The best snipers of World War II: German and Soviet

The best snipers of World War II. German, Soviet, Finnish arrows played a rather important role in wartime. And in this review, an attempt will be made to consider those of them that have become most effective.

The emergence of sniper art

Beginning with the emergence of personal weapons in the armies, which provided the opportunity to hit the enemy at great distances, soldiers began to distinguish marksmen. Subsequently, separate units of the rangers began to form from them. As a result, a separate type of light infantry was formed. The main tasks that the soldiers received included the destruction of officers of enemy troops, as well as the demoralization of the enemy at the expense of the mark of firing at considerable distances. For this, the riflemen were armed with special rifles.

In the XIX century there was a modernization of weapons. Changed, respectively, and tactics. This was facilitated by the appearance of an optical sight. During the First World War, snipers were part of a separate cohort of saboteurs. Their goal was to quickly and effectively defeat live enemy force. At the very beginning of the war, snipers were mostly used by the Germans. However, over time, special schools began to appear in other countries. In the conditions of protracted conflicts this "profession" has become quite in demand.

Finnish Snipers

In the period from 1939 to 1940, the Finnish arrows were regarded as the best. Snipers of World War II learned a lot thanks to them. The Finnish shooters were nicknamed "cuckoo". The reason for this was that they used special "nests" in the trees. This feature was distinctive for the Finns, although the trees were used for this purpose in almost all countries.

So who exactly are the best snipers of World War II? The most famous "cuckoo" was considered Simo Hayhe. He was nicknamed "white death". The number of confirmed murders committed by him exceeded the mark of 500 liquidated soldiers of the Red Army. In some sources, his figures were equal to 700. He was seriously injured. But Simo was able to recover. He died in 2002.

Propaganda played its part

The best snipers of the Second World War, namely their achievements, were actively used in propaganda. Quite often it happened that the personalities of the shooters began to acquire legends.

Famous domestic sniper Vasily Zaytsev was able to destroy about 240 enemy soldiers. This indicator was average for effective shooters of that war. But due to propaganda he was made the most famous Red Army sniper. At the present stage, historians seriously doubt the existence of Major Koenig, Zaitsev's main opponent in Stalingrad. The main merits of the domestic shooter include the development of a training program for snipers. He personally took part in their preparation. In addition, he formed a full-fledged sniper school. Her graduates were called "rabbits".

The most effective arrows

Who are they, the best snipers of World War II? The names of the most effective shooters should be known. Mikhail Surkov is in the first position. They destroyed about 702 enemy soldiers. Following him on the list is Ivan Sidorov. He destroyed 500 soldiers. On the third position is Nikolai Ilyin. They were killed 497 enemy soldiers. With a mark of 489 killed, Ivan Kulbertinov followed him.

The best snipers of the USSR World War II were not only men. In those years, women joined the ranks of the Red Army. Some of them later became quite effective shooters. About 12,000 enemy soldiers were killed by Soviet women. And the most effective was Lyudmila Pavlichenkova, on the account of which there were 309 killed soldiers.

The best snipers of the USSR in the Second World War, which were quite numerous, have on their account a large number of effective shots. Approximately fifteen arrows destroyed more than 400 soldiers. 25 snipers killed more than 300 enemy soldiers. 36 shooters were destroyed by more than 200 Germans.

About enemy information rifles a little

Data on "colleagues" from the enemy side is not so much. This is due to the fact that no one tried to boast of his exploits. Therefore, the German best snipers of the Second World War in titles and names are practically unknown. It is true that we can say only about those marksmen who were awarded the Knight's iron crosses. It happened in 1945. One of them was Frederick Payne. About 200 enemy soldiers were killed by them. The most productive, most likely, was Matthias Hetzenauer. About 345 soldiers were killed by them. The third sniper, who was awarded the Order, was called Josef Ollerberg. He left memoirs in which there was a lot written about the activities of the German shooters during the war. The sniper himself killed about 257 soldiers.

