List of female Heroes of the Soviet Union

This is a list of female Heroes of the Soviet Union; of the 12,777 people awarded the title, 95 were women, 49 of whom were posthumous recipients of the title.

Recipients

edit

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

Soviet military personnel

edit
Name Unit Rank Date of award Notes References
Valentina Grizodubova
Валентина Гризодубова
Flight "Rodina" Colonel 2 November 1938 Pilot-in-Command [1]
Polina Osipenko
Полина Осипенко
Flight "Rodina" Major 2 November 1938 Co-pilot [2]
Marina Raskova
Марина Раскова
Flight "Rodina" Major 2 November 1938 Navigator [3]
Yekaterina Zelenko
Екатерина Зеленко
135th Light Bomber Regiment Senior Lieutenant 5 May 1990 * Killed in action in unclear circumstances on 12 September 1941. [4]
Raisa Aronova
Раиса Аронова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Major 15 May 1946
[5]
Vera Belik
Вера Белик
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Lieutenant 23 February 1945 * Killed in action on 25 August 1944 after shot down by German fighter. [6]
Tatyana Makarova
Татьяна Макарова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Lieutenant 23 February 1945 * Killed in action on 25 August 1944 after shot down by German fighter. [6]
Marina Chechneva
Марина Чечнева
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Major 15 August 1946
[7]
Rufina Gasheva
Руфина Гашева
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Major 23 February 1945
[8]
Olga Sanfirova
Ольга Санфирова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Captain 23 February 1945 * Killed in action on 13 December 1944 after stepping on landmine when evacuating downed aircraft. [8]
Polina Gelman
Полина Гельман
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Major 15 May 1946
[9]
Antonina Khudyakova
Антонина Худякова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Senior Lieutenant 15 May 1946
[10]
Larisa Litvinova
Лариса Литвинова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Captain 23 February 1948
[11]
Natalya Meklin
Наталья Меклин
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Major 23 February 1945
[12]
Yevdokiya Nikulina
Евдокия Никулина
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Major 26 October 1944
[13]
Yevdokiya Nosal
Евдокия Носаль
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Junior Lieutenant 24 May 1943 * Killed in action on 23 April 1943 when hit in the head by a piece of shrapnel from anti-aircraft fire. [14]
Zoya Parfyonova
Зоя Парфёнова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Senior Lieutenant 18 August 1945
[15]
Yevdokiya Pasko
Евдокия Пасько
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Senior Lieutenant 26 October 1944
[16]
Nadezhda Popova
Надежда Попова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Captain 23 February 1945
[17]
Nina Raspopova
Нина Распопова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Senior Lieutenant 15 May 1946
[18]
Yevgeniya Rudneva
Евгения Руднева
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Senior Lieutenant 26 October 1944 * Killed in action on 9 April 1944 after plane was shot down from anti-aircraft warfare. [19]
Yekaterina Ryabova
Екатерина Рябова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Senior Lieutenant 23 February 1945
[20]
Irina Sebrova
Ирина Себрова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Senior Lieutenant 23 February 1945
[21]
Mariya Smirnova
Мария Смирнова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Major 26 October 1944
[22]
Maguba Syrtlanova
Магуба Сыртланова
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Senior Lieutenant 15 May 1946
[23]
Nina Ulyanenko
Нина Ульяненко
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Lieutenant 18 August 1945
[24]
Yevgeniya Zhigulenko
Евгения Жигуленко
46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment Major 23 February 1945
[25]
Mariya Dolina
Мария Долина
125th Guards Dive Bomber Regiment Major 18 August 1945
[26]
Galina Dzhunkovskaya
Галина Джунковская
125th Guards Dive Bomber Regiment Major 18 August 1945
[27]
Nadezhda Fedutenko
Надежда Федутенко
125th Guards Dive Bomber Regiment Major 18 August 1945
[28]
Klavdia Fomicheva
Клавдия Фомичёва
125th Guards Dive Bomber Regiment Lieutenant Colonel 18 August 1945
[29]
Antonina Zubkova
Антонина Зубкова
125th Guards Dive Bomber Regiment Captain 18 August 1945
[30]
Lydia Litvyak
Лидия Литвяк
73rd Guards Fighter Regiment Senior Lieutenant 5 May 1990 * Presumably killed in action on 1 August 1943 after crash; some think she may have survived and been a POW. [31]
