Tanya Baramzina
Encyclopedia
Tatiana Nikolaevna Baramzina (December 12, 1919 – July 5, 1944) was a Soviet sniper
in the German-Soviet War
. She was posthumously awarded the Gold Star
and achieved Hero of the Soviet Union
status on March 24, 1945.
in Udmurtia
, Baramzina graduated from the Glazov State Pedagogical Institute and spent two years teaching a kindergarten class in a village school at Kachkashur. In 1940, she enrolled at University in Perm
, and when Germany invaded the Soviet Union
, she began to attend nursing
courses in the evening, while training to become a sharpshooter.
. Within her first three months, she had killed at least 16 enemy soldiers, while serving in the 3rd Battalion of the 252nd Rifle Regiment (70th Rifle Division, 33rd Army).
On July 5, 1944 Baramzina's battalion parachute
d behind enemy lines as part of a larger attempt to seize the crossroads near the village of Pekalin in Smalyavichy
, hoping to block the retreat of German forces. An engagement broke out before they reached the crossroads, and the battalion took heavy casualties. After killing 20 German soldiers, Baramzina was re-assigned to care for the wounded personnel, due to her medical training.
The trench that was being used to hold the Soviet wounded was re-taken by German forces, and after being wounded by artillery fire, she was captured and subjected to torture in an attempt to have her divulge information. After her eyes had been gouged out, Baramzina was subsequently shot point-blank with a 88mm FlaK Gun.
and Izhevsk
and outside the Podolsk Central Women's Sniper Training School. The Young Pioneers
group at the school in which she had been teaching, was also renamed in her memory. A diorama
at the Belarusian Great Patriotic War Museum
depicts her last stand
.
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
in the German-Soviet War
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
. She was posthumously awarded the Gold Star
Gold Star
The Gold Star medal is a special insignia that identifies recipients of the title "Hero" in the Soviet Union and its communist allies, and several post-Soviet states.-Soviet origin:...
and achieved Hero of the Soviet Union
Hero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.-Overview:...
status on March 24, 1945.
Early life
Born in the city of GlazovGlazov
Glazov is a town located in the north of the Udmurt Republic, Russia along the Trans-Siberian Railway. Population: It was founded in the 16th century as a village; town status was granted to it in 1780. Olga Knipper, wife of the famous Russian writer Anton Chekhov, was born in Glazov. During the...
in Udmurtia
Udmurtia
The Udmurt Republic , or Udmurtia is a federal subject of Russia . Its capital is the city of Izhevsk. Population: -History:...
, Baramzina graduated from the Glazov State Pedagogical Institute and spent two years teaching a kindergarten class in a village school at Kachkashur. In 1940, she enrolled at University in Perm
Perm
Perm is a city and the administrative center of Perm Krai, Russia, located on the banks of the Kama River, in the European part of Russia near the Ural Mountains. From 1940 to 1957 it was named Molotov ....
, and when Germany invaded the Soviet Union
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
, she began to attend nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
courses in the evening, while training to become a sharpshooter.
World War II
In June 1943 she was sent to the Central Women’s Sniper Training School outside Moscow and, upon graduation in April 1944, she was sent to the 3rd Belorussian Front3rd Belorussian Front
The 3rd Belorussian Front was a Front of the Soviet Army during the Second World War...
. Within her first three months, she had killed at least 16 enemy soldiers, while serving in the 3rd Battalion of the 252nd Rifle Regiment (70th Rifle Division, 33rd Army).
On July 5, 1944 Baramzina's battalion parachute
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
d behind enemy lines as part of a larger attempt to seize the crossroads near the village of Pekalin in Smalyavichy
Smalyavichy
Smalyavichy is a city in Minsk Voblast, Belarus, capital of the Smalyavichy Raion. It is situated by the Plisa River.-External links:...
, hoping to block the retreat of German forces. An engagement broke out before they reached the crossroads, and the battalion took heavy casualties. After killing 20 German soldiers, Baramzina was re-assigned to care for the wounded personnel, due to her medical training.
The trench that was being used to hold the Soviet wounded was re-taken by German forces, and after being wounded by artillery fire, she was captured and subjected to torture in an attempt to have her divulge information. After her eyes had been gouged out, Baramzina was subsequently shot point-blank with a 88mm FlaK Gun.
Memorial
In addition to a monument in the local Gaslov park, Proletarskaya Street, on which she had grown up, was re-named in her honour, as well as streets in MinskMinsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
and Izhevsk
Izhevsk
Izhevsk is the capital city of the Udmurt Republic, Russia, situated on the Izh River in the Western Urals. Population: From 1984 to 1987 Izhevsk carried the name Ustinov |Minister of Defense of the USSR]], Marshal of the Soviet Union, Dmitry Ustinov). The city is an important industrial center,...
and outside the Podolsk Central Women's Sniper Training School. The Young Pioneers
Young Pioneer organization of the Soviet Union
The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union, also Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union, also Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union, also Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer...
group at the school in which she had been teaching, was also renamed in her memory. A diorama
Diorama
The word diorama can either refer to a nineteenth century mobile theatre device, or, in modern usage, a three-dimensional full-size or miniature model, sometimes enclosed in a glass showcase for a museum...
at the Belarusian Great Patriotic War Museum
Belarusian Great Patriotic War Museum
The Belarusian Great Patriotic War Museum is a museum in Minsk, Belarus.The conception of a museum commemorating the German-Soviet War after the end of Nazi occupation sprung up even before the close of the war...
depicts her last stand
Last stand
Last stand is a loose military term used to describe a body of troops holding a defensive position in the face of overwhelming odds. The defensive force usually takes very heavy casualties or is completely destroyed, as happened in "Custer's Last Stand" at the Battle of Little Big HornBryan Perrett...
.