Snipers of World War II. Snipers are heroes of the Patriotic War. The girls were treated cruelly by their enemies

Snipers in ambush. Far left is senior sergeant Ivan Petrovich Merkulov, sniper of the 1st rifle company of the 610th rifle regiment. Far right - Merkulov's student Sergeant Zolotov

Ace snipers who destroyed 50 or more enemy soldiers

Sniper Vasily Grigorievich Zaitsev. destroyed 225 soldiers and officers from November 10 to December 17, 1942 German army and the armies of their allies

Photo allegedly showing Erwin König

The best snipers of the Second World War were Russian snipers, and there is a very specific explanation for this fact: long before the start of the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet Union paid special attention to mass shooting training of the population, the development of skills in handling and marksmanship. In 1932, when Osoaviakhim established the title of Voroshilov shooter, a broad movement began to master shooting skills. About 9 million people were awarded the Voroshilov Shooter badge. The result of this work was a reserve of well-trained riflemen.

Even before the start of the Great Patriotic War, sniper squads were included in the staff of the units of the NKPS Communications Security Units.
Real sniper counts are actually higher than verified ones. For example, Fyodor Okhlopkov, according to estimates, destroyed more than a thousand Germans in total, also using a machine gun. In 1943, there were more than 1,000 women among Soviet snipers; During the war, they counted more than 12,000 Germans. The first ten Soviet snipers killed (confirmed) 4200 soldiers and officers, and the first twenty – 7400. Sniper 82nd rifle division In October 1941, Mikhail Lysov shot down a Ju-87 with an automatic rifle with a sniper scope. Unfortunately, there is no data on the number of infantrymen he killed. And the sniper of the 796th Rifle Division, Sergeant Major Antonov Vasily Antonovich, in July 1942 near Voronezh, shot down a twin-engine Ju-88 with four rifle shots. Data on the number of infantrymen he killed also has not been preserved.

Our snipers' weapons were mainly the Mosin sniper rifle. However, the sniper version of the SVT was also used.

The Wehrmacht began training snipers only towards the end of 1942, and not only captured Soviet sniper rifles were used, but also Soviet training films and manuals. Therefore, the Germans managed to reach the required level only in 1944. It is believed that the training of snipers in Germany was carried out by Erwin Koenig, who was killed by Vasily Zaitsev in Stalingrad. It is also alleged that the head of the sniper school in Zossen was SS Standartenführer Heinz Thorwald, whose existence, like the school itself, is also in doubt - German snipers were trained not in schools, but directly in the troops. Many generally believe that Koenig was invented by the writer William Craig, who wrote the book “Enemy at the Gates” in 1973. However, the sight taken by Zaitsev from Koenig’s sniper rifle was exhibited in the Central Museum Armed Forces. in Moscow, which, however, was removed from the exhibition some time ago.

Most likely, Koenig was simply a good sniper and was among those 11 snipers who were killed by Vasily Zaitsev, and inflating the importance of his person has only the goal of making the average person think that the Germans also had ace snipers.

Mosin sniper rifle

SVT with sniper scope

Lyudmila Pavlichenko is the most successful female sniper, having killed 309 enemies.

The most effective of our snipers was the foreman from the 1st battalion of the 39th rifle regiment of the 4th rifle division of the 12th army, Mikhail Ilyich Surkov. Of the female snipers, the most effective was a sniper from the 54th Infantry Regiment of the 25th Chapaev Rifle Division, Lyudmila Mikhailovna Pavlichenko. Among the best snipers there were many hunters who had been involved in hunting since childhood. The hunters were Vasily Zaitsev, Yakut sniper Fyodor Matveevich Okhlopkov and Mikhail Surkov. Evenki snipers Semyon Danilovich also became famous.

Interesting fact: from January 18 to January 28, 1943, a rally of NKVD snipers from all fronts was held in Moscow. 309 people took part in its work. After a four-day instructor-methodological seminar, combat training took place. During it, a combined battalion of snipers from the rally participants destroyed 2,375 Wehrmacht troops in ten days.

Among the German snipers, Matthias Hetzenauer distinguished himself - 345 confirmed killed, Joseph Allerberger - 257 confirmed killed, and the Lithuanian Bruno Sutkus, who fought for the Germans, - 209 killed. The Finn Simo Häyhä also became famous, to whom 504 Red Army soldiers were killed, of which 219 were documented.

