Military Wiki

This is a list of female Heroes of the Soviet Union; of the 12,775 people awarded the title, 95 were women, 49 of whom were posthumous recipients of the title.

Recipients[]

      This color, along with the * (asterisk), indicates that the title was awarded posthumously.

Soviet military personnel[]

Image Name Unit Rank Date of award Notes References
Valentina Grizodubova portrait
Grizodubova, ValentinaValentina Grizodubova
Валентина Гризодубова
101st Long-Range Aviation Regiment Colonel November 2, 1938
[1]
Osipenko, PolinaPolina Osipenko
Полина Осипенко
Major November 2, 1938 Killed in action in 1939 during a routine flight. [2]
Marina Raskova portrait
Raskova, MarinaMarina Raskova
Марина Раскова
587th Dive Bomber Regiment Major November 2, 1938 Killed in action on 4 January 1943 when her aircraft crashed attempting to make a forced landing on the Volga bank, while leading two other Pe-2s to the first operative airfield near Stalingrad. [3]
Zelenko, YekaterinaYekaterina Zelenko
Екатерина Зеленко
135th Light Bomber Regiment Senior Lieutenant May 5, 1990 * Killed in action while performing an aerial ramming 12 September 1941. [4]
Aronova, RaisaRaisa Aronova
Раиса Аронова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Major May 15, 1946
[5]
Belik, VeraVera Belik
Вера Белик
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Lieutenant February 23, 1945 * Killed in action on 25 August 1944 after shot down by German fighter. [6]
Makarova, TatyanaTatyana Makarova
Татьяна Макарова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Lieutenant February 23, 1945 * Killed in action on 25 August 1944 after shot down by German fighter. [7]
Chechneva, MarinaMarina Chechneva
Марина Чечнева
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Major August 15, 1946
[8]
Gasheva, RufinaRufina Gasheva
Руфина Гашева
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Major February 23, 1945
[9]
Olga Sanfirova (cropped)
Sanfirova, OlgaOlga Sanfirova
Ольга Санфирова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Captain February 23, 1945 * Killed in action on 13 December 1944 after stepping on landmine when evacuating downed aircraft. [10]
Polina Gelman
Gelman, PolinaPolina Gelman
Полина Гельман
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Major May 15, 1946
[11]
Khudyakova, AntoninaAntonina Khudyakova
Антонина Худякова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Senior Lieutenant May 15, 1946
[12]
Litvinova, LarisaLarisa Litvinova
Лариса Литвинова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Captain February 23, 1948
[13]
Meklin, NatalyaNatalya Meklin
Наталья Меклин
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Major February 23, 1945
[14]
Nikulina, YevdokiyaYevdokiya Nikulina
Евдокия Никулина
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Major October 26, 1944
[15]
Nosal, YevdokiyaYevdokiya Nosal
Евдокия Носаль
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Junior Lieutenant May 24, 1943 * Killed in action on 23 April 1943 when hit in the head by a piece of shrapnel from anti-aircraft fire. [16]
Parfenova, ZoyaZoya Parfenova
Зоя Парфёнова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Senior Lieutenant August 18, 1945
[17]
Pasko, YevdokiaYevdokia Pasko
Евдокия Пасько
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Senior Lieutenant October 26, 1944
[18]
N. Popova (cropped)
Popova, NadezhdaNadezhda Popova
Надежда Попова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Captain February 23, 1945
[19]
Raspopova, NinaNina Raspopova
Нина Распопова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Senior Lieutenant May 15, 1946
