List of female Heroes of the Soviet Union

This is a list of female Heroes of the Soviet Union; of the 12,777 people awarded the title, 95 were women, 49 of whom were posthumous recipients of the title.

Recipients

This colour, along with the * (asterisk), indicates that the title was awarded posthumously.

Soviet military personnel

Name	Unit	Rank	Date of award	Notes	References
Valentina Grizodubova Валентина Гризодубова	Flight "Rodina"	Colonel	2 November 1938	Pilot-in-Command	^[1]
Polina Osipenko Полина Осипенко	Flight "Rodina"	Major	2 November 1938	Co-pilot	^[2]
Marina Raskova Марина Раскова	Flight "Rodina"	Major	2 November 1938	Navigator	^[3]
Yekaterina Zelenko Екатерина Зеленко	135th Light Bomber Regiment	Senior Lieutenant	5 May 1990 *	Killed in action in unclear circumstances on 12 September 1941.	^[4]
Raisa Aronova Раиса Аронова	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Major	15 May 1946	—	^[5]
Vera Belik Вера Белик	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Lieutenant	23 February 1945 *	Killed in action on 25 August 1944 after shot down by German fighter.	^[6]
Tatyana Makarova Татьяна Макарова	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Lieutenant	23 February 1945 *	Killed in action on 25 August 1944 after shot down by German fighter.	^[6]
Marina Chechneva Марина Чечнева	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Major	15 August 1946	—	^[7]
Rufina Gasheva Руфина Гашева	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Major	23 February 1945	—	^[8]
Olga Sanfirova Ольга Санфирова	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Captain	23 February 1945 *	Killed in action on 13 December 1944 after stepping on landmine when evacuating downed aircraft.	^[8]
Polina Gelman Полина Гельман	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Major	15 May 1946	—	^[9]
Antonina Khudyakova Антонина Худякова	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Senior Lieutenant	15 May 1946	—	^[10]
Larisa Litvinova Лариса Литвинова	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Captain	23 February 1948	—	^[11]
Natalya Meklin Наталья Меклин	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Major	23 February 1945	—	^[12]
Yevdokiya Nikulina Евдокия Никулина	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Major	26 October 1944	—	^[13]
Yevdokiya Nosal Евдокия Носаль	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Junior Lieutenant	24 May 1943 *	Killed in action on 23 April 1943 when hit in the head by a piece of shrapnel from anti-aircraft fire.	^[14]
Zoya Parfyonova Зоя Парфёнова	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Senior Lieutenant	18 August 1945	—	^[15]
Yevdokiya Pasko Евдокия Пасько	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Senior Lieutenant	26 October 1944	—	^[16]
Nadezhda Popova Надежда Попова	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Captain	23 February 1945	—	^[17]
Nina Raspopova Нина Распопова	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Senior Lieutenant	15 May 1946	—	^[18]
Yevgeniya Rudneva Евгения Руднева	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Senior Lieutenant	26 October 1944 *	Killed in action on 9 April 1944 after plane was shot down from anti-aircraft warfare.	^[19]
Yekaterina Ryabova Екатерина Рябова	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Senior Lieutenant	23 February 1945	—	^[20]
Irina Sebrova Ирина Себрова	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Senior Lieutenant	23 February 1945	—	^[21]
Mariya Smirnova Мария Смирнова	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Major	26 October 1944	—	^[22]
Maguba Syrtlanova Магуба Сыртланова	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Senior Lieutenant	15 May 1946	—	^[23]
Nina Ulyanenko Нина Ульяненко	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Lieutenant	18 August 1945	—	^[24]
Yevgeniya Zhigulenko Евгения Жигуленко	46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment	Major	23 February 1945	—	^[25]
Mariya Dolina Мария Долина	125th Guards Dive Bomber Regiment	Major	18 August 1945	—	^[26]
Galina Dzhunkovskaya Галина Джунковская	125th Guards Dive Bomber Regiment	Major	18 August 1945	—	^[27]
Nadezhda Fedutenko Надежда Федутенко	125th Guards Dive Bomber Regiment	Major	18 August 1945	—	^[28]
Klavdia Fomicheva Клавдия Фомичёва	125th Guards Dive Bomber Regiment	Lieutenant Colonel	18 August 1945	—	^[29]
Antonina Zubkova Антонина Зубкова	125th Guards Dive Bomber Regiment	Captain	18 August 1945	—	^[30]
Lydia Litvyak Лидия Литвяк	73rd Guards Fighter Regiment	Senior Lieutenant	5 May 1990 *	Presumably killed in action on 1 August 1943 after crash; some think she may have survived and been a POW.	^[31]
