Lyudmila was not the only female soldier in the Soviet Army. She was the most successful one of many. The Soviet airforce was also famed for its female flying aces.
Rosa Shanina - another highly decorated female-sniper in the Red Army. Her headcount was not as high (around 70), but she was known for her ability to shoot multiple moving targets. In 1944, a Canadian newspaper described Shanina as "The unseen terror of East Prussia"
Yea, let's leave real heroes of war. Greedy companies and retarded fuckers with psychological problems should never ever touch them, for the sake of their mamory.
The Story of Lyudmila helped get me through a really tough time in my life.. I would scream her name on my drive to work and it helped get me through.. I feel like she saved me and I hold her dear to my heart.. I'm now an uber driver, and I love sharing her story to many people who have never even heard off her. I hope to some day create a music video that pays tribute to her courage and sacrifice. Now when she 'crosses' my mind, I smile and thank her for helping me through that troubling time.
It kind of bothered me the use of the word "female" to describe her accomplishments as a sniper, so I did a bit of Googling. Yes, she is the top female sniper, but only two men beat her record. Third place of all time is pretty damn good too.
She's placed 13th going by confirmed kills on the record of all times. All but one of those with more kills also operated during WW2 and almost all of them were Soviets as well. So no, she's not 3rd, but she's a damn proud 13th.
How could she prove that men aren’t better if she didn’t do better as a sniper than other men? That doesn’t make any sense, she was #1 female sniper, not the #1 sniper of men and women.
@@tomviktorsson5052 funny that people like you are type of people who claim everything coming from Soviets are propaganda while kill claims made by Germans & Finns are immediately considered as facts
@@yousefseed1874 Problem is , I dont believe in German , American , or any of the allies kill counts neither . Especially when that kill count is used for political propaganda .
In the Russians War 2nd War against the Germans in 1918 they deployed entair womens battalions. The purpose was to embarrass the men to fight. It didnt work. And most of the women died. This was made into a movie in 2016 called Battalion.
@@chadwickmacarthur4760 She also met Arthur Boyle. (I think that's his name.) Arthur was a American Paratrooper who was captured on Dday, then captured, escaped, captured, escaped, captured, escaped and met the Red Army and joined it. He joined Maryia's Tank regiment. He also met Marshal Zhukov.
Thank you for that. In 1942 my mothet was a final year student at Cambridge University. She was tasked to accompany a Soviet woman sniper on a speaking tour. This hero, her own age had been wounded a number of times and found the damp cold of eastern England a terrible trial, complaining "my bullet wounds, my bullet wounds." You make me wish that I knew more details. Again, thank you.
Her book "Lady death" Stalin's Deadliest Sniper is basically her autobiography that was part finished, before she passed away but was released in Russia but translated a few years later into English. And it's basically her story about who she was, her service during the war and beyond. It's really good and I highly recommend!!
My dear beloved Father survived on the Western Front at Normandy because of the sacrifices Soviet Troops and People like Lyudmila, may she & they Rest In Peace!
@@fatalmokrane dont underestimate bravery of any allied troop,even if you dont like their goverments respect the indivual soldier,you are free to criticize or insult that goverment,not the people who fought against fascism.
My grandmother was fighting Nazis in WW2. I m very proud of her!!! Sadly I was a stupid litle kid back when she was alive, and so I couldn`t understand what it really ment.
Not stupid at all! The fact you appreciate it now is exactly what your grandmother would've wanted. She fought so you could enjoy being a normal "stupid kid", that didn't need to have the war ruin your childhood :)
@@eliotj I was five when Hitler invaded Poland and I had to go to school - two major tragedies, as far as I was concerned. I could read so I read the newspapers and learned about what was going on. I knew about the Germans and the atrocities they committed, also about how the brave Russians had their backs to the wall and were struggling to survive. The Luftwaffe dropped booby-trapped toys, food, etc all over our countryside and we were warned not to touch anything we found but that has all been hushed up as we mustn't offend the German 'friends', as our politicians term them. Ugh!
@@Bellapussycat455 Putting bombs in children's toys should be a war crime. It is so evil. I would think that can't be good for the morale of the army doing this sickening deed.