List of the most successful Soviet snipers

Full Name	Number of enemies destroyed	Notes
Surkov Mikhail Ilyich		4th SD, 12th Army.
Salbiev Vladimir Gavrilovich		(71 GvSD and 95 GvSD) by 12/20/1944
Kvachantiradze Vasily Shalvovich		GSS dated March 24, 1945.
Sidorenko Ivan Mikhailovich		GSS dated June 4, 1944.
Ilyin Nikolay Yakovlevich		GSS dated 02/08/1943. Died on August 4, 1943.
Kulbertinov Ivan Nikolaevich		Died in 1993.
Pchelintsev Vladimir Nikolaevich	456 (including 14 snipers)	GSS dated February 6, 1942.
Goncharov Pyotr Alekseevich		GSS dated January 10, 1944. Died on January 30, 1944.
Budenkov Mikhail Ivanovich		GSS dated March 24, 1945.
Renskov Ivan Mikhailovich		Data requires clarification
Okhlopkov Fedor Matveevich		GSS dated May 6, 1965.
Dyachenko Fedor Trofimovich		GSS dated February 21, 1944.
Petrenko Stepan Vasilievich	422 (including 12 snipers)	GSS dated March 24, 1945.
	422 (including 70 snipers)	Died on August 16, 1943. GSS dated October 26, 1943.
Galushkin Nikolay Ivanovich	418 (including 17 snipers)	GRF dated June 21, 1995.
Gordienko Afanasy Emelyanovich		Died in 1943.
Abdybekov Tuleugali Nasyrkhanovich		Died of wounds on February 23, 1944.
Kharchenko Fedor Alekseevich		Died on January 23, 1944. GSS dated May 6, 1965.
Nomokonov Semyon Danilovich		Including one general and 8 Japanese.
Medvedev Viktor Ivanovich		GSS dated February 22, 1944.
Velichko Gennady Iosifovich		According to other data - 330. GSS dated October 26, 1943.
Antonov Ivan Petrovich	352 (including 20 snipers)	GSS dated February 22, 1943.
Belousov Mikhail Ignatievich		GSS dated October 26, 1943.
Govorukhin Alexander		296th SP, 13th SD.
Idrisov Abdukhazhi		GSS dated June 3, 1944.
Rubakho Philipp Yakovlevich		Died of wounds on September 14, 1943. GSS dated January 22, 1944.
Larkin Ivan Ivanovich		GSS dated January 15, 1944.
Markin Ivan I.		1183rd SP, 356th SD
Gorelikov Ivan Pavlovich	at least 338	GSS dated April 28, 1943.
Grigoriev Ilya Leonovich	328 (including 18 snipers)	GSS dated July 15, 1944.
Butkevich Leonid Vladimirovich		According to some sources - 345. GSS dated October 25, 1943.
Nikolaev Evgeniy Adrianovich		14th SP, 21st SD NKVD
Ivasik Mikhail Adamovich		Died on August 18, 1944. GSS dated March 24, 1945.
Tulaev Zhambyl Evshcheevich	313 (including 30 snipers)	GSS dated February 14, 1943.
Lebedev Alexander Pavlovich		Died on August 14, 1943. GSS dated June 4, 1944.
Titov Vasily Alexandrovich		301st Special Operations Division of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet.
Dobrik Ivan Timofeevich		14th SP, 21st SD NKVD.
Usik Moisey Timofeevich	not less than 300	GSS dated October 17, 1943. Died on January 8, 1944.
Adamiya Noy Petrovich		Died in July 1942. GSS dated July 24, 1942.
Vedernikov Nikolay Stepanovich	about 300 (including machine gun)	GSS dated June 27, 1945.
Bryksin Maxim Semyonovich		726th SP, 395th SD.
Abdulov Ivan Filippovich	298 (including 5 snipers)	Died on March 11, 1943. GSS dated October 26, 1943.
Reznichenko Fedor		Leningrad Front.
Ostafeychuk Ivan
Smetnev Yakov Mikhailovich		GSS dated March 24, 1945.
		Died on April 30, 1945. GSS dated May 15, 1946.
Passar Maxim Alexandrovich		71st Guards SD. Died on January 17, 1943.
Dorzhiev Tsyrendashi		202nd SD, North-Western Front. Died in January 1943.
Chekhov Anatoly Ivanovich		39th GvSP, 13th GvSD, 62nd Army.
Kashitsin? ?		296th SP, 13th SD. Leningrad Front.
Sokhin Mikhail Stepanovich		GSS dated September 13, 1944.
Shorets Pavel		There are no exact data.
Akhmetyanov Akhat		Leningrad Front.
Chegodaev Fedor Kuzmich		By May 1942. GSS dated July 21, 1942.
Bocharov Ivan Ivanovich		GSS dated June 3, 1944.
Palmin Nikolay V.
Zaitsev Vasily Grigorievich	242 (including 11 snipers)	GSS dated February 22, 1943.
News Simanchuk Grigory Mikhailovich
Petrov Egor Konstantinovich		1100th SP, 327th SD, 2nd Shock Army. Died in 1944.
Suleimenov Ibragim	at least 239	8th Guards Infantry Division, 3rd Shock Army. Died in October 1943.
Strebkov Dmitry Ivanovich
Zeynutdinov Kalimulla	at least 226
Doev David Teboevich	226 (including 3 snipers)	Died on November 12, 1943. GSS dated May 16, 1944.
Golichenkov Pyotr Ivanovich	225 (including 23 snipers)	According to other data - 248. GSS dated February 6, 1942.
fighter nicknamed "Zhigan"		In the battles for Stalingrad.
Danilov V.I.		By August 1943. 32nd Army, Karelian Front.
Mironov Mikhail Yakovlevich		GSS dated February 21, 1944.
Sorikov Mikhail Elevich	not less than 220	39th SP, 4th SD.
Nikitin Nikolay V.		Leningrad Front.
Semenov Nikolay Fedorovich		169th SP, 86th SD, 2nd Infantry Army. Senior sergeant, for the period from 08/29/41 to 06/10/43. In addition, he trained and mentored 94 more snipers, who killed more than 580 Germans.
Naimushin Ivan Grigorievich
Shabanov Pavel		Leningrad Front.
Galimov Vahit Gazizovich		Died on September 28, 1943. GSS dated February 22, 1944.
	at least 207
Pupkov Alexey		182nd SD, 27th and 34th armies.
Lebedev Ivan		61st Army, Bryansk Front.
Talalaev Vasily Ivanovich		Died on April 22, 1945. GSS dated May 31, 1945.
Atnagulov Fakhretdin
Afanasiev Nikifor Samsonovich		GSS dated June 3, 1944.
Petrov Vasily		Sailor of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet, died.
Kochubey? ?		187th SP, 72nd SD, 55th Army.
Komaritsky Vasily Mikhailovich	not less than 200	1183rd SP, 356th SD.
News Rataev Vasily Semenovich		By September 20, 1942. Died on August 1, 1944.
Krasnov Vladimir Nikiforovich		Died on October 7, 1943.
Tkachev Ivan Terentievich		21st Guards Rifle Division, 3rd Shock Army.
Surin F. G.		CBS 2nd and 3rd degree.
Kurka Vasily Timofeevich		Died in January 1945.
Maryasov? ?		309th SD, Voronezh Front.
Kozlenkov Anatoly Vladimirovich		483rd GvSP, 118th GvSD.
Ukhinov Dorji		188th SD, 27th Army.
Amaev Makhmud Mutievich		87th GvSP, 29th GvSD. Died on February 22, 1943.
Vilhelms Janis Voldemarovich		GSS dated July 21, 1942.
Sinyavin? ?
Abbasov Mamed-Ali		By the end of 1943. 63rd KBMP Northern Fleet
Khandogin Gavriil Nikiforovich		622nd SP, 250th SD and 674th SP, 150th SD.
Denisenko Stepan Petrovich		1128th SP, 336th SD. CBS of all 3 degrees.
Zhizhin Alexey Mikhailovich		961st SP, 274th SD, 36th SK. Died in May 1945.
Bogdanov Pyotr Afanasyevich
		Autumn 1942, 83rd Guards Rifle Division.
Istichkin F.		By May 1943. 266th SD.
Rakhmatullin Zagid Kalievich		14th SP, 21st SD NKVD.
Kazakov Viktor Sergeevich		68th ICBM, 8th GvMK.
Zvyagintsev Matvey		Leningrad Front. Died on January 19, 1944.
Konovalov T.
Brezgin Ivan Stepanovich
Kilya Zakhar		182nd SD, 27th Army.
Borisov Gury
Students? ?		By November 1942. In the battles for Stalingrad.
Gorbatenko Nikolay	at least 168	Karelian Front.
Slipko Peter		By July 1943. 1133rd SP, 339th SD, 56th Army.
Akimov A.		By May 1943. 266th SD.
Gostyukhin Andrey		Leningrad Front.
Khuzhmatov Khait		By December 1942.
Yakunin Stepan		By June 1943. 311th Infantry Regiment
Lepsky Nikolai Petrovich		106th Border Regiment of the NKVD.
Samsonov Nikolay	at least 162	353rd SD, 18th Army.
Murai Grigory Efimovich		508th SP, 174th SD. CBS of all 3 degrees.
Proshagin Vasily Alekseevich		92nd SD, Leningrad Front.
Bondarenko Timofey
(or – Trofim) Gerasimovich	no less than 156	By June 1944. 3rd Shock Army.
Kalinin Alexander Andreevich	155 (or 115)	GSS dated February 6, 1942.
Chechikov Dmitry Iosifovich	no less than 154	By April 1943. 34th SD, 28th Army, Southern Front.
Kuritsyn? ?	At least 153	55th Army, Leningrad Front
Savchenko Grigory P.		1st Shock Army, North-Western Front.
Kurbanov Alexey Abdurakhmanovich		282nd GvSP, 92nd GvSD. GSS dated February 22, 1944.
Sofronov Pyotr Nikolaevich
Biryukov? ?	not less than 150	91st Border Regiment.
Vazherkin Ivan Vasilievich		GSS dated January 15, 1944.
Belyakov Pyotr Alekseevich
Tishchenko I.
Merkulov Ivan Petrovich		GSS dated March 19, 1944.
Izegov Ivan Romanovich		until June 1942 60th rifle regiment
Kopylov Mikhail		By the end of the summer of 1942. 158th SD.
Maksimov? ?	at least 142	44th GvSP, 15th GvSD.
Trusov Alexey Ivanovich		108th Border Regiment of the NKVD.
Gannochka Mikhail G.
Ostudin Nikolay Nikolaevich		296th SP, 13th SD.
Romanov? ?		By the spring of 1943.
Vezhlivtsev Ivan Dmitrievich		GSS dated February 6, 1942.
Loginov? ?		81st GvSP, 25th GvSD,
Voronezh Front.
Kalimbet Sergey Pavlovich		33rd SME of the NKVD Troops.
Chkhediani Pavel Erastovich
Aliev Said Davydovich	not less than 130	10th Guards Infantry Division. GSS dated February 22, 1943.
Klimovsky? ?		By October 1943. 32nd Army, Karelian Front.
Dmitrenko Vladimir Nesterovich	not less than 130	8th Guards Brigade.
Gaponov Grigory Semenovich		GSS dated March 24, 1945.
Mironov Alexey Afanasyevich		Died on March 30, 1945. GSS dated May 5, 1990.
Pereberin Boris
Osmanaliev Ashirali
Vengerov I. P.		309th SD, Voronezh Front.
Savelyev V. G.		Leningrad Front.
Vyuzhin Georgy	no less than 127	143rd SP, Leningrad Front.
Osipov V.I.		Resident of the mountains Rybinsk.
Voznov Nikolay M.		By October 1942. 1st Shock Army, North-Western Front.
Minchenkov Mikhey Mitrofanovich
Timofeev? ?		7th BMP, Leningrad Front.
Ukhov Fedor		Volkhov Front.
Smolyachkov Feodosius Artemovich		Died on January 15, 1942. GSS dated February 6, 1942.
Zhambora Sh.
Zalesskikh Nikolay		Leningrad Front.
Koleynikov I. P.		13th joint venture of the NKVD troops.
Rakhmatulin Zagid Kalievich		14th KSP NKVD, 21st SD.
Lapa Yakov	at least 124
Denisenko Ivan Anastasevich	at least 124	187th SP, 72nd SD, 55th Army.
Seliverstov Ivan Timofeevich
News Sedashkin Alexander Nikolaevich		By June 10, 1942.
Gulyaev Dmitry Alekseevich		110th SD, 33rd Army. Died on September 10, 1943.
Shelomintsev S. ?		32nd Army, Karelian Front.
Zhuchenko E.		By May 1943. 266th SD
Ivanov Leonid Vasilievich
News Tsuzhba Mikhail Sharipovich
Tarasenko? ?	at least 118	By the beginning of 1942. Leningrad Front.
Kazankin R. T.	at least 118
Isakov Grigory Mikhailovich	at least 118	Killed near Leningrad
Morozov? ?
Loskutov Stepan Petrovich		GSS dated February 6, 1942.
Grebenyuk? ?	at least 116
Dorokhin Peter	at least 116	687th SP, 141st SD. 40th Army. Voronezh Front.
Fedorov Georgy Konstantinovich
Rose Janis Janovich		123rd GvSP, 43rd GvSD, 10th Army.
	at least 114
Adilov Teshaboy		65th SP, 43rd SD, 55th Army.
Kochegarov Alexey Fedorovich
Shevelev Alexander Evstafievich		By March 1942. 311th SD.
Karasev? ?	at least 112
Proskurin Vasily
Klochkin Ilya Gershevich	at least 111	101st SP, 4th SD.
Savitsky P.		By May 1943. 266th SD
Fedorov Ignat	not less than 110
Mironov Vasily
Seferbekov Abdulla		Died on March 5, 1943.