Tamara Konstantinova Тамара Константинова	566th Attack Aviation Regiment	Senior Lieutenant	29 June 1945	—	^[32]
Anna Yegorova Анна Егорова	805th Ground Attack Air Regiment	Senior Lieutenant	6 May 1965	—	^[33]
Tatyana Baramzina Татьяна Барамзина	252nd Rifle Regiment	Corporal	24 March 1945 *	Captured, tortured, and executed with an anti-tank rifle on 5 July 1944 after running out of ammunition while trying to protect trenches of wounded soldiers.	^[34]
Yelena Stempkovskaya Елена Стемпковская	216th Rifle Regiment	Junior Sergeant	15 May 1946 *	Killed in action on 26 June 1942. Some accounts state that she was captured and tortured while others say she was killed in battle.	^[35]
Manshuk Mametova Маншук Маметова	21st Guards Rifle Division	Senior Sergeant	1 March 1944 *	Killed in action defending strategic bridgehead on 15 October 1943.	^[36]
Nina Onilova Нина Онилова	54th Rifle Regiment	Senior Sergeant	14 May 1965 *	Died of wounds on 8 March 1942	^[37]
Mariya Batrakova Мария Батракова	463rd Rifle Regiment	Junior Lieutenant	19 March 1944	—	^[38]
Anna Nikandrova Анна Никандрова	426th Rifle Regiment	Senior Lieutenant	24 March 1945 *	Killed in action while trying to take out machine-gun bunker on 23 June 1944.	^[39]
Tatyana Kostyrina Татьяна Костырина	691st Rifle Regiment	Junior Sergeant	16 May 1944 *	Killed in action on 22 November 1942.	^[40]
Natalya Kovshova Наталья Ковшова	528th Rifle Regiment	Private	14 February 1943 *	Killed in action after detonating grenades when fully surrounded by German troops on 14 August 1942.	^[41]
Mariya Polivanova Мария Поливанова	528th Rifle Regiment	Private	14 February 1943 *	Killed in action after detonating grenades when fully surrounded by German troops on 14 August 1942.	^[41]
Aliya Moldagulova Алия Молдагулова	54th Independent Rifle Brigade	Corporal	4 June 1944 *	Died of wounds on 14 January 1944 after shot in hand-to-hand combat	^[42]
Lyudmila Pavlichenko Людмила Павличенко	25th Rifle Division	Major	25 October 1943	—	^[43]
Irina Levchenko Ирина Левченко	41st Tank Brigade	Lieutenant Colonel	6 May 1965	—	^[44]
Mariya Oktyabrskaya Мария Октябрьская	26th Guards Tank Brigade	Senior Sergeant	2 August 1944 *	Died of wounds after remaining in coma for two months after head injury on 15 March 1944.	^[45]
Mariya Bayda Мария Байда	514th Rifle Regiment	Senior Sergeant	20 June 1942	—	^[46]
Mariya Borovichenko Мария Боровиченко	32nd Guards Artillery Regiment	Sergeant	6 May 1965 *	Killed in action on 4 July 1943 after using body as human shield to protect colleague.	^[47]
Valeriya Gnarovskaya Валерия Гнаровская	907th Rifle Regiment	Senior Medical NCO	3 June 1944 *	Killed in action on 23 September 1943 after throwing self under tank with bag of grenades to protect hospital tent.	^[48]
Vera Kashcheyeva Вера Кащеева	120th Rifle Regiment	Senior Lieutenant	28 February 1944	—	^[49]
Kseniya Konstantinova Ксения Константинова	730th Rifle Regiment	Senior Medical NCO	4 June 1944 *	Captured, tortured and executed on 1 October 1943 after running out of ammunition while trying to protect injured soldiers.	^[50]
Lyudmila Kravets Людмила Кравец	63rd Guards Rifle Regiment	Senior Sergeant	31 May 1945	—	^[51]
Zinaida Mareseva Зинаида Маресева	214th Guards Rifle Regiment	Senior Sergeant	22 February 1944 *	Died of wounds on 6 August 1943 after using body as human shield to defend wounded soldiers from mortar attack.	^[52]
Fedora Pushina Федора Пушина	520th Rifle Regiment	Lieutenant	10 January 1944 *	Died of wounds on 6 November 1943 shortly after rescuing numerous soldiers from burning hospital.	^[53]
Zinaida Samsonova Зинаида Самсонова	667th Rifle Regiment	Senior Sergeant	3 June 1944 *	Killed in action on 27 January 1944 after shot by German sniper while attempting to rescue wounded soldier.	^[54]
Mariya Shcherbachenko Мария Щербаченко	835th Rifle Regiment	Senior NCO	23 October 1943	—	^[55]
Mariya Shkarletova Мария Шкарлетова	170th Guards Rifle Regiment	Senior NCO	24 March 1945	—	^[56]
Zinaida Tusnolobova-Marchenko Зинаида Туснолобова-Марченко	849th Rifle Regiment	Senior Medical NCO	6 December 1957	—	^[57]
Yekaterina Mikhailova-Demina Екатерина Михайлова-Дёмина	369th Independent Naval Infantry Battalion	Chief Petty Officer	5 May 1990	—	^[58]
Galina Petrova Галина Петрова	386th Independent Naval Infantry Battalion	Chief Petty Officer	17 November 1943	Killed in action less than a month later on 4 December 1943.	^[59]
Mariya Tsukanova Мария Цуканова	355th Independent Guards Naval Infantry Battalion	Corporal	14 September 1945 *	Killed in action on 14 August 1945.	^[60]
Nina Gnilitskaya Нина Гнилицкая	383rd Rifle Division	Private	31 March 1943 *	Killed in action on 10 December 1941.	^[61]

