They fought fascism and won: Ludmilla Pavlichenko

Written by: Nick G. on 8 May 2023

 

May 8 and 9 are celebrated as the day of victory over the Nazis in the Great War Against Fascism.

Because of the different time zones, the end of hostilities occurred when the Soviet Union had already entered May 9, while France, Britain and the US were somewhat “behind the times” in that it was still May 8 in their territories.

The Soviet Union bore the brunt of the Nazi onslaught, reportedly losing 20 million of its citizens in the struggle to drive fascism from its borders.
Many brave and courageous Soviet citizens stood up to the invaders, responding to Stalin’s leadership and that of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Among them was the female sniper Ludmilla Pavlichenko, who we select today to represent all those who fought and saved the world from Hitler’s fascist hordes.

Born 12 July 1916 in Kiev, Ukraine Pavlichenko grew up alongside and within the first workers’ state – the Soviet Union.

Following the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, at the age of 25 she was amongst the first to volunteer. She asked to join the infantry, and despite pressure to become a nurse, underwent military training and joined the Red Army Rifle Division.

On 8 August 1941, she shot her first two Nazis with a borrowed 1891 bolt-action rifle. Over a period of 2 ½ months during the siege of Odessa, she killed 187 German Nazi and Romanian enemy soldiers. 

In June 1942 she suffered a facial wound and was evacuated, having killed by that time 309 enemies.

Such was her popularity and status as a leading sniper that it was decided to send her on a speaking tour of the United States to win support for the badly needed opening of a Second Front. She was hosted by the First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt.

Pavlichenko”s autobiography “Lady Death: The Memoirs of Stalin’s Sniper” was published in the West in 2018 by Big Sky Publishing (www.bigskypublishing.com.au )

She inspired US Communist singer-songwriter Woody Guthrie to compose the tribute song “Miss Pavlichenko”.

The song can be heard on Youtube and the lyrics are below:

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 nazi dogs 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 big trees knowing no fear
You lift up your sight. And down comes a hun
And more than three hundred nazi dogs 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 nazi hounds 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

CHORUS

 

Print Version - new window Email article

-----

Go back