Women in Soviet Military Service: Beyond the Home Front

The role of Soviet women in World War II was unprecedented in scale and scope. While women in other Allied nations served primarily in auxiliary and support roles, Soviet women fought on the front lines as snipers, tank operators, pilots, and partisan fighters. The 588th Night Bomber Regiment, known to the Germans as the "Night Witches," flew over 30,000 sorties in outdated Po-2 biplanes. Marina Raskova organised three all-female air regiments. Lyudmila Pavlichenko became one of the most successful snipers in history with 309 confirmed kills. Many of these women came to the UK after the war as war brides or through diplomatic and cultural exchanges. Their stories, often overlooked in Western histories, are an essential part of the Immortal Regiment UK registry.