	no less than 109
Kuchmenko Grigory Imkhonovich	no less than 109	In the battles on Malaya Zemlya.
Voitenko? ?	no less than 108
Bugay Ivan Pavlovich
Kuksenok Vladimir
Abbasov Balaoglan		Died on November 19, 1942.
Nishchev Joseph Ilyich		CBS of all 3 degrees.
	not less than 105	961st SP, 274th SD, 36th SK.
Yakovlev Fedor Vasilievich
Kiselev Ivan Alekseevich		Border troops of the NKVD.
Andersen? ?		By June 1943. 1st Shock Army, North-Western Front.
Sanzheev Togon		Died in June 1942.
Midov Nazir		35th GvSP, 10th GvSD, 14th Army.
Shubin Alexey Alexandrovich		14th SP NKVD, 21st SD. Died on January 31, 1942.
Neskuba Ivan Sidorovich		Border troops of the NKVD.
Prusov Alexey		By October 1942. Transcaucasian front.
Zhumagulov Akhmet	at least 101	By the summer of 1943. 8th Guards Infantry Division, 3rd Shock Army.
Gromov Nikolay		Died in November 1942.
Sheltenov Zamit
Koishibaev Galim		1280th SP, 391st SD, 1st Shock Army.
Pilyushin Iosif Iosifovich		105th SP; 14th joint venture of the 21st SD of the NKVD; 602nd SP 109th SD NKVD.
Vasiliev Vasily Ivanovich		Possibly – Sergei Vasiliev. 7th BMP Black Sea Fleet.
Inashvili Dursun		Died in December 1942.
Boltyrev Alexey Alekseevich
Boltyrev G. B.
Melnikov? ?		Perhaps this is A.I. Melnikov.
Syzdykbekov Akmukan		55th Army, Leningrad Front.
Kostin Alexander,
Kravtsov Mikhail		220th Infantry Division.
Abdulaev, Kurashvili, Zhadov,
Vinogradov, Tsaritsyn, Lisin,
Zaitsev, Khasanov, Latokin.		182nd SD, 27th and 34th armies.
Esirkeev Juman		CBS 3rd degree.
Rusakov Alexey		CBS 3rd degree.
Sumchenko Grigory Tikhonovich	not less than 100	In the battles on Malaya Zemlya.
	not less than 100	296th SP, 13th SD.
Smirnov? ?	not less than 100	296th SP, 13th SD.
Tonkikh F.I.	not less than 100	By October 1943. 32nd Army, Karelian Front.
Spirin Mikhail?	not less than 100	110th SD, 33rd Army.
Saltykov Ivan Ivanovich	not less than 100	296th SP, 13th SD.
Vdovichenko? ?	not less than 100	296th SP, 13th SD.
Kharlamov? ?	not less than 100	296th SP, 13th SD.
Rat Mikhail.		353rd SD, 18th Army
		18th Army
Rajapov Tajibay		127th Border Regiment of the NKVD.
Bondarenko Pyotr Emelyanovich		By March 1942. 502nd SP, 177th SD.
Eraliev Akhmet
Rumyantsev? ?	no less than 98	210th GvSP, 71st GvSD.
Dergilev Egor Ivanovich		GSS dated October 17, 1943.
Musaev Abdulla		515th SP, 134th SD. CBS of all 3 degrees.
Mitrofanov? ?		159th SD, 45th SK, 5th Army, 3rd Belorussian Front.
Gagin Alexey Ivanovich
Yudin K. N.	at least 94	687th SP, 141st SD, 40th Army, Voronezh Front.
Morozov Mikhail
Karpachev Semyon Ermolaevich	at least 93	In the battles on Malaya Zemlya.
Avramenko G. T.	at least 92
Chebotarev I.		By May 1943. 266th SD.
Barbeyev? ?	at least 92
Vezberdev? ?		By October 1942. 83rd Guards Infantry Division.
Esirkeev Juman	at least 90 (including 12 snipers)	5th Army.
Sumarokov Boris	at least 89	Leningrad Front.
Kazaryan Sergo Avedovich		14th SP, 21st SD NKVD.
Shvets Sidor Ivanovich		13th joint venture of the NKVD troops.
Petrashin Georgy Ivanovich		103rd Border Regiment of the NKVD.
Zhulaev Ivan Ivanovich		1st GvSP, 2nd GvSD. CBS of all 3 degrees.
Vdovchenko Grigory Gavrilovich		By February 1942
296-SP, 13th SD.
Krivokon Fedor Ivanovich		Including 14 Japanese.
	not less than 85	Sergeant of the 1298th SP.
Boltarev German Isaakovich	not less than 85	382nd SP, 84th SD.
Suchkov Nikolay D.		25th Chapaevskaya SD.
Muchaev? ?
Cheremisov V.		By May 1943. 266th SD.
Akhmedyanov Akhat – Abdul Khakovich		By October 1942. 260th SP, 168th SD...
Budylin Ivan Fedorovich		By December 1943. 610th SP, 203rd SD.
Polyakov? ?		25th Guards Infantry Division, Voronezh Front.
Egorov Mikhail Ivanovich		By January 18, 1942, 125th SD.
		3rd OBMA KBF.
Yablonsky Nikolai Stanislavovich		106th Border Regiment of the NKVD.
Ishmatov Gaumzin	at least 81
Khalin Andrey Timofeevich	at least 81	In the battles on Malaya Zemlya.
Shaposhnikov Ivan
Slobodyanyuk Alexey Mikhailovich		104th Border Regiment of the NKVD.
Minchenkov Mikhey Mitrofanovich		CBS of all 3 degrees.
Petrunin Dmitry Sergeevich		83rd Border Regiment of the NKVD. CBS of all 3 degrees.
Popov Timofey Lavrentievich	not less than 80	309th SD, Voronezh Front. Died in 1944.
	at least 79
Moldagulova Aliya Nurmukhambetovna		(54th brigade) died 01/14/1944
		25th Guards Infantry Division, Voronezh Front.
Burmistrov Ivan Ivanovich		1247th SP, 135th SD, 59th Army. Died 09/30/1943
Dvoyashkin? ?		1047th SP, 284th SD
Shikunov Pavel Egorovich		Died on January 14, 1945.
GSS dated March 24, 1945.
Prokhorov Nikolay Vasilievich		1291st SP, 110th SD, 33rd Army.
Evstyugin (Evsyukov) ? ?		By the autumn of 1942. 1st Shock Army. North-Western Front.
Denisenko Pavel Ivanovich		by November 1942.
Yakushin Fedor Mitrofanovich		103rd Border Regiment of the NKVD.
Khatimov? ?		By October 1943. 32nd Army, Karelian Front.
Khismatulin? ?	not less than 75
Khantadze Ermolai Nesterovich	not less than 75	In the battles on Malaya Zemlya.
Bogatyr Ivan Ivanovich	not less than 75	GSS dated June 20, 1942.
Semakhin Pyotr Filatovich	not less than 75	998th SP (286th SD), 105th PP NKVD.
Zolkin Ivan Andreevich	not less than 75	1266th SP, 385th SD.
Nosov Nikolay
Budaev Dondok		188th SD, 27th Army.
Hastitulin? ?
Ivkov Alexander Vasilievich	at least 73	GSS dated March 24, 1945.
Ivashenkov Alexey Petrovich
		By December 1942.
Tyulkin? ?		25th Guards Infantry Division, Voronezh Front.
Belousov P.I.		12th Red Banner BMP.
Kotlyarov I.		By May 1943. 266th SD.
Zhukov Pyotr Yakovlevich		By November 1942.
Statuev Alexander Mikhailovich		By June 10, 1942. 374th SP, 128th SD, 8th Army, Leningrad Front.
Menagarishvili Grigory Esifovich		83rd Brigade Marine Corps. Died in February 1943.
Vorontsov N.		328th SD (31st Guards Infantry Division).
Sidorov? ?	not less than 70	In the battles for Stalingrad.
Dubrovin A. I.		3rd Shock Army.
Mamedov I. M.		1st Shock Army, North-Western Front.
Sherstyuk Fedor Semyonovich	at least 68	44th GvSP, 15th GvSD. CBS of all 3 degrees.
		By May 1943. 266th SD.
Khalikov? ?		By the spring of 1943.
Khudobin Viktor Ivanovich		148th GvSP, 50th GvSD.
Adrov Alexey V.	at least 66
		33rd SME of the NKVD Troops.
Salbiev V. G.	not less than 65
Khromov Pavel	not less than 65	Died in June 1943.
Maltsev? ?	not less than 65	In 1943.
Zhakeev Malgazhdar	not less than 65	1138th SP, 338th SD. Died on March 8, 1943.
Myreev Egor Ivanovich		Died in 1942. 213th SP, 56th SD.
Afanasiev? ?		110th SD, 33rd Army.
Vasiliev Nikolay Pavlovich		104th Border Regiment of the NKVD.
Kokshibaev Galim		By October 1942,
including hand-to-hand combat.
Frolov Alexander Ivanovich	at least 63
Radin I. I.	at least 63
Lyakin I. I.	at least 63
Blades? ?		By May 1943. 266th SD.
Bespalov I. M.	at least 62	687th SP, 141st SD, 40th Army. Voronezh Front.
Savchenko Mikhail Fedorovich		194th SP, 162nd SD. CBS of all 3 degrees.
Kashurny S.P.	at least 61	687th SP, 141st SD. 40th Army, Voronezh Front.
Ivanov Alexander	at least 61
Chebotarev Vasily Mikhailovich		Died on June 27, 1944. GSS dated June 29, 1945.
Pospelov Vasily Efimovich		16 joint ventures of the NKVD; 1 tank from PTR.
Eremeev Timofey	not less than 60	In the summer of 1941 in the battles for Kyiv.
Erzhanov Anorbay	not less than 60	by the autumn of 1942.
Novitsky? ?		By December 1942.
Zavyalov? ?		By October 1943. 32nd Army, Karelian Front.
Sobyanin Gabriel Epifanovich		201st SP, 48th SD. Died on December 23, 1944. GSS dated June 29, 1945.
Kopshibaev Galim		By October 1942. 1st Shock Army, North-Western Front.
Sergienkov Dmitry Grigorievich		GSS dated June 27, 1945.
Kunakbaev I. A.		12th Red Banner BMP.
	at least 58
Dzhababarov? ?	at least 58
Miglabilashvili? ?	at least 58	83rd Red Banner BMP.
		1047th SP, 284th SD.
Gordeev I. V.		By November 1942.
Poznov Ya.		By May 1943. 266th SD.
News Zibrov Alexey Ivanovich		By February 3, 1942. 13th SD, 42nd Army, Leningrad Front.
Musoev Abdullo		1077th SP, 316th SD, 38th Army. CBS of all 3 degrees.
Bayan N.K.	at least 57
Levkin Andrey (Ivan?)		456th NKVD Regiment, 109th SD. Died near Sevastopol.
Gryaznov P.
Larionov? ?		By August 1942. 187th SP, 72nd SD, 42nd Army.
Bulavsky Pyotr Petrovich		Died 12/21/1941
296th SP, 13th SD.
Zhuravlev Vasily Mikhailovich	at least 56	In the battles on Malaya Zemlya.
Khojaev Shaban
Nomokonov Vladimir Semenovich		Son of S. D. Nomokonov.
Govzman Tselekh Iosifovich	at least 55	93rd SP, 76th SD.
Vodopyanov Yankel Iosifovich	at least 55	3rd OSB, 16th OSB.
Nechaev P. ?		By October 1943. 32nd Army, Karelian Front.
Kalendarov A.		By May 1943. 266th SD.
Isakov Stepan Ivanovich	at least 54	105th PP NKVD.
Gilman Leonid Fayvelevich	at least 54	318th SP, 241st SD.
Pavlenko Joseph Dmitrievich	at least 54	GSS dated January 15, 1944.
Kolesnikov Ivan Fedorovich	at least 53	In the battles on Malaya Zemlya.
Larionov Mikhail Kharitonovich	at least 53	In the battles on Malaya Zemlya.
Zakutkin Ivan Vasilievich		296-SP, 13th SD. Died on December 21, 1941.
Nikolaev? ?		By August 1942. 187th SP, 72nd SD, 42nd Army.
Maksimov Grigory	at least 52	In the battles on the Kursk Bulge.
Denisenko Pyotr Gerasimovich	at least 52	Leningrad Front
Moskovsky Boris Ivanovich		1095th SP, 324th SD.
News Karpov Ivan Dmitrievich		By February 1942. 14th SP NKVD, 21st SD.
Mashtakov Gabriel Egorovich		By 02/15/1942. 14th SP NKVD, 21st SD.
Strishchenko Viktor Mikhailovich	at least 51	105th PP NKVD.
Korovkin? ?	at least 51	961st SP, 274th SD, 36th SK.
Chudinov L. G.		12th Red Banner BMP
Kulikov? ?		1047th SP, 284th SD.
Volkov Vsevolod Alekseevich		By January 27, 1942. 3rd OSPMP.
Fomenko Yuri
Rud Stepan		961st SP, 274th SD, 36th SK. Died in July 1944.
Golovachev Grigory Vasilievich		961st SP, 274th SD, 36th SK.
Krasitsky Georgy		For 18 days of fighting at Stalingrad.
Dyatlov Peter		2nd DNO (85th SD).
Sharapov P.K.
Sanin Nikolay		21st Guards Rifle Division, 3rd Shock Army;
Kizirov Konstantin Panastovich		25th Border Regiment. CBS of all 3 degrees.
Fedchenkov Egor Egorovich		473rd SP, 154th SD. CBS of all 3 degrees.
Solovyov Ivan Alexandrovich		273rd SP (104th SD), 318-SP (102nd Guards Infantry Division). CBS of all 3 degrees.
Pronkin Ivan Timofeevich		255th SP, 123rd SD, Karelian Front.
Zaitsev Ivan Grigorievich		515-SP, 134th SD. CBS of all 3 degrees.
Gerasimov? ?	at least 50	299th SD. He died in the fall of 1942 near Stalingrad.
Utoplennikov Pavel Mitrofanovich	at least 50	796th SP, 141st SD, 40th Army, Voronezh Front.
Nusupbaev Abil	at least 50	By the autumn of 1942.
Petrykin Ivan Semenovich		105th Border Regiment of the NKVD For 1943
Zalavsky? ?

