The best snipers of World War II: German and Soviet. Snipers - heroes of the Patriotic War German snipers aces of World War II
The best snipers of World War II. German, Soviet, Finnish arrows played a rather important role in wartime. And in this review, an attempt will be made to consider those that have become the most effective.
The emergence of sniper art
Starting from the moment when personal weapons appeared in the armies, which made it possible to hit the enemy at long distances, well-aimed shooters began to be distinguished from the soldiers. Subsequently, separate divisions of rangers began to form from them. As a result, a separate type of light infantry was formed. The main tasks that the soldiers received included the destruction of the officers of the enemy troops, as well as the demoralization of the enemy due to marksmanship at considerable distances. To do this, the shooters were armed with special rifles.In the XIX century there was a modernization of weapons. Changed, respectively, and tactics. This was facilitated by the emergence of an optical sight. During the First World War, snipers were part of a separate cohort of saboteurs. Their goal was to quickly and effectively defeat a living enemy force. At the very beginning of the war, snipers were mainly used by the Germans. However, over time, special schools began to appear in other countries. In the context of protracted conflicts, this "profession" has become quite in demand.
Finnish snipers
In the period from 1939 to 1940 Finnish shooters were regarded as the best. The snipers of World War II learned a lot thanks to them. Finnish shooters were nicknamed "cuckoos". The reason for this was that they used special "nests" in the trees. This feature was distinctive for the Finns, although trees were used for this purpose in almost all countries.So who exactly are the best snipers of World War II indebted to? The most famous "cuckoo" was considered Simo Heihe. It was nicknamed the "white death". The number of confirmed murders committed by him exceeded the mark of 500 liquidated soldiers of the Red Army. In some sources, his indicators were equal to 700. He received a rather severe wound. But Simo was able to recover. He died in 2002.
Propaganda played its part
The best snipers of the Second World War, namely their achievements, were actively used in propaganda. Quite often it happened that the personalities of the shooters began to grow into legends.
The famous domestic sniper Vasily Zaitsev was able to destroy about 240 enemy soldiers. This figure was average for effective shooters of that war. But due to propaganda, he was made the most famous Red Army sniper. On present stage historians seriously doubt the existence of Major Koenig, Zaitsev's main opponent in Stalingrad. The main merits of the domestic shooter include the development of a training program for snipers. He personally took part in their preparation. In addition, he formed a full-fledged sniper school. Its graduates were called "bunnies".
Top scoring shooters
Who are they, the best snipers of World War II? The names of the most productive shooters should be known. In the first position is Mikhail Surkov. They destroyed about 702 enemy soldiers. Following him on the list is Ivan Sidorov. He destroyed 500 soldiers. Nikolay Ilyin is in the third position. They killed 497 enemy soldiers. With a mark of 489 killed, Ivan Kulbertinov follows him.The best snipers of the USSR of World War II were not only men. In those years, women also actively joined the ranks of the Red Army. Some of them later became quite effective shooters. Soviet women about 12 thousand enemy soldiers were destroyed. And the most productive was Lyudmila Pavlichenkova, on whose account there were 309 killed soldiers.
The best snipers of the USSR in World War II, of which there were quite a lot, have a large number of effective shots in their account. About fifteen arrows destroyed more than 400 soldiers. 25 snipers killed over 300 enemy soldiers. 36 shooters destroyed more than 200 Germans.
There is little information about enemy shooters
There is not so much information about "colleagues" from the enemy side. This is due to the fact that no one tried to boast of their exploits. Therefore, the best German snipers of the Second World War in ranks and names are practically not known. We can only say for sure about those shooters who were awarded the Knight's Iron Crosses. It happened in 1945. One of them was Friedrich Payne. They killed about 200 enemy soldiers.
The most productive, most likely, was Matthias Hetzenauer. They destroyed about 345 soldiers. The third sniper who was awarded the order was Josef Olerberg. He left memoirs, in which quite a lot was written about the activities of the German shooters during the war. The sniper himself killed about 257 soldiers.
sniper terror
It should be noted that in Normandy in 1944 there was a landing of the Anglo-American allies. And it was in this place that the best snipers of the Second World War were located at that time. German arrows killed many soldiers. And their performance was facilitated by the terrain, which was simply replete with shrubs. The British and Americans in Normandy faced real sniper terror. Only after that allied forces thought about training specialized shooters who could work with an optical sight. However, the war has already come to an end. Therefore, the snipers of America and England were never able to set records.Thus, the Finnish "cuckoos" taught a good lesson in their time. Thanks to them in the Red Army military service passed the best snipers of the Second World War.
Women fought alongside men
Since ancient times, it has developed so that men are involved in the war. However, in 1941, when the Germans attacked our country, the whole people began to defend it. Holding weapons in their hands, being at the machines and on the collective farm fields, they fought against fascism Soviet people- men, women, old people and children. And they were able to win.There is a lot of information in the annals about women who received military awards. And the best snipers of the war were also present among them. Our girls were able to destroy more than 12 thousand enemy soldiers. Six of them received the high title of Hero Soviet Union. And one girl became a full cavalier of the soldier's Order of Glory.