Soviet partisans

Name	Date of award	Notes	References
Yelizaveta Chaikina Елизавета Чайкина	6 March 1942 *	Captured and executed on 22 November 1941	^[62]
Yelena Kolesova Елена Колесова	21 November 1944 *	Killed in action on 11 September 1942	^[63]
Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya Зоя Космодемьянская	16 February 1942 *	Captured and executed on 29 November 1941	^[64]
Tatyana Marinenko Татьяна Мариненко	8 May 1965 *	Captured and executed on 2 February 1942	^[65]
Anna Maslovskaya Анна Масловская	15 May 1944	—	^[66]
Marytė Melnikaitė Мария Мельникайте	22 March 1944 *	Captured and executed on 13 July 1943	^[67]
Antonina Petrova Антонина Петрова	8 April 1942 *	Killed herself to avoid capture on 4 November 1941	^[68]
Larisa Ratushnaya Лариса Ратушная	8 May 1965 *	Murdered by a traitor in her unit on 18 March 1944	^[69]
Valentina Safronova Валентина Сафронова	8 May 1965 *	Tortured to death by the Gestapo on 1 May 1943	^[70]
Helene Kullmann Леэн Кульман	8 May 1965 *	Captured and executed on 6 March 1943	^[71]
Anna Lisitsyna Анна Лисицына	25 September 1943 *	Killed in action on 3 August 1942	^[72]
Mariya Melentyeva Мария Мелентьева	25 September 1943 *	Captured and executed in 1943	^[72]
Anna Morozova Анна Морозова	8 May 1965 *	Killed in action in December 1944	^[73]
Anastasiya Biseniek Анастасия Бисениек	9 May 1965 *	Captured and executed in October 1943	^[74]
Darya Dyachenko Дарья Дьяченко	1 July 1958 *	Captured and executed on 2 April 1944	^[75]
Ulyana Gromova Ульяна Громова	21 September 1943 *	Captured and executed on 16 January 1943	^[76]
Lyubov Shevtsova Любовь Шевцова	21 September 1943 *	Captured and executed on 9 February 1943	^[76]
Vera Kharuzhaya Вера Хоружая	17 May 1960 *	Captured and executed on 4 December 1942	^[77]
Mariya Kislyak Мария Кисляк	8 May 1965 *	Captured and executed on 18 June 1943	^[78]
Yelena Mazanik Елена Мазаник	29 October 1943	—	^[79]
Mariya Osipova Мария Осипова	29 October 1943	—	^[79]
Nadezhda Troyan Надежда Троян	29 October 1943	—	^[79]
Klavdiya Nazarova Клавдия Назарова	20 August 1945 *	Captured and executed on 12 December 1942	^[80]
Zinaida Portnova Зинаида Портнова	1 July 1958 *	Captured and executed in January 1944	^[81]
Nina Sosnina Нина Соснина	8 May 1965 *	Killed in action on 31 August 1943	^[82]
Yelena Ubiyvovk Елена Убийвовк	8 May 1965 *	Captured and executed on 26 May 1942	^[83]
Nadezhda Volkova Надежда Волкова	8 May 1965 *	Killed in action on 26 November 1942	^[84]
Yefrosinya Zenkova Ефросинья Зенькова	1 July 1958	—	^[85]

