|
|
Post by capricekid on May 9, 2006 18:41:50 GMT -5
I am pretty new to Russian reenacting and I am also pretty used to the G.I. sausage-fest we generally have. Now I am aware that women did fight for the Russians, but I am curious as to what roles they exactly played. Were they issued the same uniforms and so forth as the men? Did they have any special rules because they were women? I know these are kind of broad subjects, but if someone could give me the Reader's Digest version it would be much appriciated. Thanks!!!
Joe
|
|
|
|
Post by Konstantin on May 9, 2006 22:17:26 GMT -5
Joe,
I have not seen any special rules in regards to women. I am sure there might have been. I think I did once see rules regarding pregnancy and how it was dealt with at the front.
The vets I have heard, say there was still a chivalry when it came to women. Even though the official soviet policy were that men and women were equals.
Women had many roles in the Red Army during the GPW. Most notible is sniper, cause those pictures abound. However there were women pilots, tank crews, doctors, engineers. Plus the sterotypical roles of nurse, medic, traffic, so on and so forth.
Then you can't forget the contribution that women made in the factories, mines and fields to replace the men off playing war.
Unlike Germany which used slave labour in it's factories, the USSR and the Democracies harnessed the power of the female worker and it made the difference in the war.
Hope that helps.
-dave
|
|
|
|
Post by crazydima on May 9, 2006 22:20:03 GMT -5
Tovarisch Joe, Interestingly the Soviet Army and Air force utilized women in just about every combat role. I am not sure about the Navy. The roles in which Soviet Women served in that I am aware of were Snipers, Tankers, Riflemen, Medics, Clerks, Nurses, Signalers, traffic cops and pilots. Basically it appears that they did just about everything the men did. In general the combat uniforms used by the women were the same design as the mens uniforms but appear to be cut slightly different for the women. If I remember correctly there is a website with some first hand accounts and interviews with Soviet troops including women. www.iremember.ru/index_e.htmI will dig around and see what books are out there on the subject. According to two German East front vets we interviewed, the Soviet women were the one thing they feared most since the women would not surrender nor take prisoners. Sincerely, Dima |
|
|
|
Post by capricekid on May 9, 2006 22:41:03 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. That website was great. Part of the reason I am asking is because I took the girlfriend to her first event this weekend and she really liked it. She said she wanted an "outfit" at which point I promptly told her it was an impression. I told her to be a nurse, but she insisted she wanted to fight. Then, she asked about dressing as a boy, at which point I almost took her home. She came to her senses though with a little persuasion on my part and I told her if she wanted to fight I was pretty sure she would have to be Russian. I showed her the Russian camp and she really liked it. I was pretty sure they were used as snipers, but was unsure of the other roles which you gentleman filled in for me.
I guess my next question would be how would you start a woman's impression? This will be down the road quite a ways as she is putting herself through school, but I would like to be able to tell her a little more. I am really happy she likes it and wants to participate as opposed to thinking I am weird and asking where all these rifles keep coming from.
Thank you for your answers and please excuse my ignorance on the subject.
Joe
|
|
|
|
Post by ewj on May 9, 2006 23:10:00 GMT -5
I talked to a German vet of the GPW at the local militaria show the other week. His view was that the woman in the infantry fought both harder and dirtier than the men.
If any of you are going to the Red Wing Air Show he's going to be one of the vets there and he's worth talking to for the German side of things. He fought 4 years on the Eastern Front and served as a POW in Russia after the war.
|
|
|
|
Post by ewj on May 9, 2006 23:15:47 GMT -5
If your girl friend want to fight, remember there is also the role of partisan, which gives her options to fight in certain event s on the western front as well. The main person in this area who does Resistance can be reached at
galejames@comcast.net
Drop Gale a line - she's not on this list but I know she is more than happy to give her some pointers on this impression too.
|
|
|
|
Post by Konstantin on May 10, 2006 9:45:15 GMT -5
I guess my next question would be how would you start a woman's impression? Joe, Outfit her exactly as you would yourself. In the field they wore the same thing the men did, carried the same gear. Once that basic impression is together you can start looking at things like berets and dresses. Of course, now she'll compete with you for that great deal on a Mosin. Hehehe Later -dave |
|
|
|
Post by capricekid on May 10, 2006 10:00:50 GMT -5
Dave,
If I outfit her the same as myself that would actually be pretty easy. I have a few doubles of some stuff and she is tiny. It might be a problem finding uniforms big enough for her haha. Thanks again!
Joe
|
|
|
|
Post by crazydima on May 10, 2006 11:59:14 GMT -5
|
|
