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Lady Death: The Memoirs of Stalin's Sniper
The wartime memoir of Lyudmila Pavlichenko is a remarkable document: the publication of an English language edition is a significant coup. Pavlichenko was World War II's best scoring sniper and had a varied wartime career that included trips to England and America.
In June 1941, when Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa, she left her university studies, ignored the offer of a position as a nurse, to become one of Soviet Russia's 2000 female snipers.
Less than a year later she had 309 recorded kills, including 29 enemy sniper kills. She was withdrawn from active duty after being injured. She was also regarded as a key heroic figure for the war effort.
She spoke at rallies in Canada and the US and the folk singer Woody Guthrie wrote a song, 'Killed By A Gun' about her exploits. Her US trip included a tour of the White House with FDR. In November 1942 she visited Coventry and accepted donations of £4,516 from Coventry workers to pay for three X-ray units for the Red Army. She also visited a Birmingham factory as part of her fundraising tour.
She never returned to combat but trained other snipers. After the war, she finished her education at Kiev University and began a career as a historian. She died on October 10, 1974 at age 58, and was buried in Moscow's Novodevichy Cemetery.
In June 1941, when Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa, she left her university studies, ignored the offer of a position as a nurse, to become one of Soviet Russia's 2000 female snipers.
Less than a year later she had 309 recorded kills, including 29 enemy sniper kills. She was withdrawn from active duty after being injured. She was also regarded as a key heroic figure for the war effort.
She spoke at rallies in Canada and the US and the folk singer Woody Guthrie wrote a song, 'Killed By A Gun' about her exploits. Her US trip included a tour of the White House with FDR. In November 1942 she visited Coventry and accepted donations of £4,516 from Coventry workers to pay for three X-ray units for the Red Army. She also visited a Birmingham factory as part of her fundraising tour.
She never returned to combat but trained other snipers. After the war, she finished her education at Kiev University and began a career as a historian. She died on October 10, 1974 at age 58, and was buried in Moscow's Novodevichy Cemetery.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
May 21, 2020
While reading this one I was torn between admiration for Pavlichenko as a soldier and sympathy bordering on pity for her personal life. The writer is a no-nonsense type, which makes it more surprising that she was impregnated quite young by a man who basically gets no mention in the rest of the book. I was left with the impression that it might be a date rape or some other dishonorable jiggery-pokery. Whatever the reason, for 9/10 of the book our Amazon is all citizen and soldier.
Pavlichenko is not your average young woman. Like Conan, she learned early the riddle of steel, working as a lathe operator: The sight of dark blue-violet metal shavings curling out from under the blade still strikes me as incredibly beautiful. However hard the metal, it yields to human strength.
She also showed a love of weaponry most would consider unusual for a woman. (P.7): Manual firearms seem to me to represent the most perfect creation of human mind and hand. Their construction always made use of the latest innovations. The technological solutions necessary for their manufacture were quickly refined and put into a production process that output thousands of millions of items. In the case of the most successful models, those worthy of world recognition, engineering genius finds its fulfilment in an ideal and consummate external shape. In their own way, firearms are...beautiful. They are pleasant to pick up and convenient to use. Oh, Lyudmila, I was born too late for you! We could have tarried long into the night discussing foot pounds of energy, muzzle velocities, and minutes of angle!
The Soviets had a very sensible marksmanship program and Lyudmila enrolled, earning all manner of awards for shooting. In the book, her terminology is spot on, showing she really and truly has an intimate relationship with her weapon. If you wanted to make her weak in the knees, forget the flowers. Give her a gun; many did, and she was always appreciative.
In spite of her prowess, Lyudmila had to assert herself to avoid being placed in that respectable women's field, nursing, when war broke out. She got her way, and 309 (confirmed) fascists paid the price for invading her homeland. She enthralls the reader with her exploits, relates how she stalked and killed the "noxious fascist dogs". But her exploits were not without a price: she was wounded a number of times, watched her second husband get killed right in front of her, and had to fend off sexual opportunists. All of this for something like 35 roubles a month (chocolate cost 20) and the opportunity for a state-assigned two room apartment at the end of it all.
Lyudmila did have the opportunity to travel. She was part of a small group of party members to travel to Canada, the USA, and Britain to whip up support for the war effort, particularly in the USA. She was quite a hit, and found herself the object of interest wherever she went. Eleanor Roosevelt befriended her, and one can only imagine how a free country like the USA must have impressed her when compared to the bombed out country she had left behind.
Some people might be triggered by some of the language in the book. Lyudmila killed a lot of Romanians, and is not particularly flattering in some of the terminology she uses in describing them. "Feckless gypsies", I seem to remember at one point. All's fair in love and war, and I can forgive Lucy a bit of racism when I consider that the objects of her disgust were invading her country and killing, raping, and plundering. It didn't put me off her book at all. If you like military history, this story of a highly decorated and devoted citizen should interest you. She is a woman of steel, perhaps too hard to love, but we can respect her.
Pavlichenko is not your average young woman. Like Conan, she learned early the riddle of steel, working as a lathe operator: The sight of dark blue-violet metal shavings curling out from under the blade still strikes me as incredibly beautiful. However hard the metal, it yields to human strength.
She also showed a love of weaponry most would consider unusual for a woman. (P.7): Manual firearms seem to me to represent the most perfect creation of human mind and hand. Their construction always made use of the latest innovations. The technological solutions necessary for their manufacture were quickly refined and put into a production process that output thousands of millions of items. In the case of the most successful models, those worthy of world recognition, engineering genius finds its fulfilment in an ideal and consummate external shape. In their own way, firearms are...beautiful. They are pleasant to pick up and convenient to use. Oh, Lyudmila, I was born too late for you! We could have tarried long into the night discussing foot pounds of energy, muzzle velocities, and minutes of angle!
The Soviets had a very sensible marksmanship program and Lyudmila enrolled, earning all manner of awards for shooting. In the book, her terminology is spot on, showing she really and truly has an intimate relationship with her weapon. If you wanted to make her weak in the knees, forget the flowers. Give her a gun; many did, and she was always appreciative.
In spite of her prowess, Lyudmila had to assert herself to avoid being placed in that respectable women's field, nursing, when war broke out. She got her way, and 309 (confirmed) fascists paid the price for invading her homeland. She enthralls the reader with her exploits, relates how she stalked and killed the "noxious fascist dogs". But her exploits were not without a price: she was wounded a number of times, watched her second husband get killed right in front of her, and had to fend off sexual opportunists. All of this for something like 35 roubles a month (chocolate cost 20) and the opportunity for a state-assigned two room apartment at the end of it all.
Lyudmila did have the opportunity to travel. She was part of a small group of party members to travel to Canada, the USA, and Britain to whip up support for the war effort, particularly in the USA. She was quite a hit, and found herself the object of interest wherever she went. Eleanor Roosevelt befriended her, and one can only imagine how a free country like the USA must have impressed her when compared to the bombed out country she had left behind.