Legend girl
As mentioned above, the famous sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenkova destroyed about 309 soldiers. Of these, 36 were enemy shooters. In other words, she alone was able to destroy almost an entire battalion. Based on her exploits, a film called "The Battle for Sevastopol" was made. The girl went to the front voluntarily in 1941. She took part in the defense of Sevastopol and Odessa.
In June 1942, the girl was wounded. After that, she no longer took part in the hostilities. The wounded Lyudmila was carried from the battlefield by Alexei Kitsenko, with whom she fell in love. They decided to file a marriage registration report. However, the happiness did not last too long. In March 1942, the lieutenant was seriously wounded and died in the arms of his wife.
In the same year, Lyudmila joined the delegation of Soviet youth and left for America. There she made a splash. After returning, Lyudmila became an instructor at a sniper school. Under her leadership, several dozen good shooters were trained. Here they were - the best snipers of the USSR in World War II.
Establishment of a special school
Perhaps, Lyudmila's experience was the reason that the country's leadership began to teach shooting art to girls. Courses were specially formed in which girls were in no way inferior to men. Later, it was decided to reorganize these courses into the Central Women's School of Sniper Training. In other countries, only men were snipers. In World War II, girls were not taught this art professionally. And only in the Soviet Union did they comprehend this science and fight on an equal footing with men.The cruel attitude was towards the girls from the enemies
In addition to a rifle, a sapper shovel and binoculars, women took grenades with them. One was intended for the enemy, and the other for himself. Everyone knew that German soldiers treated snipers cruelly. In 1944, the Nazis managed to capture the domestic sniper Tatyana Baramzina. When our soldiers discovered her, they could only recognize her by her hair and uniforms. The enemy soldiers stabbed the body with daggers, cut out the breasts, gouged out the eyes. They stuck a bayonet in the stomach. In addition, the Nazis shot the girl at close range with an anti-tank rifle. Of the 1885 graduates of the school of snipers, about 185 girls could not survive to the Victory. They tried to save them, they did not throw them on particularly difficult tasks. But still, the glare of optical sights in the sun often gave out shooters, who were then found by enemy soldiers.
Only time has changed attitudes towards female shooters
Girls - the best snipers of World War II, whose photos can be seen in this review, experienced a terrible thing at one time. And when they returned home, they were sometimes met with contempt. Unfortunately, in the rear, a special attitude was formed towards the girls. Many of them were unfairly called field wives. Hence the contemptuous glances that were awarded to female snipers.For a long time they did not tell anyone that they were at war. They hid their awards. And only after 20 years the attitude towards them began to change. And it was at this time that the girls began to open up, talking about their many exploits.
Conclusion
In this review, an attempt was made to describe those snipers who became the most productive during the entire time that the Second World War. There are enough of them. But it should be noted that not all shooters are known. Some tried to spread as little as possible about their exploits.
The expression "one is worth a hundred" can be applied literally to these people. They, like the heroes of myths and legends, were able to single-handedly turn the outcome of the battle and win victory when there was almost no chance left.
"RG" tells about the soldiers and officers of the Red Army, whose personal account of the destroyed enemies is amazing.
Khanpasha Nuradilov: machine gunner, over 900 killed
Khanpasha was born in 1922 in the village of Minai-Tugai, Dagestan region. Early left without parents, brought up by an older brother. Before the war, he managed to work at an oil pumping station, and in 1940 he was drafted into the army, which he was very proud of.
The baptism of fire of a very young machine gunner turned out to be incredibly heroic. In the battle near the village of Zakharovka in Ukraine, from his calculation, he alone survived, and was also wounded. Not wanting to surrender, Khanpasha single-handedly stopped the attack of an entire German unit from the last forces, killing more than 120 people. When the Nazis, taken aback by such a rebuff, began to retreat, he managed to capture seven more.
A few months later, Nuradilov accomplishes a new feat - together with his crew, he deepens into the ranks of the enemy and destroys another 50 enemies and, more valuable, 4 machine guns. A month later, in February 1942, he was again wounded and again desperately crushes the Nazis, increasing his personal account by 200 people. In addition to these "Stakhanov" battles, Nuradilov also skillfully showed himself in ordinary battles.
Such crazy statistics could not escape both the Soviet command, which awarded the Red Army soldier with the Order of the Red Banner, and the enemy authorities. A reward of several tens of thousands of Reichsmarks has been announced for his head, obsessive snipers are still waiting for his awkward movement. During the Battle of Stalingrad in the fall of 1942, Khanpasha Nuradilov died a heroic death, having destroyed another 250 enemy fighters before that.
He received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union posthumously and was buried on Mamaev Kurgan. Nikolai Sergeev's poems "The Sun in the Blood" and Magomet Sulaev's "The Sun Will Win" are dedicated to his memory. The Chechen State Theater bears his name.
Mikhail Surkov: sniper, 702 killed
Legend of the Soviet sniper school. During the entire war, he destroyed more than 700 enemy soldiers and officers, which unofficially makes him the most effective sniper in world history. It is not at all surprising that such a master was born and raised in the Krasnoyarsk Territory: taiga hunting is the best training for accuracy and stealth. Among the inhabitants of his native village, Mikhail always stood out with the best trophies, this was due to his wonderful heredity, because in the Surkov family all the men were hunters.
