The Russians and the Germans hated each other very strongly. If the Germans captured a Russian village, they would rob, beat, rape and kill the villagers. So if the Russians captured a German town, they would retaliate by committing the same atrocities. Mila and her unit were sent to the region near Odessa in Ukraine. This was around 250 miles from her hometown of Kiev. Odessa was an important large Sea-port on the Northern shore of the Black Sea. It was a supply line into the Ukraine Province of Russia. The Black Sea is almost completely land locked, except for a small exit on the southern end. This exit is controlled by the Nation of Turkey, which remained neutral until 1945.

In only two and one half months, Private Pavlichenko recorded 187 kills. Every sniper carries what was known as a "kill book." If possible, the dead person's name, rank, and serial numbers are carefully recorded. A sniper goes after the officers, the highest ones especially. If the leaders are knocked off first, this causes chaos among the soldiers. Mila had killed many of the German officers in the battle area. They began to take off their insignia, and wear non descriptive uniforms. However, the odd clothing would also tip her off. Many of the German troops  were afraid to leave their "fox-holes," but in spite of all this the Germans managed to capture the Seaport of Odessa.

Mila and her unit were then sent to Sevestopol. This was another Seaport with a Russian Navy base. It was besieged for almost eight months by the enemy. This city was located on the extreme tip of the Ukraine Peninsula. One day Mila heard the rumor that the great German sniper, Hugo Hauptzeltburger, was somewhere in the area. "That man is mine, I will not rest until I can bring him down." Stalking is a large part of being a good sniper. So Hugo and Mila began to stalk each other. They were very evenly matched, so several days passed by. As each watched and waited for the other to make a mistake.

Then, of course, his one small mistake was his bragging. In the field of battle, many times one mistake is all you get. In June of 1942, Mila was wounded by German mortar fire. She was never touched by a bullet, but a mortar shell exploded close to her fox-hole. She was evacuated and sent to a field  hospital. Because of her status, she was not allowed to return to combat. Mila had received the high medal, the title of hero of the Soviet Union. This was a very coveted medal, not very many women received it. Now she was promoted to major, and became an instructor for training new snipers. Mila trained hundreds of sniper recruits before the war ended. However, as soon as her wounds healed, she was sent on a tour of the United States and Canada. She was Russia's goodwill ambassador to the United States. She became the first Soviet Citizen to be received by a U.S. President. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor, welcomed her at the White House. She was invited by Mrs. Roosevelt to tour the country, relating her experience as a Russian sniper. She appeared before the International Student Assembly being held in Washington D.C., she received a hero's welcome there. Various other groups wanted her to speak for them.

In Canada, Mila was presented with a Winchester rifle with an optical sight, which is now on display at the Central Museum of the Armed Forces in Moscow, Russia. She was also presented with a  colt semi-automatic pistol, just before she left the United States. After the war was over, Mila returned to the University in Kiev, to finish her education. For several years, 1945 to 1953, she was a research assistant for the Soviet Navy's top command. Certainly Lyudmila Mikhailovna Pavlichenko was a very special and extraordinary Russian lady. She was also the greatest female sniper who ever lived. She died October 10, 1974 at 58 years of age. She is buried at the Novodevichiye Cemetery in Moscow, Russia.

Sources:
-WWII 4,139 Strange and Fascinating Facts by Don McCombs and Fred L. Worth
-Selected Biographies of Soviet Women Soldiers by Kazimiera J. Cottam
-Lyudmila Pavlichenko, The Greatest Woman Sniper by Thomas W. Bruner


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