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

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.
6. Cottam, Women in War, 37–41.
7. Cottam, Women in War, 42–46.
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.
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.
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.
76. Cottam, Women in War, 305–311.
77. Cottam, Women in War, 312–316.
78. Cottam, Women in War, 317–319.
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.
86. 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.