Female Soviet Snipers and the Second World War

An Analysis

Authors

  • Rylie Longson

Abstract

This article examines the role of Soviet female snipers during the Second World War, arguing that their contributions extended beyond military success to challenge traditional gender roles and reshape perceptions of women in combat. By examining work on prominent snipers such as Lyudmila Pavlichenko and Roza Shanina, the article analyzes both their battlefield achievements and their use in Soviet propaganda. While Soviet women demonstrated exceptional skill and resilience in combat, many returned to a society that sought to restore traditional gender expectations. This left their wartime service underrecognized for decades. Ultimately, this article argues
that Soviet female snipers played a significant role in the Red Army's war effort. Their legacy not only contributed to the Soviet victory but also influenced later debates over women's military service and the expansion of combat opportunities for women in armed forces around the world.

Author Biography

Rylie Longson

Rylie Longson finished her BA degree in Honours History in 2026. Her interests include Russian histories, religion and culture, and local history. This year, her thesis focused on a new religious movement in Vancouver in the 1970s and how the moral panic surrounding the "Hippie" movement allowed them to grow as an organization. Rylie would like to thank her friends and family for their endless support.

Cover of The Ascendant Historian, Volume 5 (2026), the University of Victoria's undergraduate history journal. The title and subtitle appear in cream lettering on a deep purple banner overlaid on a photograph of tall Gothic stained glass windows in jewel tones of blue, red, and gold, set beneath ribbed vaulted ceiling arches.

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Published

2026-09-17

How to Cite

Longson, Rylie. 2026. “Female Soviet Snipers and the Second World War: An Analysis”. the Ascendant Historian 5 (September):44-57. https://journals.uvic.ca/index.php/corvette/article/view/22895.

Issue

Vol. 5 (2026)

Section

Articles

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