideology as an extension of Judaism. 

German army, operation BarbarossaMaddriver371, Wikimedia Commons

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The Second World War Changed Everything

While tensions remained between the Soviet Union and much of the Allied Forces on the basis of ideological capitalism versus communism, they had no choice but to join forces against the Nazi juggernaut.

Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini  1934Istituto Nazionale Luce, Wikimedia Commons

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The Second World War Changed Everything

Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union began in June of 1941, right between seismic events of the global conflict such as the British Blitz and the attack on Pearl Harbor in the United States. 

German army in WWIINational Digital Archives, Wikimedia Commons

The Spirit Of Stalingrad

The Soviet Army’s greatest victories during WWII was the Battle of Stalingrad, which lasted all the way from August 1942 to February 1943. With Soviet casualties estimated to be in the millions, the defense of the city of Stalingrad was both a triumphant victory against the Germans as well as a reminder of the unbelievable sacrifice required. 

This fighting spirit would be represented in Mariya Oktyabrskaya. 

Stalingrad in WWIIRIA Novosti archive, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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She Was Motivated To Get Revenge

When Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, Oktyabrskaya was forced to leave everything behind and evacuate to Siberia. She was faced with further tragedy when news came that her beloved husband had perished in combat. 

With considerable knowledge of the armed forces under her belt, Oktyabrskaya knew that she could be of service in the ongoing conflict against Germany. 

Children's fountain in StalingradSergey Strunnikov, Wikimedia Commons

The Tank Was The Platform

Determined to help the Soviets win, she went about selling all her possessions so that she could donate the proceeds to the building of a T-34 tank for The Red Army, which she fully intended to operate herself.

Mariya Oktyabrskaya in her tankUnknown Artist, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Tank Was The Platform

Allegedly, she sent a personal telegram to Stalin, demanding that she serve. She called the Germans “fascist dogs” for whom she was determined to get revenge.

Stalin In 1937Unknown Artist, Wikimedia Commons

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Soviet Forces Were Known For The Strength Of Their Equipment, Particularly The Tank

It makes sense that Oktyabrskaya wanted to pilot a tank specifically, as the Soviets had a strong history with that equipment, and it was helping them make a big impact in fighting WWII. The tank was the hottest piece of battle equipment after the end of WWI, and the Soviets had gradually eclipsed France, Britain, and Germany in production of it. They were the global envy, essentially. 

Soviet T-34 tankMetzger, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Training Began Immediately

Soviet forces greatly appreciated Oktyabrskaya’s donation and thus she was accepted into a five-month training program for tank drivers. At age 38, she was considered a little old for entry into the armed forces, but her motivation, financial donation and potential to be a great symbol for the armed forces made sure that didn’t matter.

 Soviet T-34 tanks in actionUnknown Artist, Wikimedia Commons

She Had A Nickname For Her Tank

She soon adopted a name for the T-34 tank she began operating—and it was the bold one: “Fighting Girlfriend”. This fierce nickname was marked across the turret of the vehicle, sending a message to her enemies during battle. 

Mariya Oktyabrskaya with T-34 tankUnknown Artist, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Her First Battle 

Oktyabrskaya and her tank were deployed into battle at a conflict in the city of Smolensk, in October 1943. The mission was to clear the Soviet city of occupying German forces.

Smolensk early 20th centuryN. Sokolov, Picryl

Her First Battle

Her bravery was seen in action during the battle when she jumped out of her tank to repair it after withstanding enemy fire. This went against the orders of her commanding officers.

 T-34 Tank CrewUnknown Artist, Wikimedia Commons

Her Next Most Pivotal Mission Was Mere Months Later

In January 1944, the Soviets fought German forces in the village of Krynki. “Fighting Girlfriend” was among the tanks deployed as part of the offensive. Her tank helped Soviet forces take out German resistance, firing at machine-gun nests and German opponents in the trenches.

 German army in WWIIRa Boe, Wikimedia Commons

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It Was A Valiant Effort

Akin to her actions in October of 1943, Oktyabrskaya bravely jumped out of her vehicle when it was struck by an anti-tank shell. She wasn’t as lucky as the previous time, though.

She managed to fix her tank but was struck by shell fragments, forcing her out of combat.

T-34 tank hit with anti tank gunFinnish army photographer, Wikimedia Commons

Her Wounds Were Severe

After the battle, Oktyabrskaya was immediately taken to a Soviet hospital near Kiev to recover. After that, she was transferred to another one in Smolensk, where her first battle had taken place months earlier.

Soviet Hospital in MoscowUnknown Artist, Wikimedia Commons

Her Wounds Were Severe

After two months in a coma, Mariya Oktyabrskaya left the world on March 15, 1944 in Smolensk. She was buried with honors at a graveyard for veterans in that city.

Assumption Cathedral in SmolenskNikolay Smolyankin, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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She Was Recognized Posthumously 

In August of that year, she was posthumously awarded the honor of Hero of The Soviet Union for her service in multiple battles. Not only was Oktyabrskaya’s service recognized, but so was her dedication and financial contribution to the building of the “Fighting Girlfriend” tank, and the bravery it took to risk taking fire in repairing it while in the heat of battle. 

Mariya Oktyabrskaya memorial plateFigure19, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Her Efforts Were Not In Vain

The surrender of the Germans in May of 1945 signaled the victory of the Allied Forces. It could not have happened without the sacrifice of brave women like Oktyabrskaya.

Field Marshall Keitel signs German surrender terms in Berlin 8 May 1945Lt. Moore, Wikipedia

Her Efforts Were Not In Vain

One of the reasons why Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union failed was that they didn’t make long-term plans, expecting a quick surrender. They simply didn’t understand what people like Oktyabrskaya were willing to do.

German army in WWIIUnknown Artist, Wikimedia Commons

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She Was Immortalized Through A Cartoon

It always means something when the United States, who quickly became the Soviets’ greatest enemy after the end of WWII, can acknowledge the genuine achievements of the Red Army. A cartoon that appeared on the NPR website in 2014 envisioned Oktyabrskaya as a Disney Princess, replete with an anthropomorphized tank. 

The Bolshevik revolutionInternet Archive Book Images, Wikimedia Commons

She Represented The Fearless Women In The Soviet Forces

She was representative of the great sacrifices made by women during the conflict. Up to approximately 800,000 women served in The Red Army during WWII. While not many fellow women served in tanks like Oktyabrskaya did, The Red Army famously had over 2,000 women serving as snipers.

Germany Under Allied Occupation Clark N S, Wikimedia Commons

There Has Yet To Be A Film Based On Her

Mariya Oktyabrskaya was instantly recognized as a force of great propaganda for The Red Army during WWII, so it’s surprising there was never a movie directed by, say, legendary filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein about her. One can even picture her as the subject of a thrilling Hollywood movie. Certainly, there’s enough WWII movies about heroic men—hopefully, it’ll soon be Oktyabrskaya’s time in the spotlight. 

Red army in BerlinYevgeny Khaldei, Wikipedia


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