Some people might be triggered by some of the language in the book. Lyudmila killed a lot of Romanians, and is not particularly flattering in some of the terminology she uses in describing them. "Feckless gypsies", I seem to remember at one point. All's fair in love and war, and I can forgive Lucy a bit of racism when I consider that the objects of her disgust were invading her country and killing, raping, and plundering. It didn't put me off her book at all. If you like military history, this story of a highly decorated and devoted citizen should interest you. She is a woman of steel, perhaps too hard to love, but we can respect her.
May 18, 2018
I found this to be an engaging read for its time, and the timing was perfect coming right after my book about Eleanor Roosevelt because she turns up in this book too. Lyudmila as a good young Soviet took a couple of courses in being a sniper and it was found that she had a talent for it from the first time she picked up a rifle. Later, when she was nearly finished with her advanced schooling, war was declared against Germany. She got her sniper certifications out and went down to join the military, turning her back on her schooling. Her country needed her. Her young son would be taken care of by her family. Her ex-husband, she hadn't seen in a long time and was of no consequence.
She was known as Stalin's Sniper, Lady Death and other various names. She was the most successful female sniper in history with 309 kills. In 1942 she and two male soldiers were sent to the United States as part of a delegation to try and gain cooperation in getting the US to join in opening a 2nd front in the war with the Germans. It was there that she met the President and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She and the other soldiers spent time at the White House and a week at their private home, Hyde Park.
Lyudmila was later removed from the front after being wounded 4 times and suffering from shell shock. She was given a rest and allowed a bit of time to heal, then she was used in training other snipers, but really wanted to return to fighting. She had to be convinced her skills were better served in training hundreds like her instead. After the war, having reached the rank of major, Pavlichenko finished her education at the University of Kiev and became a historian. She also saw First Lady Roosevelt again in 1957 when she was touring Russia, as they had remained in contact with letters as friends.
Lyudmila Mykhailovna Pavlichenko (July 12, 1912 - Oct. 10, 1974)
An advance digital copy was provided by NetGalley, author Lyudmila Pavlichenko and the publisher for my unbiased review.
Greenhill Books Publication: May 19, 2018
She was known as Stalin's Sniper, Lady Death and other various names. She was the most successful female sniper in history with 309 kills. In 1942 she and two male soldiers were sent to the United States as part of a delegation to try and gain cooperation in getting the US to join in opening a 2nd front in the war with the Germans. It was there that she met the President and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She and the other soldiers spent time at the White House and a week at their private home, Hyde Park.
Lyudmila was later removed from the front after being wounded 4 times and suffering from shell shock. She was given a rest and allowed a bit of time to heal, then she was used in training other snipers, but really wanted to return to fighting. She had to be convinced her skills were better served in training hundreds like her instead. After the war, having reached the rank of major, Pavlichenko finished her education at the University of Kiev and became a historian. She also saw First Lady Roosevelt again in 1957 when she was touring Russia, as they had remained in contact with letters as friends.
Lyudmila Mykhailovna Pavlichenko (July 12, 1912 - Oct. 10, 1974)
An advance digital copy was provided by NetGalley, author Lyudmila Pavlichenko and the publisher for my unbiased review.
Greenhill Books Publication: May 19, 2018
February 5, 2021
"سرعان ما أقنعت مرؤوسيّ أن لا رواج لأمثال شعبية مثل: " لن تلعب المرأة دور الرجل إلا عندما تطير الدجاجة كباقي الطيور."، و" المطبخ هو المكان الطبيعي للمرأة."، و " طويلات شعر، ناقصات عقل."، و لا لافتراءات أخرى في هذا المكان. كان رميي أفضل منهم جميعاً، وكنت أعرف كثيراً عن الحرب، فتعيّن عليهم الخضوع لي مطلقاً. "ص99
من طالبة جامعية إلى مقاتلة في فرقة الرماة 25 .
مذكرات تروي فيها قناصة ستالين : لودميلا بافلتشنكو انضمامها إلى الجيش الأحمر خلال الاجتياح الألماني للاتحاد السوفيتي لتصبح واحدة من أكثر القناصين فتكاً في الحرب العالمية الثانية، بحصيلة شخصية قوامها 309 قتلى. في أوديسا و سيفاستوبول. وهي من أهم المعارك التي خاضتها في حياتها.
" أطلق النار على العدو ولا تخطئ الهدف."—لودميلا بافلتشنكو.
معركة سيفاستوبول تعد من أبرز صفحات الحرب العالمية الثانية. و التي استمرت لـ 250 يوما. بدأ الحصار في العام 1941 وانتهى في يوليو / تموز 1942 بسقوط المدينة في يد الالمان. وفي 9 مايو 1944 تمكن الجيش الأحمر من تحرير المدينة واعادة ضمها إلى الاتحاد السوفيتي.
" لقد جمعت ملحمة سيفاستوبول جميع من شاركوا فيها بروابط غير مرئية، لكنها سرمدية." ص252
كذلك تضم المذكرات الكثير من المواقف النفسية والعاطفية التي عصفت بها أثناء المعارك المختلفة التي خاضتها، كوفاة زوجها ألكسي، وفقدانها الكثير من أصدقاء السلاح. و كذا تدرجها في الرتب وحصولها أو تقلدها عدد من الأوسمة الرفيعة ك"وسام لينين للاستحقاق." والعديد العديد من الانجازات الأخرى.
"فأن تكون قناصاً ليس مجرد حرفة، بل إنه نمط في الحياة." ص 359.
مذكرات تكشف عن غضاضة الصورة النمطية للمرأة! و تؤرخ بالشواهد لمرحلة تاريخية عاصفة من الحرب العالمية الثانية.
للمهتمين بالسينما :فيلم Battle for Sevastopol يروي سيرتها الذاتية. وعن حصار سيفاستوبول الشهير.
March 14, 2020
I came across a horrifying conversation on Twitter the other day. People were arguing that writers shouldn’t insert homophobic slurs in novels taking place in the past, even if they’re spoken by bad guys exercising their power and privilege in the context of that past, and definitely not flawed and complicated people because those don’t exist anymore.
As a lesbian...(waves disclaimer and shoves back in drawer).
What to make of nonfiction then? Or a staunch Stalinist who picks off Germans and Romanians and says some very unpalatable things about the latter? What would I have learned about the attitudes of Soviet soldiers fighting the war if Pavlichenko, in narrating her memoirs, had erased that not-so-veiled racism and spent the book retroactively decrying Stalin as murderer? Not a lot, comrades. This is a fascinating book about a flawed human being, very much indoctrinated by the political context of her time and the duress of war. It’s not pretty, but as readers we can figure that out for ourselves, even if the art police (and Stalin) might not think we’re capable.