Soviet cosmonauts

Name	Mission	Date of award	Notes	References
Valentina Tereshkova Валентина Терешкова	Vostok 6	22 June 1963	First woman in space	^[86]
Svetlana Savitskaya Светлана Савицкая	Soyuz T-7 and Soyuz T-12	27 August 1982, 29 July 1984 (twice)	First woman to make a spacewalk	^[86]

Foreign military personnel

Name	Country	Unit	Rank	Date of award	Notes	References
Aniela Krzywoń	Poland	"Emilia Plater" Independent Women's Battalion	Private	11 November 1943 *	Killed in action on 12 October 1943	^[86]

Notes

^ Cottam, Women in War, 3–10.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 11–15.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 16–27.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 28–32.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 33–36.
^ ^a ^b Cottam, Women in War, 37–41.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 42–46.
^ ^a ^b Cottam, Women in War, 47–50.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 51–54.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 55–56.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 57–59.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 60–62.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 63–65.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 66–69.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 70–73.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 74–76.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 77–80.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 81–83.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 84–89.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 90–95.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 96–100.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 101–104.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 105–107.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 108–110.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 111–114.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 115–118.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 119–121.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 122–124.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 125–127.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 128–131.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 132–138.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 139–141.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 142–150.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 151–153.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 154–157.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 158–161.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 162–167.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 168–170.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 171–172.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 173–174.
^ ^a ^b Cottam, Women in War, 175–179.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 180–183.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 184–188.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 189–192.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 193–196.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 197–200.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 201–203.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 204–206.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 207–208.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 209–211.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 212–213.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 214–215.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 216–217.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 218–222.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 223–224.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 225–227.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 228–231.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 233–236.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 237–239.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 240–242.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 244–247.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 248–252.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 253–259.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 260–264.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 265–268.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 269–271.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 272–275.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 276–279.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 280–283.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 284–288.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 289–291.
^ ^a ^b Cottam, Women in War, 292–295.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 296–299.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 300–302.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 303–304.
^ ^a ^b Cottam, Women in War, 305–311.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 312–316.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 317–319.
^ ^a ^b ^c Cottam, Women in War, 320–325.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 326–329.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 330–332.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 333–338.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 339–342.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 343–345.
^ Cottam, Women in War, 346–349.
^ ^a ^b ^c Cottam, Women in War, xx.

References

Cottam, Kazimiera J. Women in War and Resistance: Selected Biographies of Soviet Women Soldiers. Newburyport, Mass.: Focus Publishing/R. Pullins Company, 1998. ISBN 978-1585101603.

[1] Cottam, Women in War, 3–10.

[2] Cottam, Women in War, 11–15.

