![]() Over two days, she saved 28 wounded tankers (with their weapons, which was a desirable bonus for any medical worker on the battlefield), and even captured a prisoner. In February of 1942, she was sent to the Crimean Front as a part of a tank brigade. All this time, Irina dreamed of being a tanker. She was concussed, wounded twice, and suffered inflammation of the lungs. There, the 17 year old girl individually, without orders, recovered 168 wounded men from encirclement. She was awarded with the Order of the Patriotic War Second Class, Order of the Red Banner, and many medals.Ī Moscow schoolgirl, she volunteered for the Red Cross when she found out about the start of the war, and was assigned to the 149th Infantry Division of the 61st Army of the Bryansk Front. A tanker from the tank next to hers dragged her out of the burning tank and bandaged her thigh, at which point he found out that his comrade was a woman.Īfter the war, Aleksandra was reunited with her husband. Her secret was accidentally discovered in 1945 when her tank was hit by a Tiger in ambush in Bunzlau. As a part of the 62nd Army, she went from Stalingrad to Poland. Among her frontline comrades, she earned the nickname "Sasha the Rascal".Īleksandra fought on a T-34, in the driver's role. She only bathed alone, using the excuse that she was shy. When among the soldiers, she lowered her voice and acted like a man. "Sasha the Conscript" was first sent to chauffeur courses at Moscow, then to a tank driver school at Stalingrad. In 1942, she cut her hair short, dressed up as a man, and enlisted under the name Aleksandr Raschupkin. The recruiting office replied with one refusal after another, with no way to persuade them. She had no one to take care of in the rear, both of her children died in their infancy. After the start of the war, she wanted to follow her husband into battle. She was one of the first tractor drivers of the republic, had an excellent knowledge of her machines. After the end of the war, Junior Lieutenant Petlyuk retired and moved to Odessa.Īleksandra Mitrofanovna Raschupkina was born in modern Uzbekistan on May 1st, 1914. Upon completion, she remained as a training platoon commander. In it, her tank crossed the Dnieper, liberated Kiev, fought for Shepetovka.Įkaterina spent the spring of 1944 at the Ulyanovsk tank school. In the fall of 1943, Ekaterina was transferred to Rybalko's 3rd Guards Tank Army. Wounded, she drove her vehicle from the battlefield, choosing to stay with her unit, refusing hospitalization. She fought bravely, suppressing enemy artillery. In July of 1943, Petlyuk's T-70 fought at the Battle of Kursk. Her handling of the tank in any conditions of battle and terrain was excellent." The award order states: "In battle.south-west of Stalingrad demonstrated feats of courage and heroism. In February of 1943, the Order of the Red Banner found its heroine. Her score sheet listed ten fortifications, three cars, and around 80 fascists. Senior Sergeant Petlyuk made 10 combat outings in the last stage of the battle. The tank fought at the front lines, brought shells to artillery, evacuated the wounded. The tank received its trial by combat at Stalingrad. Having received an excellent grade on her driving exam, she received her first tank on July 2nd, 1942: a light T-60. She became a certified skydiving instructor, but went down in history as a tanker. We will tell you of those that served in tank forces.Įkaterina dreamt of the sky since her childhood, wishing to become a pilot. ![]() Infantry, artillery, navy, there was no service branch that had no women soldiers or officers. 90 of them earned the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. In battle roles, shoulder to shoulder with men, 600 000 to one million women were fighting at different times. Medics, communications specialist, cooks, military police, there were millions. There was no conflict that saw more women serve than the Great Patriotic War.
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