As a lesbian...(waves disclaimer and shoves back in drawer).
What to make of nonfiction then? Or a staunch Stalinist who picks off Germans and Romanians and says some very unpalatable things about the latter? What would I have learned about the attitudes of Soviet soldiers fighting the war if Pavlichenko, in narrating her memoirs, had erased that not-so-veiled racism and spent the book retroactively decrying Stalin as murderer? Not a lot, comrades. This is a fascinating book about a flawed human being, very much indoctrinated by the political context of her time and the duress of war. It’s not pretty, but as readers we can figure that out for ourselves, even if the art police (and Stalin) might not think we’re capable.
December 29, 2024
DNF at 10%, it may be unfair for me to rate this wonderful memoir but I will as it applies to the portion read.
Very interesting but a bit of a slog. The writing style is a little dry when I was hoping for dynamic.
Such a Phenomenal Female! I just can't get into the writing style which contains a good deal of stilted english via translation; the reading is very awkward for me.
goodreads Friend, Panda, listened to the audiobook version and wrote an impressive review that I encourage you to read here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Very interesting but a bit of a slog. The writing style is a little dry when I was hoping for dynamic.
Such a Phenomenal Female! I just can't get into the writing style which contains a good deal of stilted english via translation; the reading is very awkward for me.
goodreads Friend, Panda, listened to the audiobook version and wrote an impressive review that I encourage you to read here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
September 23, 2024
Audiobook (14 hours) narrated by Emily Durante
The audio and narration of this memoir is excellent, without any issues.
I began this book after reading The Diamond Eye, in which Kate Quinn did a phenomenal job of pulling out not just the foundation, but the spirit of Lyudmila's memoir to write a spectacular historical fiction.
As I read Lyudmila Pavlichenko's memoir, the vision of the United States through her eyes, struck me. Oddly enough I had read similar thoughts from an American writer who toured Russia shortly before the war began, in the 1930's, Langston Hughes. Langston wrote about his life, including the social hardships of traveling as a black man in I Wonder as I Wander: An Autobiographical Journey. I was particularly brought back to his thoughts and observations of traveling in Russia when Lyudmila made observations about segregation in the United States, that ended in her quote, above. It did not take her long at all to see past the luxurious life that many Americans were living, the one being sold and told anywhere from history books to Hollywood, when she looked around and saw our country for what it was with her own two eyes.
If you are interested in the similarities and differences socially, between Russia and the United States, through diametrically opposing views Langston Hughes and Lyudmila Pavlichenko have stories to tell!
Lyudmila's candor is refreshing. She often thinks of holding her tongue, and perhaps she does somewhat, but ultimately her feelings come through even if a bit more polite than what she would rather offer them. This is what ultimately drew Eleanor Roosevelt to her, and while they did share a friendship, it likely would have deepened if not separated by two countries with secrets.
The more that I read, the more that I am able to learn about strong, powerful, women throughout history who made a difference, as well as the men who stood beside them, encouraged them respected them, and learned from them.
It's a shame that despite the number of women who have made significant impacts in our world, as well as the universe, that when women are interviewed or presented by modern media they are often accompanied by a list of what they are wearing, where to buy those items, and if they are expensive, where to buy similar less expensive items so women can dress like her on a budget.
Lyudmila had to deal with what to wear with the media over 80 years ago, she wasn't amused and she said so. Snipers aren't supposed to stand out in what they wear.
Perhaps tomorrow's media won't lambaste a powerful woman with an important job for what she is, or is not, wearing. It shouldn't be something that we learn to live with as a condition of having things written about women.
I seem to have slid off the page and I'm not sure how to pull myself back on, other than to say that I loved reading about Mila both in Kate Quinn's historical fiction, as well as Lyudmila's own memoir. Truly a worthwhile reading experience.
The audio and narration of this memoir is excellent, without any issues.
I began this book after reading The Diamond Eye, in which Kate Quinn did a phenomenal job of pulling out not just the foundation, but the spirit of Lyudmila's memoir to write a spectacular historical fiction.
"America itself is on one hand a land of luxury and on the other a land of destitution"
As I read Lyudmila Pavlichenko's memoir, the vision of the United States through her eyes, struck me. Oddly enough I had read similar thoughts from an American writer who toured Russia shortly before the war began, in the 1930's, Langston Hughes. Langston wrote about his life, including the social hardships of traveling as a black man in I Wonder as I Wander: An Autobiographical Journey. I was particularly brought back to his thoughts and observations of traveling in Russia when Lyudmila made observations about segregation in the United States, that ended in her quote, above. It did not take her long at all to see past the luxurious life that many Americans were living, the one being sold and told anywhere from history books to Hollywood, when she looked around and saw our country for what it was with her own two eyes.
If you are interested in the similarities and differences socially, between Russia and the United States, through diametrically opposing views Langston Hughes and Lyudmila Pavlichenko have stories to tell!
Lyudmila's candor is refreshing. She often thinks of holding her tongue, and perhaps she does somewhat, but ultimately her feelings come through even if a bit more polite than what she would rather offer them. This is what ultimately drew Eleanor Roosevelt to her, and while they did share a friendship, it likely would have deepened if not separated by two countries with secrets.
The more that I read, the more that I am able to learn about strong, powerful, women throughout history who made a difference, as well as the men who stood beside them, encouraged them respected them, and learned from them.
It's a shame that despite the number of women who have made significant impacts in our world, as well as the universe, that when women are interviewed or presented by modern media they are often accompanied by a list of what they are wearing, where to buy those items, and if they are expensive, where to buy similar less expensive items so women can dress like her on a budget.
Lyudmila had to deal with what to wear with the media over 80 years ago, she wasn't amused and she said so. Snipers aren't supposed to stand out in what they wear.
Perhaps tomorrow's media won't lambaste a powerful woman with an important job for what she is, or is not, wearing. It shouldn't be something that we learn to live with as a condition of having things written about women.
I seem to have slid off the page and I'm not sure how to pull myself back on, other than to say that I loved reading about Mila both in Kate Quinn's historical fiction, as well as Lyudmila's own memoir. Truly a worthwhile reading experience.
November 6, 2025
Както съм казвал много пъти(1, 2), въпреки, че не съм я виждал на живо (слава богу, само през очите на дронове в Украйна, което не е преживяване за слабосърдечните), войната е пълен и абсолютен ужас и нищо героично няма в нея.
Това ясно се вижда от автобиографията на известната снайперистка Людмила Павличенко. Въпреки, че самата книга е очевидно написана с пропагандна цел и преминала всякакви цензори и редактори в СССР и е изчистена от всичко, което те са сметнали за "подриващо бойния дух", нещата са просто сурови и студени като сибирска зима.