Many soldiers and officers of the Red Army became heroes of the Great Patriotic War. It is perhaps difficult to single out military specialties that would be especially prominent when awarding military awards. Among famous Heroes Soviet Union there are sappers, tank crews, pilots, sailors, infantrymen and military doctors.

But I would like to highlight one military specialty, which occupies a special place in the category of feat. These are snipers.

A sniper is a specially trained soldier who is fluent in the art of marksmanship, camouflage and observation, hitting targets with the first shot. Its task is to defeat command and communications personnel and destroy camouflaged single targets.

At the front, when special military units (companies, regiments, divisions) act against the enemy, the sniper is an independent combat unit.

We will tell you about the sniper heroes who made a significant contribution to the common cause of victory. You can read about women snipers who participated in the Great Patriotic War in ours.

1. Passar Maxim Alexandrovich (08/30/1923 - 01/22/1943)

A participant in the Great Patriotic War, a Soviet sniper, killed 237 enemy soldiers and officers during the fighting. Most of the enemies were eliminated by him during Battle of Stalingrad. For the destruction of Passar German command offered a reward of 100 thousand Reichsmarks. Hero Russian Federation(posthumously).

2. Surkov Mikhail Ilyich (1921-1953)

Participant of the Great Patriotic War, sniper of the 1st battalion of the 39th rifle regiment of the 4th rifle division of the 12th army, sergeant major, holder of the Order of Lenin and the Order of the Red Star.

3. Natalya Venediktovna Kovshova (11/26/1920 - 08/14/1942)

Participant in the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union.

On the personal account of sniper Kovshova there are 167 killed fascist soldiers and officers. During her service, she trained soldiers in marksmanship. August 14, 1942 near the village of Sutoki Novgorod region died in an unequal battle with the Nazis.

4. Tulaev Zhambyl Yesheevich (02(15/05/1905 - 17/01/1961)

Participant of the Great Patriotic War. Hero of the Soviet Union.

Sniper of the 580th Infantry Regiment of the 188th Infantry Division of the 27th Army of the North-Western Front. Sergeant Major Zhambyl Tulaev destroyed 262 Nazis from May to November 1942. Trained more than 30 snipers for the front.

5. Sidorenko Ivan Mikhailovich (09/12/1919 - 02/19/1994)

The assistant chief of staff of the 1122nd Infantry Regiment, Captain Ivan Sidorenko, distinguished himself as the organizer of the sniper movement. By 1944, he personally killed about 500 Nazis with a sniper rifle.

Ivan Sidorenko trained more than 250 snipers for the front, most of whom were awarded orders and medals.

6. Okhlopkov Fedor Matveevich (03/02/1908 - 05/28/1968)

Participant of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union.

By June 23, 1944, Sergeant Okhlopkov killed 429 Nazi soldiers and officers with a sniper rifle. Was wounded 12 times. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin were awarded only in 1965.