At the front, he used several special tactics to "hunt" enemy soldiers, because the unpredictability of a sniper directly affects his detection. When necessary, he lay in ambush in the snow for several hours, or silently froze on a tree, merging with the crown. Surkov had no equal in detecting enemy shooters: he noticed the slightest flaws in their shelters, felt and noticed any movement on the horizon. When his personal account exceeded 700 killed Nazis, the command assigned two cameramen to him so that the beginning of the next hundred destroyed enemies would not be lost to posterity. The famous front-line cameraman Arkady Levitan recalled:
“Mikhail cut a pumpkin in the garden, put a helmet on it and stuck it out over the parapet of a false trench, 400 meters from the Germans. From the enemy’s side, this pumpkin with a helmet “read” like a soldier’s head. ", fired a shot and began to observe. Very soon they began to hit the pumpkin - at first it was rifle shots, then a mortar hit. During the shootout, Mikhail discovered the enemy sniper. On that day, he killed the 702nd enemy. "
Interestingly, Surkov was never awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, limiting himself to the Orders of Lenin and the Red Star. But Mikhail Ilyich himself liked to repeat that the best reward for him is liberated from the enemies of the Motherland.
Ivan Sidorenko: sniper, 500 killed
Born in 1919 near Smolensk in a poor peasant family. The lack of funds did not affect the craving for knowledge and art: after graduating from 10 classes young Ivan enters the Penza Art College.
In 1939, he was drafted into the army and the country may be losing a wonderful artist or sculptor, but gaining a brilliant sniper. Sidorenko started the war as a mortar man. An unexpected retraining right in combat conditions occurred due to a poor supply of ammunition to the units: there were fewer and fewer grenades, but there were more than enough rifles of "three-rulers".
By the spring of 1944, such a twist of fate had cost the lives of 500 Nazis. The unexpected success of the sniper attracted the attention of the headquarters, and soon a whole sniper school was created under the direct supervision of Sidorenko. She gave the front 250 excellent specialists, who frightened the German soldiers only by their presence on the battlefield. It is interesting that, unlike most snipers, Ivan Mikhailovich's personal account includes a wrecked tank and several tractors - as a "legacy" of the mortar.
Stepan Pugaev: machine gunner, 350 killed
Born in 1910 right at the Yuryuzan railway station (now Bashkiria): the whole family of the future virtuoso machine gunner worked here. He himself became a switchman, and later - on duty at the station.
Stepan was called to the front from the first days of the war, where he almost immediately became the most productive shooter, first in the battalion, and then in the division. Just 10 months after the call, his award sheet reports 350 killed Germans: this is how Stepan Pugaev and his faithful machine gun worked for the good of the Motherland. Already a squad leader, in 1943, in a battle near the village of Novye Petrivtsy, he was the first to cross the Dnieper and personally destroyed two machine-gun points of the enemy, for which he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Colleagues remembered him as a faithful comrade and a dedicated officer, to whom one could always turn for advice. The figure of 350 killed enemy soldiers and officers is confirmed by papers and is official, but according to the recollections of colleagues, it should have been twice as much.
Pugaev died a heroic death in December 1944, once again being one of the first to attack the enemy ranks. A street in the city of Tirlyan bears his name, and his bust is erected in the city of Beloretsk.
Lyudmila Pavlichenko: sniper, 309 killed
The only woman on the list, but what a woman! Lyudmila was born in 1916 in the town of Belaya Tserkov, not far from Kyiv. Since childhood, she was fond of gliding and shooting sports, which predetermined her military career. After graduating from the ninth grade, young Lyuda got a job as a grinder at the Kiev plant "Arsenal" in order to financially help her parents.
In 1941, she volunteered for the front, where she was sent to defend Odessa as part of a sniper platoon. During one of the battles, she led a platoon after the death of her commander, was shell-shocked, but did not leave the battlefield and even refused medical care. Soon, the entire Primorye army was transferred to the defense of Sevastopol, it was here that in less than 9 months Pavlichenko destroyed 309 German soldiers and officers (including 36 enemy snipers).
In June 1942, Lyudmila was seriously wounded, she, the future Hero of the Soviet Union, was transported to a hospital in the Caucasus. In mid-1942, Pavlichenko, as part of the Soviet delegation, visited the United States, personally met President Franklin Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor. The latter organizes the same legendary speech by Lyudmila Pavlichenko at a rally in Chicago:
"Gentlemen. I am twenty-five years old. At the front, I have already managed to destroy three hundred and nine fascist invaders. Don't you think, gentlemen, that you have been hiding behind my back for too long?! ..".
Even the American crowd, tempted by the frequent appeals of politicians, could not endure such a speech, shouts of approval were heard, and a second later the noise of applause laid the ears of the audience.
Pavlichenko was received very cordially in the USA, they gave her a Colt and a Winchester, and the legendary country singer Woody Guthrie even composed the song Miss Pavlichenko about her.
Schools in her hometown of Belaya Tserkov and in the place of military glory - Sevastopol are named after the female sniper.
Many soldiers and officers of the Red Army became heroes of the Great Patriotic War. It is perhaps difficult to single out military specialties that would stand out in particular when awarding military awards. Among the famous Heroes of the Soviet Union there are sappers, tankers, pilots, sailors, infantrymen and military doctors.
But I would like to highlight one military specialty, which occupies a special place in the category of feat. These are snipers.