Самата Павличенко очевидно или е дълбоко психически увредена от преживяванията си, или (по-вероятно според мен) си е била психопат по рождение, за да може не само да издържи и оцелее, ами и да преуспее в условията на тотална война, между чука на Хитлер и наковалнята на Сталин.
Писанията й, дори личните преживявания като отношенията с приятелите, браковете и службата със съпруга й, детето, "човешките моменти" на срещи с обикновените хора в градовете, навсякъде личи липсата на каквато и да е сантименталност, едно хирургически практично отношение към живота и войната.
Може би това е характерно за повечето хора, преживели такива неща. Със сигурност в известна степен е характерно за повечето руснаци като национална черта, имаме го и ние малко от него, затова хората "на запад" в уредените държави ни се виждат малко разглезени и излишно милозливи.
Това ясно се вижда от автобиографията на известната снайперистка Людмила Павличенко. Въпреки, че самата книга е очевидно написана с пропагандна цел и преминала всякакви цензори и редактори в СССР и е изчистена от всичко, което те са сметнали за "подриващо бойния дух", нещата са просто сурови и студени като сибирска зима.
Самата Павличенко очевидно или е дълбоко психически увредена от преживяванията си, или (по-вероятно според мен) си е била психопат по рождение, за да може не само да издържи и оцелее, ами и да преуспее в условията на тотална война, между чука на Хитлер и наковалнята на Сталин.
Писанията й, дори личните преживявания като отношенията с приятелите, браковете и службата със съпруга й, детето, "човешките моменти" на срещи с обикновените хора в градовете, навсякъде личи липсата на каквато и да е сантименталност, едно хирургически практично отношение към живота и войната.
Може би това е характерно за повечето хора, преживели такива неща. Със сигурност в известна степен е характерно за повечето руснаци като национална черта, имаме го и ние малко от него, затова хората "на запад" в уредените държави ни се виждат малко разглезени и излишно милозливи.
May 3, 2022
Fascinating true story/memoirs of Lyudmila Pavlichenko, the Russian WWII female sniper with the most kills by a female sniper. I became interested in her after starting The Diamond Eye, a fictional account of Ms. Pavlichenko’s life. I discovered that her memoirs had been published and available on Audible. I recommend this book to those interested in WWII history and the story and experiences of this Russian hero. Now, back to The Diamond Eye.
January 18, 2018
“Lyudmila Pavlichenko was not just any sniper, however, for she was to become the highest-scoring female sniper with 309 official kills. Official kills, it should be noted, were those observed by a second party.“ ― Lyudmila Pavlichenko, Lady Death
You might have heard of American Sniper. And even Simo Häyhä. Now meet Lady Death. Fascinating tale of Russia's most efficient female sniper.
This book made me feel like I had been living under a rock because I had no idea there were female snipers. And quite a lot of them. This book transports you in time to Russia in World War 2 and it is interesting to learn what Pavlichenko thought in some situations and what was life like in general.
“When I walked along the streets of Sevastopol, kids would always stop me and ask me earnestly: 'How many did you kill yesterday?
I would give them a detailed report of my operations as a sniper. One day I had to tell them honestly that I had fired at the enemy for several days.
'That's bad', said the children in one chorus.
One of them, the smallest, added sternly: 'That's very bad. Nazis should be killed every day.'“ ― Lyudmila Pavlichenko, Lady Death
I warmly recommend this book to fans of history.
4/5 stars
Thank you Greenhill Books and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review!
May 5, 2018
Major Lyudmila Pavlichenko was a Red Army sniper during World War II who attained 309 (!) kills in combat. This book details her transformation from a factory worker in Ukraine to one of the deadliest snipers in history.
It's a brilliant read, with chapters detailing her first 100 kills against the Romanians and then moving on to the German army. Her attention to detail with weapons is amazing - I often read memoirs where former soldiers just generally describe their guns as "tommy guns" or "machine guns" but Major Pavlichenko always details the full name of whichever weapon she is talking about, and also throws in some technical specs. The most interesting parts for me were the chapters in which she details a counter-sniping operation against a German sniper, and the chapters dealing with her speaking tour of the US and UK. It was interesting to note the attitudes of pre-war USA towards this woman, with reporters seeming to care more about the cut of her uniform and which colour of underwear she preferred rather than actually asking this soldier about life at war.
Definitely one of the best war memoirs I've read regarding the Eastern Front of WWII, and well worth a read to anyone interested in snipers or World War II in general.
It's a brilliant read, with chapters detailing her first 100 kills against the Romanians and then moving on to the German army. Her attention to detail with weapons is amazing - I often read memoirs where former soldiers just generally describe their guns as "tommy guns" or "machine guns" but Major Pavlichenko always details the full name of whichever weapon she is talking about, and also throws in some technical specs. The most interesting parts for me were the chapters in which she details a counter-sniping operation against a German sniper, and the chapters dealing with her speaking tour of the US and UK. It was interesting to note the attitudes of pre-war USA towards this woman, with reporters seeming to care more about the cut of her uniform and which colour of underwear she preferred rather than actually asking this soldier about life at war.
Definitely one of the best war memoirs I've read regarding the Eastern Front of WWII, and well worth a read to anyone interested in snipers or World War II in general.
September 4, 2019
Entre las preguntas que todo soviético se hace varias veces al día, las relativas a la gran guerra patria -o patriótica, expresión más en boga aunque menos eufónica y que me gusta menos- siempre terminan siendo las más entretenidas: ¿Qué mariscal fue más determinante, Zhúkov o Rokossovski? ¿Qué resistencia fue más heroica, la de Leningrado o la de Stalingrado? Tras la lectura de estas memorias (directas, tensas, pujantes), una nueva se formula sola, y es la que enfrenta en el cielo de los francotiradores a Liudmila Pavlichenko y Vasili Záitsev.
Para uno que ha paseado por las dos ciudades que Liudmila defendió, Odessa y Sevastópol, este libro es una delicia, si bien su interés ¡ay! decae en los últimos capítulos -con ella lejos del frente-, algo frívolos y marcadamente anticlimáticos. Por esto último, pena penita pena, le escamoteo el rotundo 5 que le tenía preparado.
Para uno que ha paseado por las dos ciudades que Liudmila defendió, Odessa y Sevastópol, este libro es una delicia, si bien su interés ¡ay! decae en los últimos capítulos -con ella lejos del frente-, algo frívolos y marcadamente anticlimáticos. Por esto último, pena penita pena, le escamoteo el rotundo 5 que le tenía preparado.
March 8, 2021
Lady Death: The memoirs of Stalin's Sniper is an interesting read for anyone interested in knowing about not only the role of snipers in the war but also the perspective of a woman in the front lines of battle in the soviet side.
