Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Part One Before the Front, 1930s
- Part Two On the Way to the Front, 1941–45
- Part Three At the Front, 1941–45
- 5 Partners in Violence
- 6 “To Be a Woman Commander – That Was Great!”
- 7 Bonded by Combat
- Conclusion
- Appendix
- Bibliography
- Index
- References
6 - “To Be a Woman Commander – That Was Great!”
Remechanizing and Regendering in the Red Army, 1942–45
from Part Three - At the Front, 1941–45
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Part One Before the Front, 1930s
- Part Two On the Way to the Front, 1941–45
- Part Three At the Front, 1941–45
- 5 Partners in Violence
- 6 “To Be a Woman Commander – That Was Great!”
- 7 Bonded by Combat
- Conclusion
- Appendix
- Bibliography
- Index
- References
Summary
Introduction: “To Be a Woman Commander – That Was Great!”
In winter 1942, antitank gunner Tamara Sycheva, a former medical orderly, recovered from her second wound and left the hospital. Heading to an army manning office for a new assignment, she hoped to be back behind the antitank gun. Her military career, however, made an unexpected turn. She was offered a chance to take junior lieutenant courses and to become a platoon commander. The proposal greatly exceeded her expectations as a young artillery soldier. Having switched to the antitank gun in summer 1941 thanks to her own lobbying, she did not anticipate this opportunity for further military growth and study. In her Following My Heart's Calling, Sycheva remembered that she accepted the offer immediately:
I was asked: ‘Would you like to go to junior lieutenant courses?’
A thought had kept coming to my mind whether I was ballast in the army. It seemed to me that I did very little and could have done a lot more. That is why, when I was offered to go to commander courses, I was happy: to be a woman commander – that was great! [Zhenshchina-komandir – eto zdorovo!]
‘Of course, I will go,’ – I agreed immediately, – ‘but only to artillery courses. I have already fought with the antitank gun.’
‘Fine, fine,’ – [the officer replied], – ‘That is exactly what we need.’
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Soviet Women in CombatA History of Violence on the Eastern Front, pp. 204 - 235Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010