Tamara Konstantinova
Тамара Константинова
566th Attack Aviation Regiment Senior Lieutenant 29 June 1945
[32]
Anna Yegorova
Анна Егорова
805th Ground Attack Air Regiment Senior Lieutenant 6 May 1965
[33]
Tatyana Baramzina
Татьяна Барамзина
252nd Rifle Regiment Corporal 24 March 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. [34]
Yelena Stempkovskaya
Елена Стемпковская
216th Rifle Regiment Junior Sergeant 15 May 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. [35]
Manshuk Mametova
Маншук Маметова
21st Guards Rifle Division Senior Sergeant 1 March 1944 * Killed in action defending strategic bridgehead on 15 October 1943. [36]
Nina Onilova
Нина Онилова
54th Rifle Regiment Senior Sergeant 14 May 1965 * Died of wounds on 8 March 1942 [37]
Mariya Batrakova
Мария Батракова
463rd Rifle Regiment Junior Lieutenant 19 March 1944
[38]
Anna Nikandrova
Анна Никандрова
426th Rifle Regiment Senior Lieutenant 24 March 1945 * Killed in action while trying to take out machine-gun bunker on 23 June 1944. [39]
Tatyana Kostyrina
Татьяна Костырина
691st Rifle Regiment Junior Sergeant 16 May 1944 * Killed in action on 22 November 1942. [40]
Natalya Kovshova
Наталья Ковшова
528th Rifle Regiment Private 14 February 1943 * Killed in action after detonating grenades when fully surrounded by German troops on 14 August 1942. [41]
Mariya Polivanova
Мария Поливанова
528th Rifle Regiment Private 14 February 1943 * Killed in action after detonating grenades when fully surrounded by German troops on 14 August 1942. [41]
Aliya Moldagulova
Алия Молдагулова
54th Independent Rifle Brigade Corporal 4 June 1944 * Died of wounds on 14 January 1944 after shot in hand-to-hand combat [42]
Lyudmila Pavlichenko
Людмила Павличенко
25th Rifle Division Major 25 October 1943
[43]
Irina Levchenko
Ирина Левченко
41st Tank Brigade Lieutenant Colonel 6 May 1965
[44]
Mariya Oktyabrskaya
Мария Октябрьская
26th Guards Tank Brigade Senior Sergeant 2 August 1944 * Died of wounds after remaining in coma for two months after head injury on 15 March 1944. [45]
Mariya Bayda
Мария Байда
514th Rifle Regiment Senior Sergeant 20 June 1942
[46]
Mariya Borovichenko
Мария Боровиченко
32nd Guards Artillery Regiment Sergeant 6 May 1965 * Killed in action on 4 July 1943 after using body as human shield to protect colleague. [47]
Valeriya Gnarovskaya
Валерия Гнаровская
907th Rifle Regiment Senior Medical NCO 3 June 1944 * Killed in action on 23 September 1943 after throwing self under tank with bag of grenades to protect hospital tent. [48]
Vera Kashcheyeva
Вера Кащеева
120th Rifle Regiment Senior Lieutenant 28 February 1944
[49]
Kseniya Konstantinova
Ксения Константинова
730th Rifle Regiment Senior Medical NCO 4 June 1944 * Captured, tortured and executed on 1 October 1943 after running out of ammunition while trying to protect injured soldiers. [50]
Lyudmila Kravets
Людмила Кравец
63rd Guards Rifle Regiment Senior Sergeant 31 May 1945
[51]
Zinaida Mareseva
Зинаида Маресева
214th Guards Rifle Regiment Senior Sergeant 22 February 1944 * Died of wounds on 6 August 1943 after using body as human shield to defend wounded soldiers from mortar attack. [52]
Fedora Pushina
Федора Пушина
520th Rifle Regiment Lieutenant 10 January 1944 * Died of wounds on 6 November 1943 shortly after rescuing numerous soldiers from burning hospital. [53]
Zinaida Samsonova
Зинаида Самсонова
667th Rifle Regiment Senior Sergeant 3 June 1944 * Killed in action on 27 January 1944 after shot by German sniper while attempting to rescue wounded soldier. [54]
Mariya Shcherbachenko
Мария Щербаченко
835th Rifle Regiment Senior NCO 23 October 1943
[55]
Mariya Shkarletova
Мария Шкарлетова
170th Guards Rifle Regiment Senior NCO 24 March 1945
[56]
Zinaida Tusnolobova-Marchenko
Зинаида Туснолобова-Марченко
849th Rifle Regiment Senior Medical NCO 6 December 1957
[57]
Yekaterina Mikhailova-Demina
Екатерина Михайлова-Дёмина
369th Independent Naval Infantry Battalion Chief Petty Officer 5 May 1990
[58]
Galina Petrova
Галина Петрова
386th Independent Naval Infantry Battalion Chief Petty Officer 17 November 1943 Killed in action less than a month later on 4 December 1943. [59]
Mariya Tsukanova
Мария Цуканова
355th Independent Guards Naval Infantry Battalion Corporal 14 September 1945 * Killed in action on 14 August 1945. [60]
Nina Gnilitskaya
Нина Гнилицкая
383rd Rifle Division Private 31 March 1943 * Killed in action on 10 December 1941. [61]

