 |
Roza Georgiyevna Shanina (3 April 1924 – 28 January 1945) was a Soviet sniper during World War II, credited with fifty-nine confirmed kills, including twelve soldiers during the Battle of Vilnius.
(Her rifle is a Mosin Nagant 1891/30 with a PU (SVT) 3.5x sniper scope 1943, also in this photo she holds the rank of staff sergeant; lance-sergeant = старший сержант)
Shanina volunteered for the military after the death of her brother in 1941 and chose to be a marksman on the front line. Praised for her shooting accuracy, Shanina was capable of precisely hitting moving enemy personnel and making doublets (two target hits by two rounds fired in quick succession).
The Soviets found that sniper duties fitted women well, since good snipers are patient, deliberate, have a high level of aerobic conditioning, and normally avoid hand-to-hand combat.
She became the first Soviet female sniper to be awarded the 'Order of Glory' and was the first servicewoman of the 3rd Belorussian Front to receive it. Shanina was killed in action during the East Prussian Offensive while shielding the severely wounded commander of an artillery unit.
(Colourisation by Olga Shirnina from Russia) |