[20]
Rudneva, YevgeniyaYevgeniya Rudneva
Евгения Руднева
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Senior Lieutenant October 26, 1944 * Killed in action on 9 April 1944 after plane was shot down from anti-aircraft warfare. [21]
Ryabova, YekaterinaYekaterina Ryabova
Екатерина Рябова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Senior Lieutenant February 23, 1945
[22]
Sebrova, IrinaIrina Sebrova
Ирина Себрова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Senior Lieutenant February 23, 1945
[23]
Mariya Smirnova
Smirnova, MariyaMariya Smirnova
Мария Смирнова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Major October 26, 1944
[24]
Syrtlanova, MagubaMaguba Syrtlanova
Магуба Сыртланова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Senior Lieutenant May 15, 1946
[25]
Ulyanenko, NinaNina Ulyanenko
Нина Ульяненко
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Lieutenant August 18, 1945
[26]
Zhigulenko, YevgeniyaYevgeniya Zhigulenko
Евгения Жигуленко
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Major February 23, 1945
[27]
Dolina, MariyaMariya Dolina
Мария Долина
125th Guards Dive Bomber Regiment Major August 18, 1945
[28]
Galina Dzhunkovskaya
Dzhunkovskaya, GalinaGalina Dzhunkovskaya
Галина Джунковская
125th Guards Dive Bomber Regiment Major August 18, 1945
[29]
Fedutenko, NadezhdaNadezhda Fedutenko
Надежда Федутенко
125th Guards Dive Bomber Regiment Major August 18, 1945
[30]
Fomicheva, KlavdiaKlavdia Fomicheva
Клавдия Фомичёва
125th Guards Dive Bomber Regiment Lieutenant Colonel August 18, 1945
[31]
Zubkova, AntoninaAntonina Zubkova
Антонина Зубкова
125th Guards Dive Bomber Regiment Captain August 18, 1945
[32]
Litvyak, LydiaLydia Litvyak
Лидия Литвяк
73rd Guards Fighter Regiment Senior Lieutenant May 5, 1990 * Presumably killed in action on 1 August 1943 after crash; some think she may have survived and been a POW. [33]
Konstantinova, TamaraTamara Konstantinova
Тамара Константинова
566th Attack Aviation Regiment Senior Lieutenant June 29, 1945
[34]
Yegorova, AnnaAnna Yegorova
Анна Егорова
805th Ground Attack Air Regiment Senior Lieutenant May 6, 1965
[35]
Baramzina, TatyanaTatyana Baramzina
Татьяна Барамзина
252nd Rifle Regiment Corporal March 24, 1945 * Captured, tortured, and executed with an anti-tank rifle on 5 July 1944 after running out of ammunition while trying to protect trenches of wounded soldiers. [36]
Stempkovskaya, YelenaYelena Stempkovskaya
Елена Стемпковская
216th Rifle Regiment Junior Sergeant May 15, 1946 * Killed in action on 26 June 1942. Some accounts state that she was captured and tortured while others say she was killed in battle. [37]
M. Mametova, Komsomolskaya Pravda image
Mametova, ManshukManshuk Mametova
Маншук Маметова
21st Guards Rifle Division Senior Sergeant March 1, 1944 * Killed in action defending strategic bridgehead on 15 October 1943. [38]
Onilova, NinaNina Onilova
Нина Онилова
54th Rifle Regiment Senior Sergeant May 14, 1965 * Died of wounds on 8 March 1942 [39]
Batrakova, MariyaMariya Batrakova
Мария Батракова
463rd Rifle Regiment Junior Lieutenant March 19, 1944
[40]
Nikandrova, AnnaAnna Nikandrova
Анна Никандрова
426th Rifle Regiment Senior Lieutenant March 24, 1945 * Killed in action while trying to take out machine-gun bunker on 23 June 1944. [41]
Kostyrina, TatyanaTatyana Kostyrina
Татьяна Костырина
691st Rifle Regiment Junior Sergeant May 16, 1944 * Killed in action on 22 November 1942. [42]
Kovshova, NatalyaNatalya Kovshova
Наталья Ковшова
528th Rifle Regiment Private February 14, 1943 * Killed in action after detonating grenades when fully surrounded by German troops on 14 August 1942. [43]