I'm very glad that you have given this EXTRAORDINARY WOMAN her JUST DESERVED RESPECT AND HONORS! Women in the Soviet Union fought and died in numbers that NO ONE will ever truly figure out correctly. I do know that they played a VITAL AND A VARIETY OF IMPORTANT ROLES IN THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR (thier name for WW2). She really and truly deserves a movie made in her honor, to tell the world her AMAZING life story. Not to mention, she was a KNOCKOUT! TRULY DROP DEAD GORGEOUS! PEACE AND PROSPERITY TO ALL!
Imagine gaining a reputation as the most badass sniper in a field almost completely dominated by men, and then the American press is like "Y U NO WEAR MAKEUP?!" Christ.
She put the press in thier place when she went there , a line she said at a press conference '' Gentlemen , you have been hiding behind my skirts for long enough''
If you look at it closely, she wasn't just the most successful female sniper, but one of the very greatest snipers of all times, no matter the gender. It's hard to base the 'greatness' just upon kills, as the war the sniper fights in might limit the number of targets and other factors play a role as well. If she hadn't been working as a counter-sniper in Sevastopol, for example, but used her skills on all available targets, she might very well have supassed Simo Häyhä. She was ruthless, precise and willing to keep going in a conflict that provided her with more than enough targets. She was pretty badass. But what might be most impressive is that she coped and returned to somewhat of a normal life afterwards. You gotta bow your head to that. Most people who became killers of her scope don't manage.
I very much doubt she could have passed The White Death. If he hadn't been excused from the continuation wars, because of his injury he could've racked up a higher count. And he was pretty good at it.
They also flew new planes to where they would be based , and with no ammunition in the guns . Run up against a German fighter and they had problems . Most of them were qualified on more different types of planes than the male pilots
Biographics used to be the soundtrack to my journey home from work here in the UK when it was on its old time slot. Now it's the soundtrack my pre-sleep relaxing because it's on a later time slot. To be honest, if I had to set an alarm to get up at 4am to listen to new Biographics - I probably would. Thank you for the consistently brilliant content guys.
Same here. I'll throw it on while I'm in the shower and 9 out of 10 times it's the last thing I hear before I fall asleep. Gotta love excellent content with substance!
i've seen vids and read bios on her, and there's a tale that she located one sniper by a brief glint on his scope as he aimed at her, and shot him before he shot her. well done!
@@crashstitches79 I think it actually happens a lot though. Two snipers looking for each other that's one of the things you're looking for. One guy makes that mistake and bang...
Slow planes that dropped one bomb at a time, wild group that flew very low and cut throttle to glide in close and bomb with precision and with almost no noise.
I am so pleased you covered this story. Lyudmila P has long been a hero of mine. Even though my father had been in the Royal Navy during the war my interest was always with snipers. While most soldiers averaged some 15,000 rounds per kill during combat, snipers averaged just 3! Little wonder they were so feared and respected.
@@puyearprod.929 You seriously need to learn to look at what you evaluate people by. Just looks? Or by personality? You don't have a clue what this woman was like in the least. Absolutely sad that you decided to justify your Judgment of her and the OP's Grandfather's Reaction to this woman. It could be a crush because she was a damn fine sniper for all you know! 🙄 Such an idiot.
We often talk about what a real man is, but Lyudmila Pavlichenko was all woman. You should also do a bio of Russian fighter pilot Lydia Litvyak, the White Rose of Stalingrad.
Incredible! brought to mind another WWII female Hero of Russia medal recipient, Mariya Vasilyevna Oktyabrskaya. She sold her possessions to buy & donate a T-34 tank to the war effort in 1941, after her husband died in combat. She also volunteered to drive it in battle. Interestingly she was also from the Ukraine.
If you read Pavlichenko’s memoirs, you will see that she specifically states her nationality as Russian, not Ukrainian. She retells the conversation she had with, as I recall, her Divisional Commander when he presented her with a personally inscribed semi-automatic sniper rifle.
She grew up in USSR, Ukraine only became independent in 1991. Half of Ukraine now (Central and Eastern Ukraine) are still heavily influenced by Russian culture. In the East, most store names are written in Russian and not Ukrainian.
