Soviet Women’s Air Corps Feared by the Nazis: Night Witches

II. World War, One of the bloodiest and most brutal wars in history was one of them. Millions of people lost their lives, were injured or became homeless. Many countries fought against each other in this war.

However, not only men but also women had an important role in this struggle. Especially in the Soviet Union, women on the front lines of war took place. The most famous of these are; An attack squad consisting of brave and talented female pilots who frightened the Nazis: Night Witches.

Night Witches, II. It was the first and only all-female air force in World War II.

In 1941, Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union. This attack stunned the Soviet people because there was a conflict between the two countries. non-aggression pact There was. However, Hitler broke this agreement to seize Soviet territory.

This attack started a major resistance movement in the Soviet Union. to this movement both men and women participated. Women took part in all areas of war, but the most notable were those in the air force.

In the Soviet Union, it was forbidden for women to become pilots, but with the start of the war, this ban was lifted. Because Soviet leader Stalin use every resource in battle he wanted. In this way, many female pilots joined the air force. Some of these were assigned to the 588th Night Bombardment Squadron.

The commander of this faction was Marina Raskova. Raskova was the first female pilot and hero of the Soviet Union.

Although these women played a very important role in the war in very bad conditions they were working. The planes they use named Polikarpov Po-2 They were very old and simple planes. These aircraft were produced for agricultural and training purposes in the 1920s; That’s why they were so slow, weak and defenseless. Also, none of them There were no guns, radar, radio and it could only seat two people.

The pilot was in the front seat and the navigator was in the back seat. Navigator, also Also as a bomb thrower He was serving. These planes could hold very little fuel; That’s why they could fly very short distances. Also their planes bomb carrying capacity is very low They could inflict less damage than expected, but despite this, they never stopped fighting.

Despite the weakness of the aircraft they used, they served very bravely and successfully.

These women were attacking enemy targets throughout the night. These attacks both demoralize the enemy and to keep them awake was being done. Night Witches made an average of 8-18 sorties every night. A sortie meant an aircraft attacking a target. An average of 23 tons of bombs every night Considering what they did, we can say that they flew an average of 100-150 kilometers a night.

They used very clever tactics when attacking enemy targets. For example; aircraft engines, They would turn it off when they approached the target. Thus, the enemy could not hear or notice them because the wings of their planes were made of wood and they could glide silently in the air.

That’s why your enemy They were not caught on their radar either. They turned off the engines of their planes, glided silently and dropped bombs on the enemy. Their attacks both frightened and angered the enemy.

So why were they called “Night Witches”? Were they really witches or wizards?

The Germans heard the sound of planes flown by Soviet female pilots, To the sound of witches flying on brooms They were likening it. That’s why these women “Night Witches” they said. Naturally, the Germans were very afraid and hated these women. Because these women did not let them sleep, they constantly harassed and disturbed them.

It was almost impossible for the Nazis to shoot the Night Witches because They were very fast and agile. The fact that the women moved so quickly made them so angry. too many bullets to their expenses They even gave medals to those who shot one of the women, because shooting these women was a very difficult task.

These brave women served until the end of the war.

These women made a total of 30 thousand sorties, dropped 3 thousand tons of bombs and flew 26 thousand kilometers. Not only these, these women throughout the war; total of Nazis He captured 23 of his soldiers, Destroyed 12 tanks, blew up 42 trains, destroyed 17 bridges and totaled 36 warehouse exploded.

Even today, they are still remembered as the bravest and most respected women in history.

Night Witches, They left their mark on both Soviet and world history with the heroism they showed in the war.

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