Sniper - Special trained soldier, who is fluent in the art of marksmanship, camouflage and observation, hitting targets from the first shot. Its task is to defeat the command and liaison staff, the destruction of camouflaged single targets.
At the front, when special military units (companies, regiments, divisions) oppose the enemy, the sniper is an independent combat unit.
We will tell you about sniper heroes who have made a significant contribution to the common cause of victory. You can read about female snipers who participated in the Great Patriotic War in ours.
1. Passar Maxim Alexandrovich (08/30/1923 - 01/22/1943)
A participant in the Great Patriotic War, a Soviet sniper, during the fighting destroyed 237 enemy soldiers and officers. Most of the enemies were eliminated by him during the Battle of Stalingrad. For the destruction of Passar, the German command appointed a reward of 100 thousand Reichsmarks. Hero Russian Federation(posthumously).
2. Surkov Mikhail Ilyich (1921-1953)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, sniper of the 1st battalion of the 39th rifle regiment 4th Rifle Division of the 12th Army, foreman, holder of the Order of Lenin and the Order of the Red Star.
3. Kovshova Natalia Venediktovna (11/26/1920 - 08/14/1942)
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union.
On the personal account of the sniper Kovshova 167 killed fascist soldiers and officers. During the service, she taught the fighters the skill of marksmanship. On August 14, 1942, near the village of Sutoki, Novgorod Region, she died in an unequal battle with the Nazis.
4. Tulaev Zhambyl Yesheevich (02 (15). 05.1905 - 01.17.1961)
Member of the Great Patriotic War. Hero of the Soviet Union.
Sniper of the 580th Infantry Regiment of the 188th Infantry Division of the 27th Army of the North-Western Front. Foreman Zhambyl Tulaev from May to November 1942 exterminated 262 Nazis. Prepared more than 30 snipers for the front.
5. Sidorenko Ivan Mikhailovich (09/12/1919 - 02/19/1994)
Captain Ivan Sidorenko, assistant chief of staff of the 1122nd Rifle Regiment, distinguished himself as the organizer of the sniper movement. By 1944, he personally destroyed about 500 Nazis from a sniper rifle.
Ivan Sidorenko trained more than 250 snipers for the front, most of whom were awarded orders and medals.
6. Okhlopkov Fedor Matveevich (03/02/1908 - 05/28/1968)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union.
By June 23, 1944, Sergeant Okhlopkov destroyed 429 Nazi soldiers and officers from a sniper rifle. Was wounded 12 times. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin were awarded only in 1965.
7. Aliya Nurmukhambetovna Moldagulova (10/25/1925 - 01/14/1944)
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union (posthumously), corporal.
Sniper of the 54th Separate Rifle Brigade of the 22nd Army of the 2nd Baltic Front. Corporal Moldagulova for the first 2 months of participation in the battles destroyed several dozen enemies. On January 14, 1944, she took part in the battle for the village of Kazachikha, Pskov Region, and led the fighters into the attack. Breaking into the enemy's defenses, she destroyed several soldiers and officers from a machine gun. She died in this battle.
8. Budenkov Mikhail Ivanovich (05.12.1919 - 02.08.1995)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union, senior lieutenant.
By September 1944, Guard Senior Sergeant Mikhail Budenkov was a sniper in the 59th Guards Rifle Regiment of the 21st Guards Rifle Division of the 3rd Shock Army of the 2nd Baltic Front. By that time, he had 437 enemy soldiers and officers destroyed by sniper fire. He entered the top ten snipers of the Great Patriotic War.
9. Etobaev Arseny Mikhailovich (09/15/1903- 1987)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, civil war 1917-1922 and the conflict in the Chinese East railway 1929. Cavalier of the Order of Lenin and the Order of the Red Star, full cavalier of the Order of the Patriotic War.
The sniper destroyed 356 German invaders and shot down two planes.
10. Salbiev Vladimir Gavrilovich (1916- 1996)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, twice holder of the Orders of the Red Banner and the Order of the Patriotic War II degree.
Salbiev's sniper account has 601 enemy soldiers and officers killed.
11. Pchelintsev Vladimir Nikolaevich (30.08.1919- 27.07.1997)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, sniper of the 11th Infantry Brigade of the 8th Army of the Leningrad Front, Hero of the Soviet Union, Sgt.
One of the most effective snipers of World War II. Destroyed 456 enemy soldiers, non-commissioned officers and officers.
12. Kvachantiradze Vasily Shalvovich (1907- 1950)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union, foreman.
Sniper of the 259th Infantry Regiment of the 179th Infantry Division of the 43rd Army of the 1st Baltic Front.
One of the most productive snipers of the Great Patriotic War. Destroyed 534 enemy soldiers and officers.
13. Goncharov Pyotr Alekseevich (01/15/1903- 31.01.1944)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union, senior sergeant of the guard.
On his sniper account, more than 380 enemy soldiers and officers were killed. He died on January 31, 1944, when breaking through the enemy defenses near the village of Vodiane.
14. Galushkin Nikolai Ivanovich (07/01/1917- 22.01.2007)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Russian Federation, lieutenant.
He served in the 49th Infantry Regiment of the 50th Infantry Division. According to reports, he destroyed 418 German soldiers and officers, including 17 snipers, and also trained 148 fighters in sniper business. After the war, he was active in military-patriotic work.
