Soviet women in World War II

Common card · No. 498036

Women played an important role in the Soviet Union during World War II. Most worked in civilian roles in industry, transport, and agriculture, among other fields—working double or more shifts to make up for the shortage of men who were deployed on the Eastern Front. However, around 800,000 women served in the Red Army as well, with the majority working in medical units with their male counterparts. At peak, they accounted for roughly 5% of the country's total military personnel during the conflict. Overall, the number of female personnel in the Red Army was 348,309 in 1943, 473,040 in 1944, and 463,503 in 1945. Out of all medical personnel in the Red Army, women comprised 40% of paramedics, 43% of surgeons, 46% of doctors, 57% of medical assistants, and 100% of nurses. Nearly 200,000 women were decorated and 89 of them eventually gained the status of Heroine of the Soviet Union, which was the country's highest honorary title. Among these recipients were pilots, snipers, machine gunners...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Фотохроника ТАСС, фотограф Е. Халдей, Public domain