Did the Russians use women as infantry troops during WW2?

Answer 1

Approximately 570,000 women (including 80,000 officers) served in the Russian military during WW2. That total does not include women serving as auxiliaries (nurses, medical assistants, etc.) supporting the military: there are no precise, reliable statistics for women auxiliaries, but the best estimate is another 500,000+.

Only a small proportion of these women soldiers were supposed to serve in front-line ground combat units. Most women soldiers were designated for rear-area service (particularly in Signals), to replace men who would then be transferred to combat units.

But there were exceptions. One estimate is that 58,000 women served in front line combat units during WW2.

• Lydia Vasilievna Sitalskaya, was a combat infantry communications Corporal and received the “Order of Glory”. Here, she describes an action in which she took five prisoners-of-war. "We went into the village to find them. Another communications officer and I had radios and so when the shooting started, our soldiers came to help us. Then I was left alone and I had to lead the five German prisoners. When they realized I was the only one there, a woman, they started running through the field. I took a gun and killed three of them. I could do nothing else."

• Lydia Sokolova- Korchmar was a sniper. Here she describes one experience. "The Germans were so close...I started shooting. They were so close that I thought if I would aim higher, I might miss. So I aimed at their legs. That was the thing that saved me. They were falling down on me... The Germans thought I was dead."

Lance Corporal Maria Ivanova Morozova was a sniper with the Soviet 62nd Rifle Battalion. She won 11 combat decorations.

Women also served as tank drivers (example, Alexandra Beikov); partisans (examples: Liza Ivanova and Vera Krylova both led Partisan units); and combat-area spies (example, Maria Baide, a scout in the Crimea. She was awarded Russia's highest honor, Hero of the Soviet Union).

“Elizabeth” has mentioned the “Night Witches” of the Russian Air Force. Actually, three Russian combat air squadrons were entirely crewed by women: 586th Fighter (Il-2’s); 587th Close Bomber (Su-2’s); 588th Night Bomber (U-2’s).

Some earlier answers have claimed that women were not conscripted into the Russian armed forces in WW2. That isn’t entirely true.

Although there was no broad-scale conscription of females based on age-group, physical fitness, etc., specific groups of women were required to serve in the military. For example, 25th March 1942 decree to raise 100,000 female soldiers (to be drafted from girl-Komsomol members) to be assigned to VVS (Air Force) ground units by 10th April 1942. Duties for these women: 55,000 to serve as anti-aircraft gun crews; 45,000 to serve as observers and in communications.

Answer 2

Surprisingly both women and children fought against the Germans. There was no "official" conscription, as we may call it, only a willingness to fight for the motherland. Many put down their aprons, their book packs and went to war against the Germans, the ranks were divested due to lack of training and material.
Five people would go together into a fight with one rifle, five bullets. If the first person got shot, the next picked up the rifle, and so on it went. Down the line.
A man was left on the field to die but, the rifle, never.

Many German soldiers were forced to fire into the lines because the Soviets were mere children, they being fathers themselves had a hard time killing these children, some as young as eight years old, almost to young to hold a rifle.
The women fought like banshees, they were the backbone of the Soviet forces in some instances.

Answer 3

I don't know about infantry troops but i did find this.

Many women in the Russian Air Force were made night bombers,flying U-2 aircrafts that were just made of wood and fabric, but could fly low and precisely drop bombs or supplies for soldiers behind ememy lines.
The planes were sent out minutes behind each other with planned destinations for each, cutting the engines and almost gliding through the air, successfuly surprising the Germans.
The germans called them Night Witches.

Answer 4

I have read, (and I'm sorry, I cannot remember where) that yes, they did us women as infantry troops.

And from what I heard, they were worse than the men once they had taken a town.

Answer 5

YES

edit:especially as snipers and medics in infantry role.Also in air force,navy,logistics,as tank crews,etc.

Answer 6

Definitely and particularly in the battle of Stalingrad. They were also fighter pilots, armourers, transport drivers , signallers and to my knowledge frequently in the front line, and proud of it

Answer 7

Women weren't officially conscripted, but many fought either voluntarily or as guerrillas.