Member of the Great Patriotic War, commander of the sniper company of the 81st Guards Rifle Regiment, guard lieutenant.
By the end of June 1943, already the commander of a sniper company, Golosov personally destroyed about 420 Nazis, including 70 snipers. In his company, he trained 170 snipers, who in total destroyed more than 3,500 fascists.
He died on August 16, 1943 in the midst of the fighting for the village of Dolgenkoe, Izyumsky district, Kharkov region.
16. Nomokonov Semyon Danilovich (08/12/1900 - 07/15/1973)
Member of the Great Patriotic War and the Soviet-Japanese War, twice holder of the Order of the Red Star, the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner.
During the Great Patriotic War, he destroyed 360 German soldiers and officers, including one major general. During the Soviet-Japanese War, he destroyed 8 soldiers and officers of the Kwantung Army. The total confirmed score is 368 enemy soldiers and officers.
17. Ilyin Nikolai Yakovlevich (1922 - 08/04/1943)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union, foreman, deputy political instructor.
In total, the sniper accounted for 494 killed enemies. On August 4, 1943, in a battle near the village of Yastrebovo, Nikolai Ilyin died, struck down by a machine-gun burst.
18. Antonov Ivan Petrovich (07/07/1920 - 03/22/1989)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, shooter of the 160th separate rifle company of the Leningrad Naval Base Baltic Fleet, sailor, Hero of the Soviet Union.
Ivan Antonov became one of the pioneers of the sniper movement in the Baltic.
From December 28, 1941 to November 10, 1942, he destroyed 302 Nazis and taught the art of marksmanship to the enemy 80 snipers.
19. Dyachenko Fedor Trofimovich (06/16/1917 - 08/08/1995)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union, major.
By February 1944, Dyachenko destroyed 425 enemy soldiers and officers, including several snipers, with sniper fire.
20. Idrisov Abuhaji (Abukhazhi) (05/17/1918- 22.10.1983)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, sniper of the 1232nd Infantry Regiment of the 370th Infantry Division, senior sergeant, Hero of the Soviet Union.
By March 1944, he already had 349 destroyed Nazis on his account, and he was introduced to the title of Hero. In one of the battles in April 1944, Idrisov was wounded by a fragment of a mine that exploded nearby, he was covered with earth. Comrades dug him up and sent him to the hospital.
Tanya Baramzina
Tatyana Nikolaevna Baramzina was a teacher at kindergarten before becoming a sniper in the 70th Infantry Division of the 33rd Army. Tanya fought on the Belorussian front and was parachuted behind enemy lines to carry out a secret mission. Before that, she already had 16 German soldiers on her account, and during this assignment she killed another 20 Nazis. She was eventually caught, tortured and executed. Tanya was posthumously awarded the Order of Golden Star”, and she was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on March 24, 1945.
Nadezhda Kolesnikova
Nadezhda Kolesnikova was a volunteer sniper who served on the Volkhovsky eastern front in 1943. She is credited with the destruction of 19 enemy soldiers. Like Kolesnikova, only 800,000 female soldiers fought in the Red Army as snipers, tank gunners, privates, machine gunners, and even pilots. Not many participants in the hostilities survived: out of 2,000 volunteers, only 500 could remain alive. For her service, Kolesnikova was awarded a medal for courage after the war.
Tanya Chernova
Not many people know this name, but Tanya became the prototype of a female sniper with the same name in the movie "Enemy at the Gates" (her role was played by Rachel Weisz). Tanya was a Russian-American who came to Belarus to fetch her grandparents, but they had already been killed by the Germans. Then she becomes a Red Army sniper, joining the Hares sniper group, formed by the famous Vasily Zaitsev, who is also featured in the film mentioned above. He is played by Jude Law. Tanya killed 24 enemy soldiers before being wounded in the stomach by a mine. After that, she was sent to Tashkent, where she recovered from her wound for a long time. Fortunately, Tanya survived the war.
Ziba Ganieva
Ziba Ganiyeva was one of the most charismatic figures in the Red Army, having been a Russian celebrity and Azerbaijani film actress in the pre-war era. Ganieva fought in the 3rd Moscow Communist Rifle Division of the Soviet Army. She was a brave woman who went behind the front lines as many as 16 times and killed 21 German soldiers. She took an active part in the battle for Moscow and was seriously wounded. Her injuries prevented her from returning to action after 11 months in the hospital. Ganiyeva was awarded the military orders of the Red Banner and the Red Star.
Rosa Shanina
Roza Shanina, who was called the "Invisible Horror of East Prussia", began to fight when she was not even 20 years old. She was born in Russian village Yedma April 3, 1924. She wrote to Stalin twice to be allowed to serve in a battalion or reconnaissance company. She became the first female sniper to be awarded the Order of Glory and participated in the famous battle for Vilnius. Rosa Shanina had 59 confirmed destroyed soldiers on her account, but she did not live to see the end of the war. While trying to save a wounded Russian officer, she was seriously wounded by a shell fragment in the chest and died on the same day, January 27, 1945.
Lyuba Makarova
Guards Sergeant Lyuba Makarova was one of the 500 lucky ones who survived the war. Fighting in the 3rd Shock Army, she was known for her active service on the 2nd Baltic Front and the Kalinin Front. Makarova chalked up 84 enemy soldiers and returned to her native Perm as a military hero. For her services to the country, Makarova was awarded the Order of Glory 2nd and 3rd degree.