7. Moldagulova Aliya Nurmukhambetovna (25.10.1925 - 14.01.1944)

Participant in the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union (posthumously), corporal.

Sniper of the 54th separate rifle brigade 22nd Army of the 2nd Baltic Front. Corporal Moldagulova destroyed several dozen enemies in the first 2 months of participation in battles. On January 14, 1944, she took part in the battle for the village of Kazachikha, Pskov Region, and led the soldiers into the attack. Having broken into the enemy’s defenses, she destroyed several soldiers and officers with a machine gun. She died in this battle.

8. Budenkov Mikhail Ivanovich (05.12.1919 - 02.08.1995)

Participant of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union, senior lieutenant.

By September 1944, Guard Senior Sergeant Mikhail Budenkov was a sniper in the 59th Guards Rifle Regiment of the 21st Guards Rifle Division of the 3rd Shock Army of the 2nd Baltic Front. By that time, he had 437 enemy soldiers and officers killed by sniper fire. He entered the top ten best snipers of the Great Patriotic War.

9. Etobaev Arseny Mikhailovich (09/15/1903- 1987)

Participant in the Great Patriotic War, the Civil War of 1917-1922 and the conflict on the Chinese Eastern Railway in 1929. Knight of the Order of Lenin and the Order of the Red Star, full holder of the Order of the Patriotic War.

The sniper killed 356 German invaders and shot down two planes.

10. Salbiev Vladimir Gavrilovich (1916- 1996)

Participant of the Great Patriotic War, twice holder of the Order of the Red Banner and the Order of the Patriotic War, II degree.

Salbiev's sniper account includes 601 killed enemy soldiers and officers.

11. Pchelintsev Vladimir Nikolaevich (30.08.1919- 27.07.1997)

Participant of the Great Patriotic War, sniper of the 11th Infantry Brigade of the 8th Army of the Leningrad Front, Hero of the Soviet Union, sergeant.

One of the most successful snipers of World War II. Destroyed 456 enemy soldiers, non-commissioned officers and officers.

12. Kvachantiradze Vasily Shalvovich (1907- 1950)

Participant of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union, sergeant major.

Sniper of the 259th Infantry Regiment of the 179th Infantry Division of the 43rd Army of the 1st Baltic Front.

One of the most successful snipers of the Great Patriotic War. Destroyed 534 enemy soldiers and officers.

13. Goncharov Pyotr Alekseevich (01/15/1903- 31.01.1944)

Participant of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union, Guard Senior Sergeant.

He has more than 380 killed enemy soldiers and officers as a sniper. He died on January 31, 1944 while breaking through enemy defenses near the village of Vodyanoye.

14. Galushkin Nikolai Ivanovich (07/01/1917- 22.01.2007)

Participant of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Russian Federation, lieutenant.

Served in the 49th Infantry Regiment of the 50th Infantry Division. According to available information, he destroyed 418 German soldiers and officers, including 17 snipers, and also trained 148 soldiers in sniper work. After the war he was active in military-patriotic work.

Participant of the Great Patriotic War, commander of the sniper company of the 81st Guards Rifle Regiment, guard lieutenant.

By the end of June 1943, already the commander of a sniper company, Golosov personally destroyed about 420 Nazis, including 70 snipers. In his company, he trained 170 snipers, who in total destroyed more than 3,500 fascists.

He died on August 16, 1943 at the height of the battles for the village of Dolgenkoye, Izyum district, Kharkov region.

16. Nomokonov Semyon Danilovich (08/12/1900 - 07/15/1973)

Participant of the Great Patriotic War and Soviet-Japanese War, twice holder of the Order of the Red Star, Order of Lenin, Order of the Red Banner.

During the Great Patriotic War, he destroyed 360 German soldiers and officers, including one major general. During the Soviet-Japanese War, he destroyed 8 soldiers and officers of the Kwantung Army. The total confirmed count is 368 enemy soldiers and officers.

17. Ilyin Nikolai Yakovlevich (1922 - 08/04/1943)

Participant of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union, sergeant major, deputy political instructor.

In total, the sniper had 494 killed enemies. On August 4, 1943, in a battle near the village of Yastrebovo, Nikolai Ilyin was killed by machine gun fire.

18. Antonov Ivan Petrovich (07/07/1920 - 03/22/1989)

Participant of the Great Patriotic War, shooter of the 160th separate rifle company of the Leningrad naval base Baltic Fleet, Red Navy man, Hero of the Soviet Union.

Ivan Antonov became one of the founders of the sniper movement in the Baltic.

From December 28, 1941 to November 10, 1942, he destroyed 302 Nazis and trained 80 snipers in the art of accurate shooting at the enemy.

19. Dyachenko Fedor Trofimovich (06/16/1917 - 08/08/1995)

Participant of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union, major.

By February 1944, Dyachenko had destroyed 425 enemy soldiers and officers with sniper fire, including several snipers.

20. Idrisov Abukhadzhi (Abukhazhi) (05/17/1918- 22.10.1983)

Participant of the Great Patriotic War, sniper of the 1232nd Infantry Regiment of the 370th Infantry Division, senior sergeant, Hero of the Soviet Union.

By March 1944, he already had 349 fascists killed, and he was nominated for the title of Hero. In one of the battles in April 1944, Idrisov was wounded by a fragment of a mine that exploded nearby and was covered with earth. His comrades dug him up and sent him to the hospital.

The podium in the sniper art of the great war is unconditionally occupied by Soviet shooters

In contact with

Classmates

Sergey Antonov

The best snipers of World War II. Fedor Okhlopkov and Vasily Kvachantiradze. Source: wio.ru

World War II snipers were almost exclusively Soviet soldiers. After all, only in the USSR in pre-war years shooting training was virtually universal, and since the 1930s there have been special sniper schools. So it is not surprising that in both the top ten and twenty best shooters of that war there is only one foreign name- Finnish Simo Häyhä.

The top ten Russian snipers have 4,200 confirmed enemy fighters, the top twenty have 7,400. The best shooters of the USSR have more than 500 killed each, while the most productive sniper of the Second World War among the Germans has a count of only 345 targets. But real sniper accounts are actually higher than confirmed ones - about two to three times!

It is also worth recalling that the USSR is the only country in the world! - Not only men, but also women fought as snipers. In 1943, there were more than a thousand female snipers in the Red Army, who killed a total of more than 12,000 fascists during the war. Here are the three most productive: Lyudmila Pavlichenko - 309 enemies, Olga Vasilyeva - 185 enemies, Natalya Kovshova - 167 enemies. According to these indicators, Soviet women left behind most of the best snipers among their opponents.

Mikhail Surkov - 702 enemy soldiers and officers

Surprisingly, but true: despite the largest number of defeats, Surkov was never awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, although he was nominated for it. The unprecedented score of the most successful sniper of the Second World War has been questioned more than once, but all defeats have been documented, as required by the rules in force in the Red Army. Sergeant Major Surkov actually killed at least 702 fascists, and taking into account the possible difference between real and confirmed defeats, the count could go into the thousands! Mikhail Surkov's amazing accuracy and amazing ability to track down his opponents for a long time, apparently, can be explained simply: before being drafted into the army, he worked as a hunter in the taiga in his homeland - in the Krasnoyarsk Territory.

Vasily Kvachantiradze - 534 enemy soldiers and officers

Sergeant Major Kvachantiradze fought from the first days: in his personal file it is especially noted that he was a participant in the Great Patriotic War since June 1941. And he finished his service only after the victory, having gone through the entire great war no concessions. Even the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to Vasily Kvachantiradze, who killed over half a thousand enemy soldiers and officers, shortly before the end of the war, in March 1945. And the demobilized sergeant-major returned to his native Georgia as a holder of two Orders of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner, the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd degree and the Order of the Red Star.

Simo Häyhä - over 500 enemy soldiers and officers

If Finnish corporal Simo Häyhä had not been wounded by an explosive bullet in March 1940, perhaps the title of the most successful sniper of World War II would have belonged to him. The entire duration of the Finn's participation in the Winter War of 1939-40 was completed in three months - and with such a terrifying result! Perhaps this is explained by the fact that by this time the Red Army did not yet have sufficient experience in counter-sniper combat. But even taking this into account, one cannot help but admit that Häyhä was a professional of the highest class. After all, he killed most of his opponents without using special sniper devices, but by shooting from an ordinary rifle with open sights.

Ivan Sidorenko - 500 enemy soldiers and officers

He was supposed to become an artist - but he became a sniper, having already graduated military school and command a mortar company. Lieutenant Ivan Sidorenko is one of the few sniper officers on the list of the most successful shooters of the USSR during the Great Patriotic War. Despite the fact that he fought hard: in three years on the front line, from November 1941 to November 1944, Sidorenko managed to receive three serious wounds, which ultimately prevented him from studying at the military academy, where his superiors sent him. So he entered the reserve as a major - and a Hero of the Soviet Union: this title was awarded to him at the front.