@manuelsoares9698 ukraine was an independent state during the Russian Civil War, then became an SSR in the 1920, then the holodomor happened and a lot of Ukrainian culture was devastated. Ukraine has its independence again and it seems they're pretty intent on keeping it
Such an inspiration for me. I have always dreamed of being a historian. When I read the book, The Diamond Eye, I was so happy to learn that a simple history student became a legend. I couldn't imagine what it was like against those monsters. Seeing her friends, her lover, and her country be hurt by the Nazis. She was such a beautiful, brave, and intellectual woman, why must she be so underatted? She is the 3rd most formidable sniper in history. She is Lady Death.
Meanwhile in Heaven Chris Kyle: "I've killed over 150 insurgents using top of the line US gear and equipment, as well as spotters." Pavlichenko: "I kill twice with weapon from before first world war."
Kurt Berliner dont forget not only was her kill count higher , she was also way closer , dealt with more enemy snipers , and in a shorter time . Im not knocking Chis at all it was just two differant types of warfare in history .
Yes that's right, keyboard warrior...he should have used a Winchester 78. Then what snarky childish comment would you have made? They both used the best technology available at the time. Now put on you Winnie the Pooh jammies and get some nice hot cocoa, loser.
@@marctempler3250 "They both used the best technology available at the time" that's really untrue, ludmila's weapon was outdated even by WW2 standards, and had been outdated for a good 30 years before the war. Also, even if it were true, Kyle's gun was still much better then her gun
I am currently reading The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn which is based on Lyudmila’s story, this was referenced in the back of the book so had to check it out.
- The Soviet Union was the only Allied power that allowed Women to serve in combat roles on the front line. - Women not only served in the Red Army, but also in the Soviet Air Force (VVS). - There where 12,775 people awarded the title "Hero of The Soviet Union", the highest distinction of the Soviet State, 95 of which where Women. (for comparison, only 1 Woman has ever received the Medal of Honour) - While on her tour of the U.S, Lyudmila Pavlichenko stated to the American people: “Our women were on a basis of complete equality long before the war. From the first day of the Revolution full rights were granted to the women of Soviet Russia. One of the most important things is that every woman has her own speciality. That is what actually makes them as independent as men. Soviet women have complete self-respect, because their dignity as human beings is fully recognised. Whatever we do, we are honoured not just as women, but as individual personalities, as human beings. That is a very big word. Because we can be fully that, we feel no limitations because of our sex. That is why women have so naturally taken their places beside men in this war.” - At age 26, Valentina Tereshkova, a textile worker, became the first Woman (and first civilian) to fly in Space.
John-S No doubt! They bombed the 6th army in possibly THE WORST AIRCRAFT that the soviets had. A WW1 biplane that was refurbished from thrown together mish mash of used battle damaged parts. AT NIGHT, NOT TO MENTION!!!!!! The women of the Soviet Unions army in WW2 is UN-DESERVEDLY OVERLOOKED, and CRIMINALLY FORGOTTEN ABOUT!!!! They were on EVERY FRONT AT EVERY BATTLE AND HELPED TO SAVE THE SOVIET UNION NATION in numbers that FAAAAAARRRR OUT REACHED AND OUTPERFORMING any other nations women forces. In many cases... out-fighting many men. ESPECIALLY in the sniper units. And air-cores. PEACE TO ALL!
The Soviet Union allowed women to serve because they were desperately short on soldiers, not out of any sense of equality. It was just more people to throw into the meat grinder.
@@cynderfan2233 Women were usually nurses, not soldiers, unless they chose otherwise for themselves. And some teens lied about their age to join army - some were as young as only 14.
@@cynderfan2233 You missed the part where women were already equal before the war. And from those who served only a few saw combat. So no, it wasn't just more numbers to throw at the grinder, as you so disrespectfully put.
@@cynderfan2233 they needed more people to be put to the meat grinder so they started recruiting women and made most of them snipers? That's don't add up kiddo
@No Faith. No Fear. No More Joy WW2.. Obviously. Millions of people could have been spared a cruel brutal war. The entire thing was a needless tragedy for Europe. Don't misunderstand me i am not talking about the young men who served in the armed forces, but the political elite that made the decision to create the war.