Polivanova, MariyaMariya Polivanova
Мария Поливанова
528th Rifle Regiment Private February 14, 1943 * Killed in action after detonating grenades when fully surrounded by German troops on 14 August 1942. [44]
Moldagulova, AliyaAliya Moldagulova
Алия Молдагулова
54th Independent Rifle Brigade Corporal June 4, 1944 * Died of wounds on 14 January 1944 after shot in hand-to-hand combat [45]
Pavlichenko, LyudmilaLyudmila Pavlichenko
Людмила Павличенко
25th Rifle Division Major October 25, 1943
[46]
Levchenko, IrinaIrina Levchenko
Ирина Левченко
41st Tank Brigade Lieutenant Colonel May 6, 1965
[47]
Oktyabrskaya, MariyaMariya Oktyabrskaya
Мария Октябрьская
26th Guards Tank Brigade Senior Sergeant August 2, 1944 * Died of wounds after remaining in coma for two months after head injury on 15 March 1944. [48]
Bayda, MariyaMariya Bayda
Мария Байда
514th Rifle Regiment Senior Sergeant June 20, 1942
[49]
Borovichenko, MariyaMariya Borovichenko
Мария Боровиченко
32nd Guards Artillery Regiment Sergeant May 6, 1965 * Killed in action on 4 July 1943 after using body as human shield to protect colleague. [50]
Gnarovskaya, ValeriyaValeriya Gnarovskaya
Валерия Гнаровская
907th Rifle Regiment Senior Medical NCO June 3, 1944 * Killed in action on 23 September 1943 after throwing self under tank with bag of grenades to protect hospital tent. [51]
Vera Kasheeva 1944 (cropped)
Kashcheyeva, VeraVera Kashcheyeva
Вера Кащеева
120th Rifle Regiment Senior Lieutenant February 28, 1944
[52]
Konstantinova, KseniyaKseniya Konstantinova
Ксения Константинова
730th Rifle Regiment Senior Medical NCO June 4, 1944 * Captured, tortured and executed on 1 October 1943 after running out of ammunition while trying to protect injured soldiers. [53]
Kravets, LyudmilaLyudmila Kravets
Людмила Кравец
63rd Guards Rifle Regiment Senior Sergeant May 31, 1945
[54]
Mareseva, ZinaidaZinaida Mareseva
Зинаида Маресева
214th Guards Rifle Regiment Senior Sergeant February 22, 1944 * Died of wounds on 6 August 1943 after using body as human shield to defend wounded soldiers from mortar attack. [55]
Pushina, FedoraFedora Pushina
Федора Пушина
520th Rifle Regiment Lieutenant January 10, 1944 * Died of wounds on 6 November 1943 shortly after rescuing numerous soldiers from burning hospital. [56]
Samsonova, ZinaidaZinaida Samsonova
Зинаида Самсонова
667th Rifle Regiment Senior Sergeant June 3, 1944 * Killed in action on 27 January 1944 after shot by German sniper while attempting to rescue wounded soldier. [57]
Shcherbachenko, MariyaMariya Shcherbachenko
Мария Щербаченко
835th Rifle Regiment Senior NCO October 23, 1943
[58]
Shkarletova, MariyaMariya Shkarletova
Мария Шкарлетова
170th Guards Rifle Regiment Senior NCO March 24, 1945
[59]
Tusnolobova-Marchenko, ZinaidaZinaida Tusnolobova-Marchenko
Зинаида Туснолобова-Марченко
849th Rifle Regiment Senior Medical NCO December 6, 1957
[60]
Mikhailova-Demina, YekaterinaYekaterina Mikhailova-Demina
Екатерина Михайлова-Дёмина
369th Independent Naval Infantry Battalion Chief Petty Officer May 5, 1990
[61]
Petrova, GalinaGalina Petrova
Галина Петрова
386th Independent Naval Infantry Battalion Chief Petty Officer November 17, 1943 Killed in action less than a month later on 4 December 1943. [62]
Tsukanova, MariyaMariya Tsukanova
Мария Цуканова
355th Independent Guards Naval Infantry Battalion Corporal September 14, 1945 * Killed in action on 14 August 1945. [63]
Gnilitskaya, NinaNina Gnilitskaya
Нина Гнилицкая
383rd Rifle Division Private March 31, 1943 * Killed in action on 10 December 1941. [64]