Nikolay Ilyin - 494 enemy soldiers and officers

Few Soviet snipers had such an honor: to shoot from a personalized sniper rifle. Sergeant Major Ilyin earned it by becoming not only a marksman, but also one of the initiators of the sniper movement on the Stalingrad front. He already had more than a hundred killed fascists on his account when, in October 1942, his superiors handed him a rifle named after Hero of the Soviet Union Khusein Andrukhaev, an Adyghe poet and political instructor who was one of the first during the war to shout out in the face of the advancing enemies, “The Russians do not surrender!” Alas, less than a year later Ilyin himself died, and his rifle began to be called the rifle “In the Name of Heroes of the Soviet Union Kh. Andrukhaev and N. Ilyin.”

Ivan Kulbertinov - 487 enemy soldiers and officers

There were many hunters among the snipers of the Soviet Union, but there were few Yakut hunters and reindeer herders. The most famous of them was Ivan Kulbertinov, the same age as Soviet power: he was born exactly on November 7, 1917! Having arrived at the front at the very beginning of 1943, already in February he opened his personal account of killed enemies, which by the end of the war increased to almost five hundred. And although the hero-sniper’s chest was decorated with many honorary awards, he never received the highest title of Hero of the Soviet Union, although, judging by the documents, he was nominated for it twice. But in January 1945, his superiors handed him a personalized sniper rifle with the inscription “To the best sniper, senior sergeant I. N. Kulbertinov from the Military Council of the Army.”

Vladimir Pchelintsev - 456 enemy soldiers and officers

The best Soviet snipers. Vladimir Pchelintsev.

The best Soviet snipers. Vladimir Pchelintsev. Source: wio.ru

Vladimir Pchelintsev was, so to speak, a professional sniper who graduated from sniper training and received the title of master of sports in shooting a year before the war. In addition, he is one of two Soviet snipers who spent the night in the White House. This happened during a business trip to the USA, where Sergeant Pchelintsev, who had been awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union six months earlier, went in August 1942 to the International Student Assembly to tell how the USSR was fighting fascism. He was accompanied by fellow sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko and one of the heroes of the partisan struggle, Nikolai Krasavchenko.

Pyotr Goncharov - 441 enemy soldiers and officers

Pyotr Goncharov became a sniper by accident. A worker at the Stalingrad plant, at the height of the German offensive he joined the militia, from where he was taken into the regular army... as a baker. Then Goncharov rose to the rank of transport carrier, and only chance brought him to the rank of sniper, when, once on the front line, he set fire to an enemy tank with accurate shots from someone else’s weapon. And Goncharov received his first sniper rifle in November 1942 - and did not part with it until his death in January 1944. By this time, the former worker was already wearing the shoulder straps of a senior sergeant and the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, which he was awarded twenty days before his death.

Mikhail Budenkov - 437 enemy soldiers and officers

The biography of Senior Lieutenant Mikhail Budenkov is very vivid. Having retreated from Brest to Moscow and reached East Prussia, fought in a mortar crew and became a sniper, Budenkov, before being drafted into the army in 1939, managed to work as a ship mechanic on a motor ship sailing along the Moscow Canal, and as a tractor driver on his native collective farm... But his calling nevertheless made itself felt: the accurate shooting of the mortar crew commander attracted the attention of his superiors, and Budenkov became a sniper. Moreover, he was one of the best in the Red Army, for which he was eventually awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in March 1945.

Matthias Hetzenauer - 345 enemy soldiers and officers

The only German sniper in the top ten most successful snipers of the Second World War was not ranked here by the number of enemies killed. This figure leaves Corporal Hetzenauer far outside even the top twenty. But it would be wrong not to give credit to the enemy’s skill, thereby emphasizing what a great feat the Soviet snipers accomplished. Moreover, in Germany itself, Hetzenauer’s successes were called “phenomenal results of sniper warfare.” And they were not far from the truth, because the German sniper achieved his result in just less than a year, having completed sniper courses in July 1944.

In addition to the above-mentioned masters of shooting art, there were others. The list of the best Soviet snipers, and this is only those who destroyed at least 200 enemy troops, includes more than fifty people.

Nikolai Kazyuk - 446 enemy soldiers and officers

The best Soviet snipers. Nikolay Kazyuk.

The best Soviet snipers. Nikolay Kazyuk. Source: wio.ru

Fedor Okhlopkov - 429 enemy soldiers and officers

Fedor Dyachenko - 425 enemy soldiers and officers

Stepan Petrenko - 422 enemy soldiers and officers

Nikolay Galushkin - 418 enemy soldiers and officers

Afanasy Gordienko - 417 enemy soldiers and officers

Tuleugali Abdybekov - 397 enemy soldiers and officers

Semyon Nomokonov - 367 enemy soldiers and officers

Ivan Antonov - 362 enemy soldiers and officers

Gennady Velichko - 360 enemy soldiers and officers

Ivan Kalashnikov - 350 enemy soldiers and officers

Abdukhazhi Idrisov - 349 enemy soldiers and officers

Rubakho Yakovlevich - 346 enemy soldiers and officers

Leonid Butkevich - 345 enemy soldiers and officers

Ivan Larkin - 340 enemy soldiers and officers

Ivan Gorelikov - 338 enemy soldiers and officers

Arseniy Etobaev - 335 enemy soldiers and officers

Viktor Medvedev - 331 enemy soldiers and officers

Ilya Grigoriev - 328 enemy soldiers and officers

Evgeniy Nikolaev - 324 enemy soldiers and officers

Mikhail Ivasik - 320 enemy soldiers and officers

Leonid Butkevich - 315 enemy soldiers and officers

Zhambyl Tulaev - 313 enemy soldiers and officers

Lyudmila Pavlyuchenko - 309 enemy soldiers and officers

Alexander Lebedev - 307 enemy soldiers and officers

Vasily Titov - 307 enemy soldiers and officers

Ivan Dobrik - 302 enemy soldiers and officers

Moses Usik - 300 enemy soldiers and officers

Nikolay Vedernikov - 300 enemy soldiers and officers

Maxim Bryksin - 300 enemy soldiers and officers

Natalya Kovshova and Maria Polivanova - 300 enemy soldiers and officers

Ivan Abdulov - 298 enemy soldiers and officers

Ivan Ostafeychuk - 280 enemy soldiers and officers

Yakov Smetnev - 279 enemy soldiers and officers

Tsyrendashi Dorzhiev - 270 enemy soldiers and officers

Anatoly Chekhov - 265 enemy soldiers and officers

Mikhail Sokhin - 261 enemy soldiers and officers

Pavel Shorets - 261 enemy soldiers and officers

Fedor Chegodaev - 250 enemy soldiers and officers

Ivan Bocharov - 248 enemy soldiers and officers

Nikolay Palmin - 247 enemy soldiers and officers

Mikhail Belousov - 245 enemy soldiers and officers

Vasily Zaitsev - 242 enemy soldiers and officers

Liba Rugova - 242 enemy soldiers and officers

Grigory Simanchuk - 240 enemy soldiers and officers

Egor Petrov - 240 enemy soldiers and officers

Ibragim Suleimenov - 239 enemy soldiers and officers

Maxim Passar - 236 enemy soldiers and officers

Govorukhin - 234 enemy soldiers and officers

David Doev - 226 enemy soldiers and officers

Kalimulla Zeinutdinov - 226 enemy soldiers and officers

Pyotr Golichenkov - 225 enemy soldiers and officers

Nikolay Nikitin - 220 enemy soldiers and officers

Nikolay Semenov - 218 enemy soldiers and officers

Ivan Naimushin - 217 enemy soldiers and officers

Elkin - 207 enemy soldiers and officers

Galimov Gazizovich - 207 enemy soldiers and officers

Akhat Akhmetyanov - 204 enemy soldiers and officers

Noy Adamia - 200 enemy soldiers and officers

Vasily Talalaev - 200 enemy soldiers and officers

Fakhretdin Atnagulov - 200 enemy soldiers and officers

Vasily Komaritsky - 200 enemy soldiers and officers

Nikifor Afanasyev - 200 enemy soldiers and officers

Vasily Kurka - 200 enemy soldiers and officers

Vladimir Krasnov - 200 enemy soldiers and officers

Ivan Tkachev - 200 enemy soldiers and officers

Before we begin the story about the legendary snipers of the Second World War, let us briefly dwell on the very concept of “sniper” and the essence of the mysterious profession of a sniper, the history of its origin. Because without this, much of the story will remain a secret behind seven seals. Skeptics will say: “Well, what’s mysterious here?” A sniper is a sharp shooter. And they will be right. But the word “snipe” (from the English snipe) has nothing to do with shooting. This is the name of the swamp snipe - a small harmless bird with an unpredictable flight path. And only a skilled shooter can hit it in flight. That’s why snipe hunters are called “snipers.”