It's widely known that the USSR was the only nation that deployed women in a fighting role during the war. There's many books that talk about the night witches, for example. However this is the first time I get to read a woman's personal account.
Lyudmila is with no doubt a formidable woman with a strong character and a love for fire weapons that made her perfect for the sniper role and become one of the best. Although she faced certain difficulties in the beginning due to the sexism in the army, she was confident and proved to everyone that she could snipe the enemy like a man could and such merits were awarded and served her to, after a traumatic event during the battle for Sevastopol, be given the mission to travel with other two heroes to deliver the message of the soviet struggle in the war to the allies and request help from the US and UK.
The descriptions of the training, weapons, techniques and shooting calculations is very informative and helpful to understand the art of sharpshooting and the type of person needed for the job.
The narration is dry at times, specially when she describes the battles, but you get used to it. There's a few anecdotes through the book that are simply amusing, others that make you realize that the progress to value women's part in society and respect them has advance too little, and the glimpses of USSR's life, USA and UK society was interesting.
It's widely known that the USSR was the only nation that deployed women in a fighting role during the war. There's many books that talk about the night witches, for example. However this is the first time I get to read a woman's personal account.
Lyudmila is with no doubt a formidable woman with a strong character and a love for fire weapons that made her perfect for the sniper role and become one of the best. Although she faced certain difficulties in the beginning due to the sexism in the army, she was confident and proved to everyone that she could snipe the enemy like a man could and such merits were awarded and served her to, after a traumatic event during the battle for Sevastopol, be given the mission to travel with other two heroes to deliver the message of the soviet struggle in the war to the allies and request help from the US and UK.
The descriptions of the training, weapons, techniques and shooting calculations is very informative and helpful to understand the art of sharpshooting and the type of person needed for the job.
The narration is dry at times, specially when she describes the battles, but you get used to it. There's a few anecdotes through the book that are simply amusing, others that make you realize that the progress to value women's part in society and respect them has advance too little, and the glimpses of USSR's life, USA and UK society was interesting.
January 11, 2023
كانت توقعاتي أعلى بكثير من حقيقة هذا الكتاب، كنت أتوقع أن تكون تفاصيلها ملفتة وتعكس الحياة الاجتماعية في تلك السنوات لكن كانت عامة وليست حماسية كما كنت أتمنى
February 26, 2019
En un principio me chocó lo directo que empieza el libro sin ninguna introducción pero en seguida entras en su atmósfera donde no habla de forma técnica pero tampoco llega a ser una novela. Como análisis de perspectiva de género está genial, no sólo de los hombres respecto a una mujer en la guerra sino incluso la comparación entre las mujeres del frente. Por poner un pero, no me gusta cuando las notas no son a pie de página sino al final del libro porque resulta bastante incómodo. Si os gustan los libros de guerras hacia el final decae un poco y se mete en el campo más diplomático y político pero aún así me ha entretenido mucho.
January 27, 2023
Siempre es interesante conocer los hechos a través de puntos de vista distintos de los que estamos acostumbrados a recibir y leer, en este caso, el frente de guerra desde la mirada, las vivencias y la experiencia de una mujer, que fue francotiradora del Ejército Ruso en la invasión nazi en la II GM, que llegó a convertirse en heroina de la Unión Soviética. Aunque una lectura algo complicada de asimilar, si no se está familiarizado con el tema bélico, armamentístico y militar, ya que está llena de informaciones en estos aspectos , se agradece conocer el papel que jugaron, o que juegan, las mujeres que, por lo general, suelen dejarse silenciadas.
April 16, 2022
After reading the Diamond Eye, I wanted to know more about Lyudmila Pavlichenko, this is her memoir. It was a very interesting read.
February 5, 2023
First off, I read Kate Quinn's historical fiction novel The Diamond Eye about Lyudmila Pavlichenko. While reading this novel for my historical fiction zoom book club, I came across Lady Death: The Memoirs of Stalin's Sniper written first hand by the historical figure herself.
Therefore I put it on a lengthy hold . . . it was so worth the wait!
The memoir covers a pretty good overview of Lyudmila Pavlichenko. It covers her involvement into making the rifles, machine guns, etc before WWII broke out, into her interest with gun ranges and finally a vast majority covers the war itself but from the unique mindset of a sniper.
To quote Pavlichenko from her memoir relating to war:
"War means death, pain and suffering for millions of people. But if the enemy violates the borders of your native land, you must prepare for a harsh rebuff".
I appreciated the mindset of the sniper as a point of view, because it allows you to immerse yourself more. Here's a quote relating to snipers:
"To become a sniper, it's not only important to be able to shoot accurately. One other thing is important: a cold hatred for the enemy, so emotions are subordinated to calculation".
I highly recommend this memoir as a great companion read to The Diamond Eye!
Therefore I put it on a lengthy hold . . . it was so worth the wait!
The memoir covers a pretty good overview of Lyudmila Pavlichenko. It covers her involvement into making the rifles, machine guns, etc before WWII broke out, into her interest with gun ranges and finally a vast majority covers the war itself but from the unique mindset of a sniper.
To quote Pavlichenko from her memoir relating to war:
"War means death, pain and suffering for millions of people. But if the enemy violates the borders of your native land, you must prepare for a harsh rebuff".
I appreciated the mindset of the sniper as a point of view, because it allows you to immerse yourself more. Here's a quote relating to snipers:
"To become a sniper, it's not only important to be able to shoot accurately. One other thing is important: a cold hatred for the enemy, so emotions are subordinated to calculation".
I highly recommend this memoir as a great companion read to The Diamond Eye!
October 27, 2020
Tomando como base sus diarios de guerra en el frente de batalla como francotiradora y de su siguiente labor, más diplomática y propagandista como oficial del ejército rojo, la autora escribe estas memorias en las que nos narra muchos de los aspectos de su vida militar y algunos de esas pocas ocasiones en las que actuó como civil, haciendo gala de un lenguaje y estilo narrativo propio de sus estudios universitarios en historia y de la propaganda militar que siempre necesitara la guerra.
Liudmila nos muestra como ese patriotismo y amor por su nación tan característico del pueblo ruso la llevo en un tiempo relativamente corto, dada la vertiginosidad de la gran guerra a encarrilar su vida al servicio del ejército, dejando una marca histórica de bajas en su labor como tiradora de precisión, como figura pública de las fuerzas militares, y más aún como símbolo de fortaleza y determinación femenina, estando entre el grupo de mujeres que logro destacar por su participación en batalla como combatiente y como referente histórico.
Es está una historia apasionante para los entusiastas del conocimiento castrense y de datos armamentísticos, técnicas de combate, estrategias de guerra, balística, armamento de mano y pesado usado en el campo de batalla durante la segunda guerra mundial, y también del lado ceremonial y panfletario de la guerra.