Soviet partisans[]

Image Name Date of award Notes References
Yelizaveta Chaikina
Chaikina, YelizavetaYelizaveta Chaikina
Елизавета Чайкина
March 6, 1942 * Captured and executed on 22 November 1941 [65]
Kolesova, YelenaYelena Kolesova
Елена Колесова
November 21, 1944 * Killed in action on 11 September 1942 [66]
Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya, 1941
Kosmodemyanskaya, ZoyaZoya Kosmodemyanskaya
Зоя Космодемьянская
February 16, 1942 * Captured and executed on 29 November 1941 [67]
Marinenko, TatyanaTatyana Marinenko
Татьяна Мариненко
May 8, 1965 * Captured and executed on 2 February 1942 [68]
Maslovskaya, AnnaAnna Maslovskaya
Анна Масловская
May 15, 1944
[69]
Melnikaitė, MarytėMarytė Melnikaitė
Мария Мельникайте
March 22, 1944 * Captured and executed on 13 July 1943 [70]
Petrova, AntoninaAntonina Petrova
Антонина Петрова
April 8, 1942 * Killed herself to avoid capture on 4 November 1941 [71]
Ratushnaya, LarisaLarisa Ratushnaya
Лариса Ратушная
May 8, 1965 * Murdured by a traitor in her unit on 18 March 1944 [72]
Safronova, ValentinaValentina Safronova
Валентина Сафронова
May 8, 1965 * Tortured to death by the Gestapo on 1 May 1943 [73]
Kullmann, HeleneHelene Kullmann
Леэн Кульман
May 8, 1965 * Captured and executed on 6 March 1943 [74]
Lisitsyna
Lisitsyna, AnnaAnna Lisitsyna
Анна Лисицына
September 25, 1943 * Killed in action on 3 August 1942 [75]
Mariya Melentyeva
Melentyeva, MariyaMariya Melentyeva
Мария Мелентьева
September 25, 1943 * Captured and executed in 1943 [76]
Morozova, AnnaAnna Morozova
Анна Морозова
May 8, 1965 * Killed in action in December 1944 [77]
Biseniek, AnastasiyaAnastasiya Biseniek
Анастасия Бисениек
May 9, 1965 * Captured and executed in October 1943 [78]
Dyachenko, DaryaDarya Dyachenko
Дарья Дьяченко
July 1, 1958 * Captured and executed on 2 April 1944 [79]
Gromova, JulianaJuliana Gromova
Ульяна Громова
September 21, 1943 * Captured and executed on 16 January 1943 [80]
Lyubov Shevtsova
Shevtsova, LyubovLyubov Shevtsova
Любовь Шевцова
September 21, 1943 * Captured and executed on 9 February 1943 [81]
Vera Kharuzhaya (1903 -1942)
Kharuzhaya, VeraVera Kharuzhaya
Вера Хоружая
May 17, 1960 * Captured and executed on 4 December 1942 [82]
Kislyak, MariyaMariya Kislyak
Мария Кисляк
May 8, 1965 * Captured and executed on 18 June 1943 [83]
Mazanik, YelenaYelena Mazanik
Елена Мазаник
October 29, 1943
[84]
Osipova, MariyaMariya Osipova
Мария Осипова
October 29, 1943
[85]
Troyan, NadezhdaNadezhda Troyan
Надежда Троян
October 29, 1943
[86]
Nazarova, KlavdiyaKlavdiya Nazarova
Клавдия Назарова
August 20, 1945 * Captured and executed on 12 December 1942 [87]
Portnova, ZinaidaZinaida Portnova
Зинаида Портнова
July 1, 1958 * Captured and executed in January 1944 [88]
Sosnina, NinaNina Sosnina
Нина Соснина
May 8, 1965 * Killed in action on 31 August 1943 [89]
Ubiyvovk, YelenaYelena Ubiyvovk
Елена Убийвовк
May 8, 1965 * Captured and executed on 26 May 1942 [90]
Volkova, NadezhdaNadezhda Volkova
Надежда Волкова
May 8, 1965 * Killed in action on 26 November 1942 [91]
Zenkova, YefrosinyaYefrosinya Zenkova
Ефросинья Зенькова
July 1, 1958
[92]

Soviet cosmonauts[]

Image Name Mission Date of award Notes References
RIAN archive 612748 Valentina Tereshkova (3-4 crop)
Tereshkova, ValentinaValentina Tereshkova
Валентина Терешкова
Vostok 6
22 June 1963
First woman in space [93]
Светлана Савицкая
Savitskaya, SvetlanaSvetlana Savitskaya
Светлана Савицкая
Soyuz T-7 and Soyuz T-12
27 August 1982, 29 July 1984 (twice)
First woman to make a spacewalk [94]

Foreign military personnel[]

Image Name Country Unit Rank Date of award Notes References
Krzywoń, AnielaAniela Krzywoń Poland "Emilia Plater" Independent Women's Battalion Private November 11, 1943 * Killed in action on 12 October 1943 [95]

Notes[]