Soviet partisans

edit
Name Date of award Notes References
Yelizaveta Chaikina
Елизавета Чайкина
6 March 1942 * Captured and executed on 22 November 1941 [62]
Yelena Kolesova
Елена Колесова
21 November 1944 * Killed in action on 11 September 1942 [63]
Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya
Зоя Космодемьянская
16 February 1942 * Captured and executed on 29 November 1941 [64]
Tatyana Marinenko
Татьяна Мариненко
8 May 1965 * Captured and executed on 2 February 1942 [65]
Anna Maslovskaya
Анна Масловская
15 May 1944
[66]
Marytė Melnikaitė
Мария Мельникайте
22 March 1944 * Captured and executed on 13 July 1943 [67]
Antonina Petrova
Антонина Петрова
8 April 1942 * Killed herself to avoid capture on 4 November 1941 [68]
Larisa Ratushnaya
Лариса Ратушная
8 May 1965 * Murdered by a traitor in her unit on 18 March 1944 [69]
Valentina Safronova
Валентина Сафронова
8 May 1965 * Tortured to death by the Gestapo on 1 May 1943 [70]
Helene Kullmann
Леэн Кульман
8 May 1965 * Captured and executed on 6 March 1943 [71]
Anna Lisitsyna
Анна Лисицына
25 September 1943 * Killed in action on 3 August 1942 [72]
Mariya Melentyeva
Мария Мелентьева
25 September 1943 * Captured and executed in 1943 [72]
Anna Morozova
Анна Морозова
8 May 1965 * Killed in action in December 1944 [73]
Anastasiya Biseniek
Анастасия Бисениек
9 May 1965 * Captured and executed in October 1943 [74]
Darya Dyachenko
Дарья Дьяченко
1 July 1958 * Captured and executed on 2 April 1944 [75]
Ulyana Gromova
Ульяна Громова
21 September 1943 * Captured and executed on 16 January 1943 [76]
Lyubov Shevtsova
Любовь Шевцова
21 September 1943 * Captured and executed on 9 February 1943 [76]
Vera Kharuzhaya
Вера Хоружая
17 May 1960 * Captured and executed on 4 December 1942 [77]
Mariya Kislyak
Мария Кисляк
8 May 1965 * Captured and executed on 18 June 1943 [78]
Yelena Mazanik
Елена Мазаник
29 October 1943
[79]
Mariya Osipova
Мария Осипова
29 October 1943
[79]
Nadezhda Troyan
Надежда Троян
29 October 1943
[79]
Klavdiya Nazarova
Клавдия Назарова
20 August 1945 * Captured and executed on 12 December 1942 [80]
Zinaida Portnova
Зинаида Портнова
1 July 1958 * Captured and executed in January 1944 [81]
Nina Sosnina
Нина Соснина
8 May 1965 * Killed in action on 31 August 1943 [82]
Yelena Ubiyvovk
Елена Убийвовк
8 May 1965 * Captured and executed on 26 May 1942 [83]
Nadezhda Volkova
Надежда Волкова
8 May 1965 * Killed in action on 26 November 1942 [84]
Yefrosinya Zenkova
Ефросинья Зенькова
1 July 1958
[85]

Soviet cosmonauts

edit
Name Mission Date of award Notes References
Valentina Tereshkova
Валентина Терешкова
Vostok 6
22 June 1963
First woman in space [86]
Svetlana Savitskaya
Светлана Савицкая
Soyuz T-7 and Soyuz T-12
27 August 1982, 29 July 1984 (twice)
First woman to make a spacewalk [86]

Foreign military personnel

edit
Name Country Unit Rank Date of award Notes References
Aniela Krzywoń Poland "Emilia Plater" Independent Women's Battalion Private 11 November 1943 * Killed in action on 12 October 1943 [86]

Notes

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

References

edit
  • 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.