Claudia Kalugina
Klavdia Kalugina was one of the youngest soldiers and snipers in the Red Army. She started fighting when she was only 17 years old. She began her military career working at an ammunition factory, but she soon enrolled in a sniper school and was subsequently sent to the 3rd Belorussian Front. Kalugina fought in Poland and then participated in the Battle of Leningrad, helping to defend the city from the Germans. She was a very accurate sniper and chalked up as many as 257 enemy soldiers. Kalugina remained in Leningrad until the end of the war.
Nina Lobkovskaya
Nina Lobkovskaya joined the Red Army after the death of her father in the war in 1942. Nina fought in the 3rd shock army, where she rose to the rank of lieutenant. She survived the war and even participated in the Battle of Berlin in 1945. She commanded a whole company of 100 female snipers there. Nina had 89 destroyed enemy soldiers on her account.
Nina Pavlovna Petrova
Nina Pavlovna Petrova is also known as "Mother Nina" and could very well be the oldest female World War II sniper. She was born in 1893, and by the beginning of the war she was already 48 years old. After she entered the sniper school, Nina was assigned to the 21st Guards Rifle Division, where she actively performed her sniper duties. Petrova chalked up 122 enemy soldiers. She survived the war but died in a tragic car accident just a week after the end of the war at the age of 53.
Ludmila Pavlichenko
Lyudmila Pavlichenko, who was born in Ukraine in 1916, was the most famous Russian female sniper, nicknamed "Lady Death". Before the war, Pavlichenko was a university student and an amateur shooter. After graduating from the sniper school at the age of 24, she was sent to the 25th Chapaev Rifle Division of the Red Army. Pavlichenko was probably the most successful female sniper in military history. She fought in Sevastopol and Odessa. She had 309 confirmed enemy soldiers killed, including 29 enemy snipers. Pavlichenko survived the war, after she was discharged from active duty due to her injuries. She was awarded the Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union, and her face was even depicted on a postage stamp.
The Second World War became that period in the history of mankind when people committed the most incredible feats and showed all their hidden talents. Naturally, those fighters whose abilities could be used in military operations were most valued. The Soviet command especially singled out snipers, who, using their skills, could destroy up to a thousand enemy soldiers with well-aimed shots during their service. Lists of the best snipers of World War II, with names and an indication of the number of enemies hit, often flicker in different versions on the Internet. In our article, we gathered those who brought victory closer with all their might, despite the difficulties of front-line life and serious injuries. So, who are they - the best snipers of World War II? And where did they come from, later transforming into an elite caste of fighters?
Shooting training in the USSR
Historians of many countries of the world unanimously declare that during the Second World War, fighters from the USSR proved to be the best snipers. Moreover, they surpassed the enemy and allied soldiers not only in terms of training, but also in the number of shooters. Germany was able to get a little closer to this level only at the end of the war - in 1944. Interestingly, to train their fighters German officers used manuals written for Soviet snipers. Where did such a number of well-aimed shooters come from in the pre-war period in our country?
Since 1932, shooting training has been carried out with Soviet citizens. During this period of time, the country's leadership established the honorary title "Voroshilovsky shooter", confirmed by a special badge. They were divided into two degrees, the second was considered the most honorary. To obtain it, it was necessary to pass a series of difficult tests that were beyond the power of ordinary shooters. Every boy, and what to hide, and the girls too, dreamed of showing off the badge of the "Voroshilovsky shooter". For this, they spent a lot of time in shooting clubs, working hard.
In the thirty-fourth year of the last century, demonstration competitions were held between our and American shooters. The unexpected result for the US was their loss. The Soviet riflemen snatched the victory by a huge margin, which spoke of their excellent preparation.
Shooting training work was carried out for seven years and was suspended with the outbreak of the first hostilities. However, by this time the "Voroshilovsky shooter" badge was proudly worn by more than nine million civilians of both sexes.
Sniper caste
Now it's no secret to anyone that snipers belong to a special caste of fighters who are carefully protected and transferred from one area of the military conflict to another in order to demoralize the enemy. In addition to the psychological impact on the enemy, these arrows are distinguished by real destructive power and have very impressive "death" lists. For example, the best snipers of World War II from the USSR had long lists of five to seven hundred killed. This takes into account only confirmed deaths, but in reality their number could exceed one thousand soldiers per shooter.
What makes snipers so special? First of all, it is worth saying that these people by their nature are really special. After all, they have the ability to stay motionless for a long time, tracking down the enemy, the utmost concentration of attention, calmness, patience, the ability to make quick decisions and unique accuracy. As it turned out, the required set of qualities and skills was fully possessed by young hunters who spent their entire childhood in the taiga, tracking down the beast. It was they who became the first snipers who fought with conventional rifles, showing simply stunning results.
Later, on the basis of these shooters, a whole unit was formed, which turned into the elite of the Soviet army. It is known that during the war years, sniper meetings were held more than once, designed to increase their effectiveness as a result of the exchange of experience.