The use of long-barreled hunting rifles in battles for accurate shooting was recorded during civil war in England (1642 -1648). Most famous example was the murder of the commander of the Parliamentary army, Lord Brooke, in 1643. A soldier on duty on the roof of the cathedral shot at the lord when he carelessly leaned out of cover. And it hit my left eye. Such a shot, fired from a distance of 150 yards (137 m), was considered extraordinary with a normal aimed shooting range of about 80 yards (73 m).

The British Army's war with the American colonists, many of whom included hunters, exposed the vulnerability of regular troops to skilled marksmen who hit targets at twice the effective range of musket fire. This turned combat units in the intervals between battles and during movements into a target for hunting. Convoys and individual detachments suffered unexpected losses; there was no protection from fire from the hidden enemy; the enemy remained inaccessible, and in most cases simply invisible. From that time on, snipers began to be considered a separate military specialty.

By the beginning of the 19th century, shooters with rifled guns were able to hit manpower the enemy at a distance of 1200 yards (1097 m), which was an incredible achievement, but not fully realized by the military command. IN Crimean War single Englishmen using long-range guns with custom-made sights killed Russian soldiers and officers at a distance of 700 yards or more. A little later, special sniper units appeared, which showed that a small group of skilled shooters scattered throughout the area could withstand units regular army enemy. Already at this time, the British had a rule: “Do not light a cigarette with one match,” which was relevant before the advent of night sights and thermal imagers. The first English soldier lit a cigarette - the sniper noticed them. The second Englishman lit a cigarette - the sniper took the lead. And already the third received an accurate shot from the shooter.

Increasing the shooting distance revealed a significant problem for snipers: it was extremely difficult to combine the figure of a man and the front sight of a gun: for the shooter, the front sight was larger in size than the enemy soldier. At the same time, the quality indicators of the rifles already made it possible to conduct aimed fire at a distance of up to 1800 m. And only during the First World War, when the use of snipers at the front became widespread, the first optical sights appeared, almost simultaneously in the armies of Russia, Germany, Britain and Austria. Hungary. As a rule, three to five times optics were used.

The First World War was the heyday of sniper shooting, which was determined by positional, trench warfare, on thousands of kilometers of front. Huge losses from sniper fire also required significant organizational changes in the rules of warfare. The troops switched en masse to khaki uniforms, and the uniforms of junior officers lost their distinct insignia. There was also a ban on performing a military salute in combat conditions.

By the end of the first year of the war, the German troops numbered about 20 thousand snipers. Each company had 6 full-time riflemen. German snipers, in the first period trench warfare, along the entire front, the British were put out of action, several hundred people a day, which within a month gave a loss figure equal in size to an entire division. Any appearance of a British soldier outside the trench guaranteed instant death. Even wearing wristwatch posed a great danger, since the light they reflected immediately attracted the attention of German snipers. Any object or body part that remained outside cover for three seconds drew German fire. The degree of German superiority in this area was so obvious that, according to eyewitnesses, some German snipers, feeling their absolute impunity, amused themselves by shooting at all sorts of objects. Therefore, snipers were traditionally disliked by infantrymen and, when detected, were killed on the spot. Since then, there has been an unwritten tradition - do not take snipers prisoner.

The British quickly responded to the threat by creating their own sniper school and eventually completely suppressed the enemy shooters. IN British schools Canadian, Australian and South African hunters began to teach snipers, who taught not only shooting, but also the ability to remain unnoticed by the object of the hunt: camouflage, hide from the enemy and patiently guard targets. They began to use camouflage suits made of light green material and tufts of grass. English snipers developed a technique for using “sculpture models” - dummies of local objects, inside which arrows were placed. Invisible to enemy observers, they conducted visual reconnaissance of enemy forward positions, revealed the location of fire weapons and destroyed the most important targets. The British believed that having a good rifle and shooting accurately from it was not the only difference between a sniper. They believed, not without reason, that observation, brought to high degree excellence, "feeling for the terrain", insight, excellent vision and hearing, calmness, personal courage, perseverance and patience are no less important than a well-aimed shot. Impressionable or nervous man will never be able to become a good sniper.

Another axiom of sniping was established during World War I - the best antidote to a sniper is another sniper. It was during the war that sniper duels first took place.

The best sniper in those years was the Canadian Indian hunter Francis Peghmagabow, who had 378 confirmed victories. Since then, the number of victories has been considered the criterion for sniper skill.

Thus, on the fronts of the First World War, the basic principles and specific techniques of sniping were determined, which were the basis for today's training and functioning of snipers.

In the interwar period, during the war in Spain, a direction that was not typical for snipers appeared - the fight against aviation. In the units of the Republican army, sniper squads were created to combat Franco aircraft, primarily bombers, which took advantage of the Republicans’ lack of anti-aircraft artillery and bombed from low altitudes. It cannot be said that this use of snipers was effective, but 13 aircraft were still shot down. And even during World War II, cases of successful shooting at aircraft were recorded on the fronts. However, these were just cases.

Having learned the history of sniping, let's consider the essence of the sniper profession. In the modern understanding, a sniper is a specially trained soldier (an independent combat unit) who is fluent in the art of marksmanship, camouflage and observation; usually hits the target with the first shot. The sniper’s task is to defeat command and communications personnel, enemy secrets, and destroy important emerging, moving, open and camouflaged single targets (enemy snipers, officers, etc.). Sometimes marksmen in other branches of the military (forces) (artillery, aviation) are called a sniper.

In the process of “work” of snipers, a certain specificity of activity developed, which led to the classification military profession. There are saboteur snipers and infantry snipers.

Sniper-saboteur (familiar from computer games, cinema and literature) acts alone or with a partner (providing fire cover and target designation), often far from the main body of troops, in the rear or on enemy territory. Its tasks include: covertly incapacitating important targets (officers, patrolmen, valuable equipment), disrupting an enemy attack, sniper terror (inducing panic among ordinary personnel, making observation difficult, moral suppression). In order not to give away his position, the shooter often fires a shot under the cover of background noise (weather phenomena, third-party shots, explosions, etc.). The destruction distance is from 500 meters and above. The sniper-saboteur's weapon is a high-precision rifle with an optical sight, sometimes with a silencer, usually with a longitudinally sliding bolt. Masking the position plays a big role, so it is done with special care. As camouflage, improvised materials (branches, bushes, earth, dirt, garbage, etc.), special camouflage clothing, or ready-made shelters (bunkers, trenches, buildings, etc.) can be used.

An infantry sniper operates as part of a rifle unit, sometimes paired with a machine gunner or a pair of machine gunners (cover group). Objectives - increasing the radius of infantry combat, destroying important targets (machine gunners, other snipers, grenade launchers, signalmen). As a rule, does not have time to choose a goal; shoots at everyone in sight. The combat distance rarely exceeds 400 m. The weapon used is a self-loading rifle with an optical sight. Extremely mobile, changes position frequently. As a rule, he has the same means of camouflage as other soldiers. Often, ordinary soldiers without special training who can shoot accurately.

The sniper is armed with a special sniper rifle with an optical sight and other special devices that make aiming easier. A sniper rifle is a bolt-action rifle, self-loading, repeating or single-shot, the design of which provides increased accuracy. The sniper rifle has gone through several developments historical stages. At first, rifles were selected from a batch of conventional weapons, choosing those that gave the most accurate combat. Later, sniper rifles began to be manufactured on the basis of serial army models, making minor changes to the design in order to increase shooting accuracy. The very first sniper rifles were slightly larger than regular rifles and were designed for long-range shooting. It was not until the outbreak of World War I that specially adapted sniper rifles began to play an important role in warfare. Germany equipped hunting rifles with telescopic sights to destroy British signal lights and periscopes. During World War II, sniper rifles were standard battle rifles equipped with a telescopic sight with 2x or 3x magnification and stocks for shooting prone or from cover. One of the main tasks of the 7.62-mm army sniper rifle is to defeat small targets at ranges of up to 600 m and large ones - up to 800 m. At a range of 1000-1200 m, a sniper can conduct harassing fire, limiting the movement of the enemy, preventing mine clearance work, etc. .d. Under favorable circumstances, long-range sniping was possible, especially if equipped with an optical sight with 6x or higher magnification.

Special ammunition for snipers was produced only in Germany, and in sufficient quantities. In other countries, snipers, as a rule, selected cartridges from one batch, and, having shot them, determined for themselves the tactical and technical capabilities of their rifle with such ammunition. German snipers sometimes they used sighting cartridges or tracer bullets to determine the distance, less often to record a hit. However, such operations were carried out only if the sniper was completely safe.

Snipers of all warring armies used special camouflage clothing, practical and comfortable. Depending on the time of year, clothing had to be both warm and waterproof. The most convenient camouflage for a sniper is shaggy. The face and hands were often painted, and the rifle was camouflaged to suit the season. There were no insignia or any symbols on the snipers’ clothing. The sniper knew that he had no chance of surviving if captured if he was identified as a sniper. And so, by hiding the optical sight, he could still pass himself off as an ordinary infantryman.

