Lyudmila Pavlichenko

About the Author

Lyudmila Pavlichenko, known as 'Lady Death,' was a Soviet sniper who became one of the most decorated female combatants in World War II, credited with 309 confirmed kills during the defense of Odessa and Sevastopol. Born in 1916 in Ukraine, she transformed from a history student into a formidable marksman after volunteering for the Red Army in 1941. Her extraordinary bravery earned her the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and international acclaim, including a wartime tour of the United States where she advocated for the Allied cause. Pavlichenko's memoir, Lady Death: The Memoirs of Stalin's Sniper (Greenhill Sniper Library), offers a gripping firsthand account of her experiences on the front lines, blending raw combat narratives with reflections on the human cost of war and the role of women in the Soviet military effort.