At the moment, some foreign historians are trying to challenge the results of Soviet soldiers listed in the list of the best snipers of World War II. But it is quite difficult to do this, because each target is documented. In addition, most experts are sure that the number of real successful shots exceeds the number indicated in the award lists by two or even three times. After all, not every hit target in the heat of battle could be confirmed. Do not forget the fact that many documents take into account the result of a particular sniper only at the time of submission to the award. In the future, his exploits may not have been fully tracked.
Modern historians claim that the top ten snipers of World War II were able to destroy more than four thousand enemy soldiers. There were also women among the excellent shooters, we will talk about them in one of the following sections of our article. After all, these brave ladies skillfully bypassed their colleagues from Germany in their results. So who are they - these people, called the best snipers of World War II?
Of course, the list of Soviet snipers includes far from ten people. According to the archives, their number may be more than one hundred skilled shooters. However, we decided to bring to your attention information about the ten best Soviet snipers of World War II, the results of which still seem fantastic:
- Mikhail Surkov.
- Vasily Kvachantiradze.
- Ivan Sidorenko.
- Nikolai Ilyin.
- Ivan Kulbertinov.
- Vladimir Pchelintsev.
- Peter Goncharov.
- Mikhail Budenkov.
- Vasily Zaitsev.
- Fedor Okhlopkov.
Each of these unique people devoted to a separate section of the article.
Mikhail Surkov
This shooter was drafted into the army from Krasnoyarsk Territory, where he spent his whole life in the taiga, hunting the beast with his father. With the onset of the war, he picked up a rifle and went to the front to do what he did best - hunt and kill. Thanks to life skills, Mikhail Surkov managed to destroy more than seven hundred Nazis. Among them were ordinary soldiers and representatives officers, which undoubtedly allowed the shooter to be included in the list of the best snipers of World War II.
However, the talented fighter was not presented for the award, since most of his victories could not be documented. Historians attribute this fact to the fact that Surkov liked to rush into the epicenter of the battle. Therefore, in the future it turned out to be quite problematic to determine from whose well-aimed shot this or that enemy soldier fell. Mikhail's brother-soldiers confidently said that he had destroyed more than one thousand fascists. Other people were especially struck by Surkov's ability to remain invisible for long hours, tracking down his enemy.
Vasily Kvachantiradze
This young man went through the whole war from beginning to end. Vasily fought in the rank of foreman and returned home with a large track record of awards. On account of Kvachantiradze - more than half a thousand German fighters. For his accuracy, which ranked him among the best snipers of World War II, by the end of the war he was awarded the title of Hero of the USSR.
Ivan Sidorenko
This fighter is considered one of the most unique Soviet shooters. Indeed, before the war, Sidorenko planned to become a professional artist and had great prospects in this area. But the war ordered in its own way and the young man was sent to military school, after which he went to the front in the rank of officer.
Immediately, the newly minted commander was entrusted with a mortar company, where he showed his sniper talents. During the war years, Sidorenko destroyed five hundred German soldiers, but he himself was seriously wounded three times. After each time, he returned to the front, but in the end, the consequences of the injuries turned out to be very difficult for the body. This did not allow Sidorenko to finish military academy, however, before leaving for the reserve, he received the Hero of the Soviet Union.
Nikolai Ilyin
Many historians believe that it is Ilyin who is the best Russian sniper of World War II. He is considered not only a unique shooter, but also a talented organizer of the sniper movement. He gathered young soldiers, trained them, forming from them a real backbone of shooters on the Stalingrad front.
It was Nikolai who had the honor to fight with the rifle of the Hero of the USSR Andrukhaev. With it, he destroyed about four hundred enemies, and in total, in three years of hostilities, he managed to kill almost five hundred fascists. In the fall of 1943, he fell in battle, receiving the posthumous title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Ivan Kulbertinov
Naturally, most of the snipers in civilian life were hunters. But Ivan Kulbertinov belonged to hereditary reindeer herders, which was rare among soldiers. Yakut by nationality, he was considered a professional in shooting and, according to his results, outperformed the best snipers of the Wehrmacht of World War II.
Ivan got to the front two years after the outbreak of hostilities and almost immediately opened his death account. He went through the entire war to the end and almost five hundred fascist soldiers were on his list. Interestingly, the unique shooter never received the title of Hero of the USSR, which was awarded to almost all snipers. Historians claim that he was twice nominated for an award, but for unknown reasons, the title never found its hero. After the end of the war, he was presented with a nominal rifle.
Vladimir Pchelintsev
This man had a difficult and interesting fate. It can be said that he was one of the few people who could be called professional snipers. Even before the forty-first year, he studied shooting and even achieved high rank master of sports. Pchelintsev had a unique accuracy, which allowed him to destroy four hundred and fifty-six fascists.
Surprisingly, a year after the start of the war, he was delegated to the United States along with Lyudmila Pavlichenko, who was later named the best female sniper of World War II. They spoke at the International Student Congress about how boldly the Soviet youth is fighting for the freedom of their country and urged other states not to surrender under the onslaught of the fascist infection. Interestingly, the shooters were honored to spend the night within the walls of the White House.
Petr Goncharov
Not always fighters immediately understood their calling. For example, Peter did not even suspect that fate had prepared for him a special fate. Goncharov went to war as part of the militia, then he was accepted into the army as a baker. After some time, he became a convoy, which he planned to serve further. However, as a result of a surprise attack by the Nazis, he managed to prove himself as a professional sniper. In the midst of the unfolding battle, Peter raised someone else's rifle and began to accurately destroy the enemy. He even managed to knock out with one shot german tank. This decided the fate of Goncharov.