Sniper terror

It should be noted that in Normandy in 1944 the landing of Anglo-American allies took place. And it was in this place that the best snipers of the Second World War were at that time. German shooters killed many soldiers. And their effectiveness was promoted by the locality, which was simply abounded with bushes. Englishmen and Americans in Normandy encountered real sniper terror. Only after that the Allied troops thought about the preparation of specialized shooters, who could work with an optical sight. However, the war has already come to an end. Therefore, snipers of America and England could not establish records.

Thus, the Finnish "cuckoo" at one time taught a good lesson. Thanks to them in the Red Army, the best snipers of the Second World War passed military service.

Women fought on a par with men

Since ancient times, it has become the case that men are engaged in war. However, in 1941, when the Germans attacked our country, the whole people began to defend it. Holding the weapons in their hands, while at the machines and on the collective farm fields, Soviet people-men, women, old people and children-fought against fascism. And they were able to win.

In the annals there is a lot of information about women who received military awards. And the best snipers of war among them were also present. Our girls were able to destroy more than 12,000 enemy soldiers. Six of them received the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union. And one girl became the full knight of the soldier's Order of Glory.

Legend Girl

As already mentioned above, about 309 soldiers were destroyed by the famous sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenkova. Of these, 36 were enemy shooters. In other words, she alone was able to destroy almost the whole battalion. According to her exploits, a film entitled "Battle for Sevastopol" was shot. At the front, the girl left voluntarily in 1941. She took part in the defense of Sevastopol and Odessa.

In June 1942, the girl was wounded. After that, she did not take part in hostilities anymore. Wounded Lyudmila was taken from the battlefield by Alexei Kitsenko, in which she fell in love. They decided to file a report on the registration of marriage. However, the happiness was not too long. In March 1942 the lieutenant was seriously wounded and died at the hands of his wife.

In the same year Lyudmila joined the delegation of Soviet youth and left for America. There she made a real sensation. After the return, Lyudmila became an instructor in the school of snipers. Under her leadership, several dozen good shooters were trained. Here they were - the best snipers of the USSR in the Second World War.

Creation of a special school

Perhaps the experience of Lyudmila served as the reason that the country's leadership began to train girls in small arms. Specially, courses were formed on which the girls in no way inferior to men. Later, these courses were decided to be reorganized into the Central Women's School of Sniper Training. In other countries only men were snipers. In the Second World War, girls were not taught this art professionally. And only in the Soviet Union did they comprehend this science and fought on a par with men.

The cruel attitude towards the girls from the enemies

In addition to a rifle, a demolition shovel and binoculars, women took grenades with them. One was for the enemy, and the other was for himself. Everyone knew that the German soldiers treated savagely with snipers. In 1944, the Nazis managed to capture the national sniper Tatiana Baramzin. When our soldiers found it, they could only find out by their hair and uniforms. The enemy soldiers massacred the body with their daggers, cut their breasts, and gouged out their eyes. In the stomach they stuck a bayonet. In addition, the Nazis at point-blank range shot a girl from an anti-tank rifle. Out of 1885 graduates of the school of snipers before Victory could not live about 185 girls. They tried to save them, did not throw them on particularly difficult tasks. But still the glare of the optical sights in the sun often gave out shooters, which then were found by enemy soldiers.

Only time changed the attitude to women-arrows

Girls - the best snipers of the Second World War, photos of which can be seen in this review, at one time lived through a terrible. And when they returned home, they sometimes faced contempt. To my great regret, a special attitude was formed in the rear to the girls. Many of them were unjustly called marching wives. Hence the contemptuous glances, which were awarded to female snipers.

For a long time they did not tell anyone that they were at war. They hid their rewards. And only after 20 years the attitude towards them began to change. And it was at this time that the girls began to reveal themselves, telling of their numerous exploits.

Conclusion

In this review, an attempt has been made to describe those snipers that have become the most effective for all the time that the Second World War was going on. There are a lot of them. But it should be noted that far from all the arrows are known. Some tried to spread as little as possible about their exploits.