Me resulto casi imposible no realizar comparativos mentales con el texto de la escritora Svetlana Alexievich – La guerra no tiene rostro de mujer- en el que existe una aproximación más real a la crudeza, desgracia y miserableza que trae la guerra, pues este libro de Pavlichenko no puede esconder la propaganda tan necesaria para los miembros de un ejército, que aunque se hayan visto obligados a combatir, desean demostrar el carácter superior de su espíritu de combate.
Liudmila nos muestra como ese patriotismo y amor por su nación tan característico del pueblo ruso la llevo en un tiempo relativamente corto, dada la vertiginosidad de la gran guerra a encarrilar su vida al servicio del ejército, dejando una marca histórica de bajas en su labor como tiradora de precisión, como figura pública de las fuerzas militares, y más aún como símbolo de fortaleza y determinación femenina, estando entre el grupo de mujeres que logro destacar por su participación en batalla como combatiente y como referente histórico.
Es está una historia apasionante para los entusiastas del conocimiento castrense y de datos armamentísticos, técnicas de combate, estrategias de guerra, balística, armamento de mano y pesado usado en el campo de batalla durante la segunda guerra mundial, y también del lado ceremonial y panfletario de la guerra.
Me resulto casi imposible no realizar comparativos mentales con el texto de la escritora Svetlana Alexievich – La guerra no tiene rostro de mujer- en el que existe una aproximación más real a la crudeza, desgracia y miserableza que trae la guerra, pues este libro de Pavlichenko no puede esconder la propaganda tan necesaria para los miembros de un ejército, que aunque se hayan visto obligados a combatir, desean demostrar el carácter superior de su espíritu de combate.
August 19, 2023
This is a memoir by a remarkable young woman who became one of the world's deadliest snipers and a Russian war hero. This could be a tedious read for some since Pavlichenko writes at length regarding tactics, ballistics, rifle mechanics, troop movements, and the science behind serving as a sniper in general.
It felt just a little strange and awkward as the author wrote glowingly of her dedicated commitment as a member to the Soviet Communist Party, socialism, and "Comrade" Joseph Stalin. However, she seemed to express this out of a sense of blind patriotism and nationalism. Thus, I was not bothered by it. This was, of course, before the Cold War and no one knew just how evil Stalin would become.
She doesn't hide her distaste and hatred for the Nazi "fascists" or "Fritzes" for their commitment to completely wipe out her people as she saw it. She also witnessed how Nazis would brutally butcher civilians including children. She makes it clear that she was not the least bit burdened for having been responsible for the deaths of so many invading soldiers and seemed perturbed when others expressed surprise that her, being a woman, would engage in such a bloody task, so taboo for women.
Her recounting of her time and candid conversations with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt during her surprise diplomatic envoy representing the Soviet youth delegation to Washington was interesting.
Her actual kill count can be debated. Her official tally of 309 sniper kills would make her one of the deadliest soldiers in history (though not a sniper, Aidie Murphy's tally was 241). In fairness, the true kill count of any soldier can vary greatly given the particularly foggy, bloody nature of war. I doubt every engagement was followed up by a careful and thorough battle damage assessment.
It felt just a little strange and awkward as the author wrote glowingly of her dedicated commitment as a member to the Soviet Communist Party, socialism, and "Comrade" Joseph Stalin. However, she seemed to express this out of a sense of blind patriotism and nationalism. Thus, I was not bothered by it. This was, of course, before the Cold War and no one knew just how evil Stalin would become.
She doesn't hide her distaste and hatred for the Nazi "fascists" or "Fritzes" for their commitment to completely wipe out her people as she saw it. She also witnessed how Nazis would brutally butcher civilians including children. She makes it clear that she was not the least bit burdened for having been responsible for the deaths of so many invading soldiers and seemed perturbed when others expressed surprise that her, being a woman, would engage in such a bloody task, so taboo for women.
Her recounting of her time and candid conversations with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt during her surprise diplomatic envoy representing the Soviet youth delegation to Washington was interesting.
Her actual kill count can be debated. Her official tally of 309 sniper kills would make her one of the deadliest soldiers in history (though not a sniper, Aidie Murphy's tally was 241). In fairness, the true kill count of any soldier can vary greatly given the particularly foggy, bloody nature of war. I doubt every engagement was followed up by a careful and thorough battle damage assessment.
February 17, 2018
"Enemies are always enemies. It is in the nature of women not only to create new life, but also, if necessary, to defend their children, their family, their homeland. Our state had given me that opportunity."
Lyudmila Pavlichenko aka Lady Death was a Russian sniper during world war two with 309 confirmed kills. This is her memoir/autobiography. She was a no nonsense, bad ass lady.
Lyudmila Pavlichenko aka Lady Death was a Russian sniper during world war two with 309 confirmed kills. This is her memoir/autobiography. She was a no nonsense, bad ass lady.
March 10, 2021
I was interested in knowing more about the story of this Russian female sniper with 309 confirmed kills after watching The Battle for Stevaspol. Very detailed as it was translated from her personal journal and is her memoir. Nice way to celebrate women’s history week!
October 6, 2019
Pohlcující. Napínavé. Lidské. Nelidské.
Ale hlavně ten Mosin :).
Víc než 5 hvězd nejde dát, a to je škoda. Už dlouho jsem neměla potřebu zhltnout knížku hned, bez spánku, okamžitě...
Ale hlavně ten Mosin :).
Víc než 5 hvězd nejde dát, a to je škoda. Už dlouho jsem neměla potřebu zhltnout knížku hned, bez spánku, okamžitě...
August 8, 2023
Second book I’ve read about her; remarkable.
March 16, 2023
3.5 stars, good with some bad. The good : It’s a valuable look at the experiences of an eastern front sniper from the early period, and a mostly unvarnished look at the experiences of a female soldier in frontline combat, and dealing with the expectations of men around her. In that sense, there is a unique combination of what might be called feminism with a true love of and appreciation of shooting and weaponry that very much resonates with me as a female competitive shooter today. I feel as though I’d have loved to have spoken with her or spent an afternoon at the range with her. Some of her discussions of ballistics, shooting techniques,, specific weapons and glass, specific ammunition and so on almost feels like a chance to talk shop with her. And so much of what she said on these topics remains entirely relevant and accurate today - in fact the Mosin rifle she used is still seeing combat today in the Russo-Ukraine War.
I appreciated her professional competence and fury as a soldier with her full femininity understood in a mostly traditional sense. For her there was no tension, and here again it feels as though she was in part a kindred spirit.
There are also some interesting impressions from her visits to the USA and the UK, especially her impressions of Eleanor Roosevelt.
The bad - some gross factual errors, eg, her statement that as of 1942 (!) the USA had never had a bomb dropped on its territory, some omissions (no discussion of Russia’s complicity in the invasion of Poland, its uncalled-for invasion of Finland ) and some creepy hero worship of Stalin, one of history’s great mass murderers. There are also some troublingly racist descriptions of eg Romanian soldiers.