I'm so happy I found this biography, I had no idea this woman existed until I watched this. I have a teenage son who wants to be a WWII historian and I will be sharing this watch. As an American I'm ashamed of how this woman was treated by the press but not surprised. Women still have a hard time proving themselves in the military today and there is a high rate of sexual assault within the ranks of our own military-an elephant we don't like to talk about. I'm glad you've shared this amazing woman and her accomplishments with the world that is definitely a better place for having her in it. Our geographical juxtaposition leaves us with not many real threats to our borders thank God. I often wonder how we would handle a real "boots on the ground" occupation and how it would change our country. Great job kicking Nazi butt Lyudmila Pavlichenko!
An extraordinary and honorable woman. I salute her memory. I know nothing about weapons or warfare but I imagine that duelling to the death with other snipers who you know are stalking you - at the same time as you're trying to kill them - must call on reserves of bravery, skill, nerves and absolute endurance which most mortals will never possess.
I just finished “Lady Death” just a few days ago! Thank you for doing a biographic on this amazing woman! There are so many amazing women who fought in WW2. Is there a chance on doing a short one on “White Rose of Stalingrad” Lydia Litvyak?
_Good training_ before encounter with combat is absolutely critical. The better trained one is, the higher the odds of survival knowing what to do when situations occur. Like cover and concealment to keep enemy guessing where her location actually was, and how she feigned death by falling off the tree.
Pavlichenko would be a perfect subject for the "Citation Needed" podcast by Puzzle in a Thunderstorm. If you haven't heard of it before, definitely worth checking out. Just keep in mind its a comedy podcast.
Wow...I clicked on this particular video simply because I had NO clue as to who Lyudmila Pavlichenko was...and I was wonderfully enlightened. Great stuff here...THANK YOU!
Simon, please do the Finnish sniper Simo Häyhä, the white death. Loved this video, the Soviets sacrificed alot in WW2 and was happy to see this brave woman get the attention she deserves.
Just proves that women can do badass stuff too! To be a skilled sniper is rare even for men. I love this story because not only was she skilled but she was brave and had brains.
This is a pretty awesome video. I would strongly recommend doing a video on another Soviet female in WW2, Yevdokiya Zavaliy. She was called by Nazis "Frau Black Death". She was the only female platoon commander in Soviet Marines.
I've lost track of time watching these amazing stories. The fact that misogyny is still so rampant today, even on the parts of other women, should be met with these pieces of history. Her's is a story of inspiration. Come on, as a counter sniper, she sat in her post for THREE days with no food or water to take out ONE sniper. I don't know anyone, man or woman, who has ever done anything comparable to that.
From personal experience training with woman in combat roles in the I.D.F (Israeli defense force), I can say a big no. To many of female combat soldiers are getting hard injuries from trainings, Especially knee's/backs , Because of heavy weight carrying and weaker bone structures. The injuries resulting on lowering the training standards of the brigade including men and woman as one, Lyudmilla is an excellent soldier but few woman can't be compared to millions of male soldiers who died on the frontlines for thousands of years, If woman would be fit for combat you would have actually see them often but that's not the case in the real world.
it,s never been a traditional male role,,they was mostly denied the opportunity,cos women we,re just brainwashed back then,in2 believing it was a traditional male role,,by men,and brainwashed women,,just like so many other,,,,so called male dominated non physical ,,trades,
Who I would love to see a video on is American General Mark Clark of the 5th army during WWII. My grandfather was a tank cannoneer under his command. I'd love to learn about him! Love the videos, keep up the good work!
She was a sniper who stared at people through the scope for days at a time before killing them.. ended up drinking herself to death like many soldiers do,, especially in Russia.
The Biopic movie about her, "The Battle for Sevastopol," is on Amazon. I watched it a few months ago. It's pretty good. It's Russian with English subs.
I have lived in Kyiv and herd first hand accounts of her and will say that the writers of Pravda from that era would have been Truly proud of how you have portrayed her.
