The Russian Night Witches
By: Mikayla Halsdorf 7
Introduction to the 588th Regiment
In 1941, Marina Raskova was asked to create a team of female pilots that would fly during the night to attack the Nazis by bombing. They would later be called by the Nazis the " Night Witches " or " Nachthexen. " They're a fearless group who should be remembered forever for their amazing amount of courage and help in world war 2.
Source:
Dowdy, Linda. "The Night Witches." Aviation - The Night Witches. Sim Flite Minnesota, 2007. Web. 28 Jan. 2016. <http://www.seizethesky.com/nwitches/nitewtch.html>.
Garber, Megan. Digital image. The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 15 July 2013. Web. 02 Feb. 2016. http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/07/night-witches-the-female-fighter-pilots-of-world-war-ii/277779/.
How Russia Became Involved with World War 2
Stalin (leader of Russia) and Hitler were so called "friends." They made a pact and Hitler said that he wouldn't invade the soviet union which included Russia but he later broke the pact and did in fact invade the soviet union. Hitler had a vision to build an empire so I guess he decided Russia wouldn't be apart of that.
Source:
Altman, Linda Jacobs. "Introduction World War 2 and the Holocaust." Resisters and Rescuers: Standing up against the Holocaust. Berkeley Heights. NJ: Enslow, 2003. 7. Print.
The picture above is the planes that they would ride on their missions.
Miller, Daniel. The Night Witches. Digital image. Daily Mail. Daily Mail, 11 July 2013. Web. 2 Feb. 2016. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2360652/The-Night-Witch-carried-hundreds-bombing-raids-Russia-s-elite-women-World-War-Two-air-squad.html>.
Grundhauser, Eric. "The Little-Known Story of the Night Witches, an All-Female Force in WWII." Vanity Fair. Vanity Fair, 2 Jan. 2014. Web. 28 Jan. 2016. <http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2015/06/night-witches-wwii-female-pilots>.
Facts:
1. A movie was made about them called : Night Witches In The Sky
2. A book was also made about them called : Night Witches: The Untold Story of Soviet Women in Combat
3. Women pilots earned a lot more respect because of what these women did for Russia.
4. The leader of the night witches was Major Yevdokia Bershanskaya
5. 23 members of the 588th regiment have been awarded hero of the soviet union
Sources:
Reads, Good. Night Witches. Digital image. Good Reads, Web. 2 Feb. 2016. <http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249831.Night_Witches>.
"The Night Witches Trailer." YouTube. Web. 02 Feb. 2016. <https://youtu.be/Os7T0mO7eS4>.
"Day of Glory for USSR's Night Witches." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2001. Web. 28 Jan. 2016. <http://articles.latimes.com/2001/may/10/news/mn-61653>.
Conclusion
If you would like further information about the Night Witches there are links below about how war was declared and about what they went through at flight school, or any other questions you might have about these women.
http://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A5849076
http://www.avstop.com/History/AroundTheWorld/Russia/Nexen.htm