In all I think it’s a good read if you are interested in snipers and their weapons and techniques, in the female combat experience, and in experience of the Eastern Front, early war period, from the USSR side.
I appreciated her professional competence and fury as a soldier with her full femininity understood in a mostly traditional sense. For her there was no tension, and here again it feels as though she was in part a kindred spirit.
There are also some interesting impressions from her visits to the USA and the UK, especially her impressions of Eleanor Roosevelt.
The bad - some gross factual errors, eg, her statement that as of 1942 (!) the USA had never had a bomb dropped on its territory, some omissions (no discussion of Russia’s complicity in the invasion of Poland, its uncalled-for invasion of Finland ) and some creepy hero worship of Stalin, one of history’s great mass murderers. There are also some troublingly racist descriptions of eg Romanian soldiers.
In all I think it’s a good read if you are interested in snipers and their weapons and techniques, in the female combat experience, and in experience of the Eastern Front, early war period, from the USSR side.
January 25, 2018
A classic was once defined as a book you remember starting to read but you never stop reading and re-reading. This is such a book.
The book is the autobiography of the Russian sniper Ludmilla Pavlichenko. Pavlichenko was exceptional in many regards, not least for her ability to kill hundreds of Fascists during the Second World War. Her skill in marksmanship was a natural in born ability, but her military training and understanding given to her in her youth by her father created a very acute observer of the start of Fascist Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union. The level of detail is only matched by Pvlichenko's ability to write with precision and clarity. On this level the book opens to the reader the sense of being caught up and thrown into the cataclysm which occurred. The gradual sense of the immensity of what occurred and the level of sacrifice the situation demanded is given with a compassionate regard and at the same time professional military detail. There is no other book I can think of that is remarkable in this sense to this degree.
Then there is her ability to speak English which gave her the chance to become deep friends with Eleanor Roosevelt when on a tour of the USA to promote a second front in the war. This odd friendship forms most of the second half of the book. From the depths of war torn hell to sitting half naked on a bed sewing alterations on pajamas with Eleanor Roosevelt you probably will not find a more bizarre combination in a biography.
Quite apart form all that it is very well written. I would have to say this is one of the top five books I've read in my fifty years of life. This book is a masterpiece of literature. To such a life the literary quality should be exceptional and it is. This is a book you want to read over and over.
The book is the autobiography of the Russian sniper Ludmilla Pavlichenko. Pavlichenko was exceptional in many regards, not least for her ability to kill hundreds of Fascists during the Second World War. Her skill in marksmanship was a natural in born ability, but her military training and understanding given to her in her youth by her father created a very acute observer of the start of Fascist Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union. The level of detail is only matched by Pvlichenko's ability to write with precision and clarity. On this level the book opens to the reader the sense of being caught up and thrown into the cataclysm which occurred. The gradual sense of the immensity of what occurred and the level of sacrifice the situation demanded is given with a compassionate regard and at the same time professional military detail. There is no other book I can think of that is remarkable in this sense to this degree.
Then there is her ability to speak English which gave her the chance to become deep friends with Eleanor Roosevelt when on a tour of the USA to promote a second front in the war. This odd friendship forms most of the second half of the book. From the depths of war torn hell to sitting half naked on a bed sewing alterations on pajamas with Eleanor Roosevelt you probably will not find a more bizarre combination in a biography.
Quite apart form all that it is very well written. I would have to say this is one of the top five books I've read in my fifty years of life. This book is a masterpiece of literature. To such a life the literary quality should be exceptional and it is. This is a book you want to read over and over.
October 10, 2020
Un placer poder leer en primera persona el día a día en las trincheras de la 2a Guerra Mundial en una zona geogràfica poco conocida para mi pero, por encima de todo, explicada por una mujer (en un “mundo” de hombres) culta, valiente y con ideales firmes.
La primera parte, desarrollada en Odessa y Sebastopol, es la que más me ha gustado por la acción y por momentos emocionantes, aunque me ha abrumado la cantidad de armas y calibres que se mencionan.
La segunda parte, más diplomática, tiene menos acción pero también es interesante desde el punto de vista histórico, cuando se ve obligada a realizar una “gira” por EEUU y UK para dar a conocer al mundo los detalles de una guerra cruenta, de la que poca conciencia real existía sobre todo al otro lado del Atlántico, y para intentar conseguir auténticos aliados.
Me ha gustado mucho leer cómo Lyudmila se desenvuelve en esos círculos y también cómo explica las diferencias en los protocolos de EEUU y UK.
La galería fotográfica del final del libro me ha parecido un complemento fabuloso.
La primera parte, desarrollada en Odessa y Sebastopol, es la que más me ha gustado por la acción y por momentos emocionantes, aunque me ha abrumado la cantidad de armas y calibres que se mencionan.
La segunda parte, más diplomática, tiene menos acción pero también es interesante desde el punto de vista histórico, cuando se ve obligada a realizar una “gira” por EEUU y UK para dar a conocer al mundo los detalles de una guerra cruenta, de la que poca conciencia real existía sobre todo al otro lado del Atlántico, y para intentar conseguir auténticos aliados.
Me ha gustado mucho leer cómo Lyudmila se desenvuelve en esos círculos y también cómo explica las diferencias en los protocolos de EEUU y UK.
La galería fotográfica del final del libro me ha parecido un complemento fabuloso.
February 3, 2021
Esperaba más de este libro en cuanto a conocer más en profundidad la IIGM desde el punto de una mujer y miembro del Ejército pero creo que se queda muy superficial el relato y me genera dudas a su veracidad.
February 19, 2024
Interesante y decepcionante al mismo tiempo. Pensé que la autora reflejaría mejor sus experiencias de guerra, pero se pierde en un mar de detalles técnicos sobre armas y otras cuestiones que apenas cobran relevancia
June 12, 2024
3.5 stars, actually. I read this after reading Kate Quinn's The Diamond Eye, historical fiction based on Lyudmila Pavlichenko's life. This (translated) account of her life by Pavlichenko herself is so starkly different - same story, very different focus and definitely different tone.
I don't think I would've stuck with this memoir if I hadn't wanted to learn more after reading The Diamond Eye. She spends a lot of time describing firearms and military minutiae, which I can see would be super interesting to the right reader (who is not me). Her voice is pragmatic and unemotional, which totally fits her but isn't satisfying for a reader interested in WHY she feels how she feels or does what she does. It would be odd if a military hero who lived in her time wrote in any other way, though; I get that. This memoir did give a look into the mind of a person in her situation, time, and place - a time capsule - that I sometimes struggled to remain nonjudgmental and curious about, reading this in my situation, time, and place. After reading this, I still want to just ask her: Why do you love your country so much and fight for it?