And those are just confirmed kills (kills that wer witnesed by a spotter and documented after the engagement). Her actualy number of kills culd easyli have been a lot higher. That lady was a machine. And to me, one of the definitions of a empowered woman. I learned in this vid some things I didnt know about her - especialy that thing about her being holed up in a blind w/o food, sleep or water, playing a game of who-blinks-first for 3 DAYS with a German sniper, not being fooled by any tricks, before she took him out. Thats a level of patience and self-discipline I know I wil never have. Countering three dozen enemy snipers... damn gurl. One of my role-models, and the reazon I went thru dezignated marksman training during my time in the army (didnt last long, I dont have the temperament for taking orders XD, but a great expirience). She was awesome.
It is amazing and makes you proud having this kind of "female Tigers" like Pavlichenko and Roza Shanina, who defended and defends their mother land and lovely ones in our world!! Thank you Biographics!
Hey, author your should check the facts first, before telling lies…again. She was born Ludmila Belova to Russian parents from St Petersburg. What makes her Ukranian? Second name of her husband of a short lived marriage?? If you don’t know for sure, just call her a Soviet, as is rightfully for that time!
Miss Pavilichenko's well known to fame Russia's your country, fighting is your game The whole world will love her for a long time to come, For more than three hundred nazis fell by your gun Fell by your gun, yes, Fell by your gun For more than three hundred nazis fell by your gun Miss Pavlichenko's well known to fame Russia's your country, fighting is your game Your smile shines as bright as any new morning sun But more than three hundred nazidogs fell by your gun Fell by your gun, yes, Fell by your gun For more than three hundred nazis fell by your gun In your mountains and canyons quiet as the deer Down in your bigtrees knowing no fear You lift up your sight And down comes a hun And more than three hundred nazidogs fell by your gun Fell by your gun, yes, Fell by your gun For more than three hundred nazis fell by your gun In your hot summer's heat, in your cold wintery snow, In all kinds of weather you track down your foe This world will love your sweet face the same way I've done, 'Cause more than three hundred nazzy hound fell by your gun Fell by your gun, yes, Fell by your gun For more than three hundred nazis fell by your gun I'd hate to drop in a parachute and land an enemy in your land If your Soviet people make it so hard on invadin' men I wouldn't crave to meet that wrong end of such a pretty lady's gun If her name was Pavlichenko, and mine Three O One
They always say one of the most celebrated female snipers or one of the highest killing female snipers, but as far as I've heard from military and from numbers, she is one of the most celebrated snipers and 3rd in kills overall, both male and female.
Agreed. I've recently discovered this channel, along with TopTenz. I've been diving in, loving all the videos. Now I've seen almost all of them and it's kind of depressing. Nothing to look forward to after work anymore.
@@avi486 Only Balalaika. According to Rei Hiroe, he was inspired by Pavlichenko's impressive marksmanship and courageous personality when she served the Soviet Union, that he wanted one of his characters in his work to become as badass as her. Though he made Balalaika one hell of a woman, even far from Lady Death herself.
It is really cool to see the nod to her in the Harry Turtledove series of alternate World War II books. The reference is in the Soviet ace pilot Ludmila Gorbunova, at least, I imagine that is where the reference comes from! A badass pilot, going up against heavy odds, let alone an alien race of militant lizards, I would have used a badass Soviet female's namesake as reference as well! Though, there is another female sniper that plays a part in the books as well, but Ludmila is a more developed character than the Soviet female sniper in the series. I totally suggest reading/listening to Harry Turtledoves work!
Yeah. This CUULD of course be a kombo of Lyudmila here, and the fighter ace Yekaterina Budanova. Lilly Litvak is the most wellknown name as a female ace, but Budanova was as good fighter ace, and probably a better flyer (flying instructor already before the war).
The ammount of self-discipline and endurance alone just to be able to stay awake without moving for 3 days is insaine, To do so without drinking water is very impressive. To pull off a sniper shot after all of that is super human.
Correction: In minutes 14:57 Lyudmila Pavlichenko is shown on a Russian postage stamp with the dates of her birth and death as 1916-1974. This can only mean that the stamp was NOT issued in 1943 as erroneously stated, by rather perhaps in 1974, or in 1984.