  1. Cottam, Women in War, 3–10.
  2. Cottam, Women in War, 11–15.
  3. Cottam, Women in War, 16–27.
  4. Cottam, Women in War, 28–32.
  5. Cottam, Women in War, 33–36.
  6. Cottam, Women in War, 37–41.
  7. Cottam, Women in War, 37–41.
  8. Cottam, Women in War, 42–46.
  9. Cottam, Women in War, 47–50.
  10. Cottam, Women in War, 47–50.
  11. Cottam, Women in War, 51–54.
  12. Cottam, Women in War, 55–56.
  13. Cottam, Women in War, 57–59.
  14. Cottam, Women in War, 60–62.
  15. Cottam, Women in War, 63–65.
  16. Cottam, Women in War, 66–69.
  17. Cottam, Women in War, 70–73.
  18. Cottam, Women in War, 74–76.
  19. Cottam, Women in War, 77–80.
  20. Cottam, Women in War, 81–83.
  21. Cottam, Women in War, 84–89.
  22. Cottam, Women in War, 90–95.
  23. Cottam, Women in War, 96–100.
  24. Cottam, Women in War, 101–104.
  25. Cottam, Women in War, 105–107.
  26. Cottam, Women in War, 108–110.
  27. Cottam, Women in War, 111–114.
  28. Cottam, Women in War, 115–118.
  29. Cottam, Women in War, 119–121.
  30. Cottam, Women in War, 122–124.
  31. Cottam, Women in War, 125–127.
  32. Cottam, Women in War, 128–131.
  33. Cottam, Women in War, 132–138.
  34. Cottam, Women in War, 139–141.
  35. Cottam, Women in War, 142–150.
  36. Cottam, Women in War, 151–153.
  37. Cottam, Women in War, 154–157.
  38. Cottam, Women in War, 158–161.
  39. Cottam, Women in War, 162–167.
  40. Cottam, Women in War, 168–170.
  41. Cottam, Women in War, 171–172.
  42. Cottam, Women in War, 173–174.
  43. Cottam, Women in War, 175–179.
  44. Cottam, Women in War, 175–179.
  45. Cottam, Women in War, 180–183.
  46. Cottam, Women in War, 184–188.
  47. Cottam, Women in War, 189–192.
  48. Cottam, Women in War, 193–196.
  49. Cottam, Women in War, 197–200.
  50. Cottam, Women in War, 201–203.
  51. Cottam, Women in War, 204–206.
  52. Cottam, Women in War, 207–208.
  53. Cottam, Women in War, 209–211.
  54. Cottam, Women in War, 212–213.
  55. Cottam, Women in War, 214–215.
  56. Cottam, Women in War, 216–217.
  57. Cottam, Women in War, 218–222.
  58. Cottam, Women in War, 223–224.
  59. Cottam, Women in War, 225–227.
  60. Cottam, Women in War, 228–231.
  61. Cottam, Women in War, 233–236.
  62. Cottam, Women in War, 237–239.
  63. Cottam, Women in War, 240–242.
  64. Cottam, Women in War, 244–247.
  65. Cottam, Women in War, 248–252.
  66. Cottam, Women in War, 253–259.
  67. Cottam, Women in War, 260–264.
  68. Cottam, Women in War, 265–268.
  69. Cottam, Women in War, 269–271.
  70. Cottam, Women in War, 272–275.
  71. Cottam, Women in War, 276–279.
  72. Cottam, Women in War, 280–283.
  73. Cottam, Women in War, 284–288.
  74. Cottam, Women in War, 289–291.
  75. Cottam, Women in War, 292–295.
  76. Cottam, Women in War, 292–295.
  77. Cottam, Women in War, 296–299.
  78. Cottam, Women in War, 300–302.
  79. Cottam, Women in War, 303–304.
  80. Cottam, Women in War, 305–311.
  81. Cottam, Women in War, 305–311.
  82. Cottam, Women in War, 312–316.
  83. Cottam, Women in War, 317–319.
  84. Cottam, Women in War, 320–325.
  85. Cottam, Women in War, 320–325.
  86. Cottam, Women in War, 320–325.
  87. Cottam, Women in War, 326–329.
  88. Cottam, Women in War, 330–332.
  89. Cottam, Women in War, 333–338.
  90. Cottam, Women in War, 339–342.
  91. Cottam, Women in War, 343–345.
  92. Cottam, Women in War, 346–349.
  93. Cottam, Women in War, xx.
  94. Cottam, Women in War, xx.
  95. Cottam, Women in War, xx.

References[]

  • Cottam, Kazimiera J. Women in War and Resistance: Selected Biographies of Soviet Women Soldiers. Newburyport, Mass.: Focus Publishing/R. Pullins Company, 1998. ISBN 978-1585101603.
All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at List of female Heroes of the Soviet Union and the edit history here.