Excerpts to ponder:
"There turned out to be no Romanians in the thicket. Why they had not occupied it and at least stationed an observation post there we could not understand. I attribute this fact to their gypsy fecklessness. The punctual and calculating Germans had tried and tried to teach their allies about modern warfare, but they had not succeeded." - Ch.4
"War means death, pain and suffering for millions of people. But if the enemy treacherously violates the borders of your native land, you must prepare for a harsh rebuff. You must undergo the transition from peaceful residents of thriving towns and villages to warriors who know no fear or doubt, who are capable of self denial and the burdens of a lengthy struggle. War highlights the true essence of every person. Cowards and scoundrels commit their foulest deeds. And good, courageous, honorable people perform their greatest feats." - Ch. 5. This quote gives so much insight! I want to ask her, though--by "perform their greatest feats", she's referring to killing other humans, right? Maybe she sees that as saving her country and other Russian lives?
"When I walked along the streets in Sevastopol, kids would always stop me and ask me earnestly, 'How many did you kill yesterday?' I would give them a detailed report of my operations as a sniper...One of them, the smallest, added,...'Nazis should be killed every day.' He spoke the truth, this serious little citizen of Sevastopol. Since that memorable day when the Nazi thugs burst into my country, every day of my life has been filled with one sole thought with a single desire: to kill the enemy. When I first went to war, I felt only anger at the Germans for disrupting my peaceful life, for attacking us. But what I saw later engendered within me such an inextinguishable hatred that it was difficult to express it in any other terms than a bullet through a Nazi's heart...Hatred sharpened my vision ad hearing, made me wily and dexterous. Hatred taught me to camouflage myself and to deceive the enemy, to anticipate his cunning and his traps. Hatred taught me to pursue enemy snipers for days on end. It is impossible to quench the thirst for vengeance. As long as there is a single invader on our land, I will think of one thing only: killing the enemy. And I would only talk about one thing to my friends in battle and my fellow citizens: kill the Nazi." - Ch.14
"To become a sniper, it is not only important to be able to shoot accurately. One other thing is important: a cold hatred for the enemy. So emotions are subordinated to calculation." - Ch.19
I don't think I would've stuck with this memoir if I hadn't wanted to learn more after reading The Diamond Eye. She spends a lot of time describing firearms and military minutiae, which I can see would be super interesting to the right reader (who is not me). Her voice is pragmatic and unemotional, which totally fits her but isn't satisfying for a reader interested in WHY she feels how she feels or does what she does. It would be odd if a military hero who lived in her time wrote in any other way, though; I get that. This memoir did give a look into the mind of a person in her situation, time, and place - a time capsule - that I sometimes struggled to remain nonjudgmental and curious about, reading this in my situation, time, and place. After reading this, I still want to just ask her: Why do you love your country so much and fight for it?
Excerpts to ponder:
"There turned out to be no Romanians in the thicket. Why they had not occupied it and at least stationed an observation post there we could not understand. I attribute this fact to their gypsy fecklessness. The punctual and calculating Germans had tried and tried to teach their allies about modern warfare, but they had not succeeded." - Ch.4
"War means death, pain and suffering for millions of people. But if the enemy treacherously violates the borders of your native land, you must prepare for a harsh rebuff. You must undergo the transition from peaceful residents of thriving towns and villages to warriors who know no fear or doubt, who are capable of self denial and the burdens of a lengthy struggle. War highlights the true essence of every person. Cowards and scoundrels commit their foulest deeds. And good, courageous, honorable people perform their greatest feats." - Ch. 5. This quote gives so much insight! I want to ask her, though--by "perform their greatest feats", she's referring to killing other humans, right? Maybe she sees that as saving her country and other Russian lives?
"When I walked along the streets in Sevastopol, kids would always stop me and ask me earnestly, 'How many did you kill yesterday?' I would give them a detailed report of my operations as a sniper...One of them, the smallest, added,...'Nazis should be killed every day.' He spoke the truth, this serious little citizen of Sevastopol. Since that memorable day when the Nazi thugs burst into my country, every day of my life has been filled with one sole thought with a single desire: to kill the enemy. When I first went to war, I felt only anger at the Germans for disrupting my peaceful life, for attacking us. But what I saw later engendered within me such an inextinguishable hatred that it was difficult to express it in any other terms than a bullet through a Nazi's heart...Hatred sharpened my vision ad hearing, made me wily and dexterous. Hatred taught me to camouflage myself and to deceive the enemy, to anticipate his cunning and his traps. Hatred taught me to pursue enemy snipers for days on end. It is impossible to quench the thirst for vengeance. As long as there is a single invader on our land, I will think of one thing only: killing the enemy. And I would only talk about one thing to my friends in battle and my fellow citizens: kill the Nazi." - Ch.14
"To become a sniper, it is not only important to be able to shoot accurately. One other thing is important: a cold hatred for the enemy. So emotions are subordinated to calculation." - Ch.19
July 19, 2020
V mnohém poměrně typické vzpomínky sovětského válečného veterána psané ještě za vlády komunismu, takže se příliš neodklání od oficiální linie. Autorka jako historička své osobní vzpomínky líčí v poměrně širokém kontextu frontové situace, což na jednu stranu dává čtenáři lepší přehled, na duhou stranu kniha trochu ztrácí osobní perspektivu.
Netušil jsem, že Ljudmila v bojích na frontě strávila v podstatě jen rok, a po propagačním turné po Americe a Anglii už se na frontu nevrátila.
Zajímavý je Ljudmilin pohled na vrcholné představitele, se kterými se osobně setkala – od celkem předpokládaného bezmezného obdivu ke Stalinovi k poznání, že čelní příslušníci vykořisťovatelské třídy, Roosevelt, Churchill a jejich manželky, jsou osobně vzdělaní, chytří, příjemní a kultivovaní lidé.
Naskýtá se pouze otázka, jak moc zapracovala cenzura a autocenzura a jak by vzpomínky vypadaly ve volnějším ovzduší po pádu sovětského režimu.
Netušil jsem, že Ljudmila v bojích na frontě strávila v podstatě jen rok, a po propagačním turné po Americe a Anglii už se na frontu nevrátila.
Zajímavý je Ljudmilin pohled na vrcholné představitele, se kterými se osobně setkala – od celkem předpokládaného bezmezného obdivu ke Stalinovi k poznání, že čelní příslušníci vykořisťovatelské třídy, Roosevelt, Churchill a jejich manželky, jsou osobně vzdělaní, chytří, příjemní a kultivovaní lidé.
Naskýtá se pouze otázka, jak moc zapracovala cenzura a autocenzura a jak by vzpomínky vypadaly ve volnějším ovzduší po pádu sovětského režimu.
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