[3] Cottam, Women in War, 16–27.

[4] Cottam, Women in War, 28–32.

[5] Cottam, Women in War, 33–36.

[:0-6] Cottam, Women in War, 37–41.

[7] Cottam, Women in War, 42–46.

[:1-8] Cottam, Women in War, 47–50.

[9] Cottam, Women in War, 51–54.

[10] Cottam, Women in War, 55–56.

[11] Cottam, Women in War, 57–59.

[12] Cottam, Women in War, 60–62.

[13] Cottam, Women in War, 63–65.

[14] Cottam, Women in War, 66–69.

[15] Cottam, Women in War, 70–73.

[16] Cottam, Women in War, 74–76.

[17] Cottam, Women in War, 77–80.

[18] Cottam, Women in War, 81–83.

[19] Cottam, Women in War, 84–89.

[20] Cottam, Women in War, 90–95.

[21] Cottam, Women in War, 96–100.

[22] Cottam, Women in War, 101–104.

[23] Cottam, Women in War, 105–107.

[24] Cottam, Women in War, 108–110.

[25] Cottam, Women in War, 111–114.

[26] Cottam, Women in War, 115–118.

[27] Cottam, Women in War, 119–121.

[28] Cottam, Women in War, 122–124.

[29] Cottam, Women in War, 125–127.

[30] Cottam, Women in War, 128–131.

[31] Cottam, Women in War, 132–138.

[32] Cottam, Women in War, 139–141.

[33] Cottam, Women in War, 142–150.

[34] Cottam, Women in War, 151–153.

[35] Cottam, Women in War, 154–157.

[36] Cottam, Women in War, 158–161.

[37] Cottam, Women in War, 162–167.

[38] Cottam, Women in War, 168–170.

[39] Cottam, Women in War, 171–172.

[40] Cottam, Women in War, 173–174.

[:2-41] Cottam, Women in War, 175–179.

[42] Cottam, Women in War, 180–183.

[43] Cottam, Women in War, 184–188.

[44] Cottam, Women in War, 189–192.

[45] Cottam, Women in War, 193–196.

[46] Cottam, Women in War, 197–200.

[47] Cottam, Women in War, 201–203.

[48] Cottam, Women in War, 204–206.

[49] Cottam, Women in War, 207–208.

[50] Cottam, Women in War, 209–211.

[51] Cottam, Women in War, 212–213.

[52] Cottam, Women in War, 214–215.

[53] Cottam, Women in War, 216–217.

[54] Cottam, Women in War, 218–222.

[55] Cottam, Women in War, 223–224.

[56] Cottam, Women in War, 225–227.

[57] Cottam, Women in War, 228–231.

[58] Cottam, Women in War, 233–236.

[59] Cottam, Women in War, 237–239.

[60] Cottam, Women in War, 240–242.

[61] Cottam, Women in War, 244–247.

[62] Cottam, Women in War, 248–252.

[63] Cottam, Women in War, 253–259.

[64] Cottam, Women in War, 260–264.

[65] Cottam, Women in War, 265–268.

[66] Cottam, Women in War, 269–271.

[67] Cottam, Women in War, 272–275.

[68] Cottam, Women in War, 276–279.

[69] Cottam, Women in War, 280–283.

[70] Cottam, Women in War, 284–288.

[71] Cottam, Women in War, 289–291.

[:3-72] Cottam, Women in War, 292–295.

[73] Cottam, Women in War, 296–299.

[74] Cottam, Women in War, 300–302.

[75] Cottam, Women in War, 303–304.

[:4-76] Cottam, Women in War, 305–311.

[77] Cottam, Women in War, 312–316.

[78] Cottam, Women in War, 317–319.

[:5-79] Cottam, Women in War, 320–325.

[80] Cottam, Women in War, 326–329.

[81] Cottam, Women in War, 330–332.

[82] Cottam, Women in War, 333–338.

[83] Cottam, Women in War, 339–342.

[84] Cottam, Women in War, 343–345.

[85] Cottam, Women in War, 346–349.

[:6-86] Cottam, Women in War, xx.

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