Lyudmila pavlichenko biography of michael
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Don’t you think, gentlemen, that you have been hiding behind my back for too long?” Her bluntness and courage resonated with audiences, generating widespread support.
In addition to her speeches, Pavlichenko received symbolic gifts, such as a Colt semi-automatic pistol from the U.S. government and a Winchester Model 70 rifle from Canada.
Miss Pavilichenko's well known to fame,
Russia's your country, fighting is your game,
The whole world will always love you for all time to come ,
Three hundred Nazis fell by your gun.'
‘Miss Pavlichenko’ by American folk singer Woody Guthrie (1940s)
Lyudmyla Pavlichenko
| Soviet sniper, who destroyed more than three hundred enemies, Hero of the Soviet Union. Date of Birth: 12.07.1916 Country: Ukraine |
Content:
- Biography of Lyudmila Pavlichenko
- Early Life and Education
- World War II
- Post-War Life
- Awards
Biography of Lyudmila Pavlichenko
Lyudmila Mikhailovna Pavlichenko was a Soviet sniper who destroyed more than three hundred enemies.
She participated in battles in Moldova, the defense of Odessa, and Sevastopol. After completing the ninth grade, Lyudmila worked as a grinder at the Arsenal factory while simultaneously attending the tenth grade to obtain her secondary education. She was then sent with a delegation to Canada and the United States. I am 25-years-old and I have killed 309 fascist occupants by now.
Don’t you think, gentlemen, that you have been hiding behind my back for too long?’ A moment’s silence befell the crowd before being replaced by a rousing roar of support.
At first, the American press seemed more occupied with what Pavlichenko wore than her achievements on the field of battle - journalists fired questions at her about whether women could wear makeup on the frontline or asked her why she wore a uniform that made her look fat.
During her trip, she was received by President Franklin Roosevelt. The First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, invited Pavlichenko to tour the country and speak to Americans about her combat experiences to help raise support for the war. What the uniform stands for, they have yet to learn.’
By the time her publicity tour reached Chicago, an emboldened Pavlichenko took to the stage and goaded the men in the audience, ‘Gentlemen.
After being given the all-clear to shoot, she steadied her aim and claimed her first kills. It is plain to see that with American women what is important is whether they wear silk underwear under their uniforms.
In total, 2,000 women became snipers in the Red Army during WW2, of just 500 would survive.
Pavlichenko was wounded four times in battle, shrapnel to the face in June 1942 heralded the end of her time in combat. There, she trained other snipers while continuing her deadly work, bringing her confirmed kill count to 257 by May 1942. Her life and accomplishments have been commemorated through Soviet postage stamps, folk songs, and films.
Woody Guthrie, an American folk singer, wrote “Miss Pavlichenko” to honor her wartime service and visit to the U.S.
The 2015 Russian-Ukrainian film Battle for Sevastopol further dramatized her life, showcasing her extraordinary contributions to the Allied victory in World War II.
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Honors and Awards
Pavlichenko received numerous accolades during and after the war, including:
- Hero of the Soviet Union (1943)
- Two Orders of Lenin
- Two Medals for Military Merit
- Medals for the defense of Odesa and Sevastopol
- The Voroshilov Sharpshooter badge
History's deadliest female sniper: 'Lady Death'
'The only feeling I have is the great satisfaction a hunter feels who has killed a beast of prey.’
Lyudmila Pavlichenko in a trench (1942) | Image: Wikimedia Commons
The life of Lyudmila Pavlichenko
Born in present-day Ukraine in 1916, Lyudmila Pavlichenko fought for the Red Army during WW2 and became the deadliest female sniper in history.
She spoke before the International Student Assembly in Washington, the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), and in New York. From the very first days of the war, she volunteered and went to the front. She soon developed a love of the sport and joined a shooting club. After the war, in 1945, she graduated from Kiev University. Promoted to senior sergeant, she continued her service in Sevastopol after Odesa fell to Axis forces.
'The only feeling I have is the great satisfaction a hunter feels who has killed a beast of prey.’
In the coming months, Pavlichenko perfected her art.
When charm didn’t work, they moved onto threats and on Pavlichenko's last day on the frontline, they shouted, 'If we catch you, we will tear you into 309 pieces and scatter them to the winds!' Pavlichenko was pleased to know that even the enemy had her tally correct.