A year after the start of the war, he received his own sniper rifle, with which he fought for another two years. During this time, he killed four hundred and forty-one enemy soldiers. For this, Goncharov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and twenty days after this solemn event, the sniper fell in battle, not letting go of his rifle.
Mikhail Budenkov
This sniper went through the entire war from the very beginning and met the victory in East Prussia. In the spring of 1945, Budenkov received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for four hundred and thirty-seven hit targets.
However, in the first years of service, Mikhail did not even think of becoming a sniper. Before the war, he worked as a tractor driver and ship mechanic, and at the front he led a mortar crew. His marksmanship attracted the attention of his superiors, and he was soon transferred to the snipers.
Vasily Zaitsev
This sniper is considered a true legend of the war. A hunter in peacetime, he knew everything about shooting firsthand, so from the first days of his service he became a sniper. Historians claim that only for one Battle of Stalingrad more than two hundred enemies fell from his well-aimed shots. Among them were eleven German snipers.
There is a well-known story about how the Nazis, tired of the elusiveness of Zaitsev, sent to destroy his best sniper in Germany of the Second World War - the head of the secret school of shooters Erwin Koenig. Vasily's brother-soldiers said that a real duel was fought between the snipers. It lasted almost three days and ended with the victory of the Soviet shooter.
Fedor Okhlopkov
This man was spoken of with admiration during the war years. He was a real Yakut hunter and tracker, for whom there were no impossible tasks. It is believed that he managed to kill more than one thousand enemies, but most of his victories were difficult to document. Interestingly, over the years of service in the army, he used as a weapon not only a rifle, but also a machine gun. In this way, he destroyed the soldiers, aircraft and tanks of the enemy.
The best Finnish sniper of World War II
"White Death" - this is the nickname given to the shooter from Finland, who destroyed more than seven hundred Red Army soldiers. Simo Häyhä worked on a farm in 1939 and did not even think that he would become the most productive sniper in his country.
After a military conflict arose between Finland and the USSR in November 1939, units of the Red Army invaded the territory of a foreign state. However, the fighters did not expect that the locals would put up such tough resistance to the Soviet soldiers.
Simo Hyayuha, who fought in the thick of things, especially distinguished himself. Every day he destroyed sixty or seventy enemy soldiers. This forced the Soviet command to launch a hunt for this well-aimed shooter. However, he continued to remain elusive and sowed death, hiding in the most inappropriate, as it seemed to the officers, places.
Later, historians wrote that Simo was helped by his small stature. The man barely reached one and a half meters, so he quite successfully hid almost in full view of the enemy. He also never used an optical rifle, because it often glared in the sun and gave out an arrow. In addition, the Finn was well versed in the features of the local terrain, which gave him the opportunity to take the best places to observe the enemy.
At the end of the Hundred Days War, Simo was wounded in the face. The bullet passed right through and completely smashed the facial bone. In the hospital, his jaw was restored, after which he lived safely to almost a hundred years.
Of course, war does not have a feminine face. However, Soviet girls made their invaluable contribution to the victory over fascism, fighting on different sectors of the front. It is known that among them there were about one thousand snipers. Together they were able to destroy twelve thousand German soldiers and officers. Surprisingly, the results of many of them are much higher than those who were called the best German snipers of World War II.
Lyudmila Pavlichenko is considered the most productive shooter among women. This amazing beauty signed up as a volunteer immediately after the declaration of war with Germany. In two years of hostilities, she was able to eliminate three hundred and nine fascists, including thirty-six enemy snipers. For this feat she was awarded the title of Hero of the USSR, the last two years of the war she did not take part in the battles.
Olga Vasilyeva was also often called the best female sniper of World War II. On account of this fragile girl, one hundred and forty-eight fascists, but in the forty-third year, no one believed that she could become a real sniper, who would be afraid of the enemy. The girl left a notch on the butt of her rifle after each well-aimed shot. By the end of the war, he was completely covered in marks.
Genya Peretyatko was deservedly ranked among the best female snipers of World War II. Almost nothing was known about this girl for a long time, but she destroyed one hundred and forty-eight enemies with well-aimed and accurate shots of her rifle.
Even before the start of the war, Genya was seriously engaged in shooting, she was her real passion. In parallel, the girl was fond of music. It is amazing that she skillfully combined both activities until the war intervened in her life. Peretyatko immediately volunteered for the front, and thanks to her abilities she was quickly transferred to snipers. After the end of the war, the girl moved to the United States, where she lived for the rest of her life.
German snipers
The results of the German shooters have always been much more modest than those of the Soviet soldiers. But among them were unique snipers who glorified their country. Many legends circulated during the war years about Matthias Hetzenauer. He fought for only one year as a sniper, having managed to destroy three hundred and forty-five Red Army soldiers. For Germany, this was simply a phenomenal result that no one managed to surpass.
Josef Allerberger was considered one of the best German snipers of World War II. He was able to confirm the elimination of two hundred and fifty-seven targets. His colleagues considered the young man a born sniper who possessed not only accuracy and endurance, but also a certain psychology that allowed him to intuitively choose the right battle tactics.
