By definition, a sniper is a marksman who maintains close visual contact with an enemy, and shoots from concealed positions or distances. Snipers must excel at long-range shooting, infiltration, camouflage, surveillance, and target acquisitions. Snipers must also posses vast quantities of patience, be able to stay frozen for extraordinarily long periods of time, and outlast their opponents in severe weather. Although women were usually not allowed to become snipers during this time period, Lyudmila Pavlichenko was the greatest European Sniper, because of her resilience against any obstacle in her way, her unconventional methods of sniping, and her legacy.
At a young age, Pavlichenko always considered herself a tomboy, and hated the thought …show more content…
In order to do so, she used various techniques, such as tying cloth strips that fluttered in the wind, to distract her opponents and know the way the wind blew, rigged store mannequins to trees as decoys, and fought in the worst weather she could, to muffle her gun fire and to provide small amounts of camouflage (Sasser, 229). She was extremely smart, often creating new tactics, ploys, and decoys to distract the enemy while she picked them off (Pavlichenko). Her sniping gradually grew crueler, as she would aim for the arms and legs. The incapacitated victim would call for help, drawing out more targets. Some witnesses claimed she even seemed to play with the enemy, shooting them in places that would keep them barely alive. (Cottam, 527). Pavlichenko was also extremely patient, and often had to lie completely still for more than 15 hours, without food, water, armor, or shelter, often in freezing temperatures (Pavlichenko). After her many talents were noticed by her superiors, she was rapidly promoted. She proved her worth when all of her commanders were killed. Pavlichenko promptly took charge of her legion, and led them to victory (Sasser, 230). The other soldiers in her legion were so impressed, they claimed she was braver than a man. She inspired many of her fellow soldiers with her courage, determination, and refusal to give …show more content…
For example, Simo Häyhä had over seven hundred confirmed kills, but probably around one thousand one hundred actual kills. (Sasser, 690) This was more that Pavlichenko’s five hundred kills. Thomas Plunket, using a worse rifle, also shot from a further distance. (Sasser, 560) The sniper, Zaitsev is more well known, and had multiple movies created about him.(Sasser, 136) However, Pavlichenko was a woman in a field almost entirely dominated by men. (Sasser, 138) She was unarguably the greatest woman sniper in history, and had strong views on equality. Her impact was indisputably the greatest in the wars she fought
At a young age, Pavlichenko always considered herself a tomboy, and hated the thought …show more content…
In order to do so, she used various techniques, such as tying cloth strips that fluttered in the wind, to distract her opponents and know the way the wind blew, rigged store mannequins to trees as decoys, and fought in the worst weather she could, to muffle her gun fire and to provide small amounts of camouflage (Sasser, 229). She was extremely smart, often creating new tactics, ploys, and decoys to distract the enemy while she picked them off (Pavlichenko). Her sniping gradually grew crueler, as she would aim for the arms and legs. The incapacitated victim would call for help, drawing out more targets. Some witnesses claimed she even seemed to play with the enemy, shooting them in places that would keep them barely alive. (Cottam, 527). Pavlichenko was also extremely patient, and often had to lie completely still for more than 15 hours, without food, water, armor, or shelter, often in freezing temperatures (Pavlichenko). After her many talents were noticed by her superiors, she was rapidly promoted. She proved her worth when all of her commanders were killed. Pavlichenko promptly took charge of her legion, and led them to victory (Sasser, 230). The other soldiers in her legion were so impressed, they claimed she was braver than a man. She inspired many of her fellow soldiers with her courage, determination, and refusal to give …show more content…
For example, Simo Häyhä had over seven hundred confirmed kills, but probably around one thousand one hundred actual kills. (Sasser, 690) This was more that Pavlichenko’s five hundred kills. Thomas Plunket, using a worse rifle, also shot from a further distance. (Sasser, 560) The sniper, Zaitsev is more well known, and had multiple movies created about him.(Sasser, 136) However, Pavlichenko was a woman in a field almost entirely dominated by men. (Sasser, 138) She was unarguably the greatest woman sniper in history, and had strong views on equality. Her impact was indisputably the greatest in the wars she fought