In a mobile war, snipers tried not to burden themselves with equipment. The necessary equipment for snipers was binoculars, since the view through the optical sight had a narrow sector, and prolonged use of it led to rapid eye fatigue. The greater the magnification of the device, the more confident the sniper felt. If available and possible, telescopes and periscopes, stereo tubes were used. Mechanically, remote-controlled rifles could be installed in distracting, false positions.

To “work”, the sniper chose a comfortable, protected and invisible position, and more than one, since after one or three shots, the place had to be changed. The position must provide for observation, firing location and safe way departure. Whenever possible, snipers always tried to set up positions in elevated places, as they were more convenient for observation and shooting. Setting up positions under the walls of buildings that covered the position from the rear was avoided, since such buildings always attracted the attention of enemy artillerymen for shooting. Equally risky places were individual buildings that could provoke enemy mortar or machine gun fire “just in case.” Good shelters for snipers were destroyed buildings, where they could easily and secretly change positions. Even better are groves or fields with tall vegetation. It is easy to hide here, and the monotonous landscape tires the observer's eyes. Hedges and bocages are ideal for snipers - from here it is convenient to conduct targeted fire and easily change positions. Snipers have always avoided road intersections, since they are periodically fired from guns and mortars as a precaution. The favorite position of snipers is damaged armored vehicles with emergency hatches in the bottom.

A sniper's best friend is a shadow, it hides the outline, the optics do not shine in it. Typically, snipers take up their positions before sunrise and remain there until sunset. Sometimes, if the path to own position was blocked by the enemy, they could remain for two or three days in this position without support. On dark nights, snipers did not work; on moonlit nights, only a few did, provided they had good optics. Despite the existing techniques for sniping in windy conditions, most snipers did not work in strong winds, nor did they work in heavy precipitation.

Camouflage is the key to a sniper's life. Main principle camouflage - the observer’s eye should not stop at it. Garbage is best suited for this, and snipers often set up their positions in landfills.

An important place in the “work” of a sniper was occupied by decoys. A great way to get a target into the kill zone is with a weapon. The sniper tries to shoot the enemy soldier so that his machine gun remains on the parapet. Sooner or later someone will try to take it and get shot too. Often, at the request of a sniper, scouts during a night raid leave a damaged pistol, a shiny watch, a cigarette case or other bait in his field of activity. Whoever crawls after her will become the sniper’s client. A sniper only tries to immobilize a soldier in an open area. And he will wait for someone to come to his aid. Then he will shoot the assistants and finish off the wounded man. If a sniper shoots at a group, then the first shot will be at the one walking behind, so that the others do not see that he has fallen. By the time his colleagues figure out what’s what, the sniper will shoot two or three more.

For anti-sniper combat, dummies equipped with military uniform, the higher the quality of the dummy and the system for controlling its movement, the higher the chances of catching someone else’s, experienced shooter. For novice snipers, a helmet or cap raised on a stick above the parapet was enough. IN special cases, specially trained snipers used entire systems of covert surveillance through stereo pipes and remote fire control with their help.

These are just a few rules of sniping tactics and techniques. A sniper must also be able to: aim correctly and hold his breath when shooting, master the technique of pulling the trigger, be able to shoot at moving and air targets, determine the range using the reticle of binoculars or a periscope, calculate corrections for Atmosphere pressure and wind, be able to draw up a fire map and conduct a counter-sniper duel, be able to act during enemy artillery preparation, correctly disrupt an enemy attack with sniper fire, correctly act during defense and when breaking through enemy defenses. A sniper must have the skills to act alone, in pairs and as part of a sniper group, be able to interview witnesses during an attack by an enemy sniper, be able to detect him, promptly see the appearance of an enemy counter-sniper group and be able to work in such groups himself. And many many others. And this is what the military profession of a sniper consists of: the knowledge, skills and, of course, the talent of a hunter, a hunter of people.

With the end of the First World War, most countries neglected the experience of sniper shooting obtained at such a high price. IN british army the number of sniper sections in battalions was reduced to eight people. In 1921, optical sights were removed from SMLE No. 3 sniper rifles that were in storage and put on open sale. The US Army did not exist official program training for snipers, a small number of snipers were available only in the Marine Corps. France and Italy did not have trained snipers, and Weimer Germany was prohibited from having snipers international treaties. But in the Soviet Union, shooting training, called the sniper movement, acquired the widest scope following the instructions of the Party and Government “...to hit the hydra of world imperialism not in the eyebrow, but in the eye.”

We will consider the use and development of sniping during the Second World War using the example of the largest participating countries.

The expression “one is worth a hundred” can be applied literally to these people. They, like the heroes of myths and legends, were able to single-handedly turn the outcome of the battle and achieve victory when there was almost no chance left.

"RG" talks about soldiers and officers of the Red Army, whose personal count of destroyed enemies is amazing.

Khanpasha Nuradilov: machine gunner, more than 900 killed

Khanpasha was born in 1922 in the village of Minay-Tugai, Dagestan region. He was left without parents early and was raised by his older brother. Before the war, he managed to work at an oil pumping station, and in 1940 he was drafted into the army, of which he was very proud.

The baptism of fire of a very young machine gunner turned out to be incredibly heroic. In the battle near the village of Zakharovka in Ukraine, he was the only one of his crew who survived, and was also wounded. Not wanting to surrender, with the last of his strength Khanpasha single-handedly stopped the attack of an entire German unit, killing more than 120 people. When the Nazis, taken aback by such a rebuff, began to retreat, he managed to take seven more prisoners.

A few months later, Nuradilov accomplishes a new feat - together with his crew, he goes deep into the enemy’s ranks and destroys another 50 enemies and, more valuable, 4 machine guns. A month later, in February 1942, he was wounded again and again desperately defeated the Nazis, increasing his personal count by 200 people. In addition to these “Stakhanovite” battles, Nuradilov also showed himself skillfully in ordinary battles.

Such crazy statistics could not escape both Soviet command, which awarded the Red Army soldier the Order of the Red Banner, and from the enemy authorities. A reward of several tens of thousands of Reichsmarks has been announced for his head, and obsessive snipers are waiting for his awkward move. During the Battle of Stalingrad in the fall of 1942, Khanpasha Nuradilov died a heroic death, having previously destroyed another 250 enemy fighters.

He received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union posthumously and was buried on Mamayev Kurgan. The poems “The Sun in the Blood” by Nikolai Sergeev and “The Sun Will Win” by Magomet Sulaev are dedicated to his memory; the Chechen State Theater bears his name.

Mikhail Surkov: sniper, 702 killed

Legend of the Soviet sniper school. Throughout the war, he destroyed more than 700 enemy soldiers and officers, which unofficially makes him the most successful sniper in world history. It is not at all surprising that such a master was born and raised in the Krasnoyarsk Territory: taiga hunting is the best training for accuracy and stealth. Among the residents of his native village, Mikhail always stood out for having the best trophies; this was reflected in his remarkable heredity, because in the Surkov family all the men were hunters.

At the front, he used several special tactics to “hunt” enemy soldiers, because the unpredictability of a sniper directly affects his detection. When necessary, it lay in ambush in the snow for several hours, or silently froze on a tree, merging with the crown. Surkov had no equal in detecting enemy shooters: he noticed the slightest flaws in their shelters, felt and noticed any movement on the horizon. When his personal count exceeded 700 killed fascists, the command assigned two cameramen to him so that the beginning of the next hundred destroyed enemies would not be lost for posterity. The famous front-line cameraman Arkady Levitan recalled:

“Mikhail cut a pumpkin in the garden, put a helmet on it and stuck it out over the parapet of a false trench, 400 meters from the Germans. From the enemy’s side, this pumpkin with a helmet “read” like the head of a soldier. Then Surkov crawled into another trench, 40 meters from the false one. , fired a shot and began to observe. Very soon they began to hit the pumpkin - at first it was rifle shots, then Mikhail hit the mortar and discovered the enemy sniper that day.

It is interesting that Surkov was never awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, being limited to the Orders of Lenin and the Red Star. But Mikhail Ilyich himself liked to repeat that the best reward for him was to be freed from the enemies of the Motherland.

Ivan Sidorenko: sniper, 500 killed

Born in 1919 near Smolensk into a poor peasant family. Lack of funds did not affect the thirst for knowledge and art: after finishing 10th grade young Ivan enters the Penza Art School.

In 1939, he was drafted into the army and the country may have lost a wonderful artist or sculptor, but gained a brilliant sniper. Sidorenko started the war as a mortarman. The unexpected retraining right in combat conditions occurred due to poor supplies of ammunition to the units: there were fewer and fewer grenades, but there were more than enough “three-line” rifles.

By the spring of 1944, this turn of fate cost the lives of 500 Nazis. The unexpected success of the sniper attracted the attention of headquarters, and soon an entire sniper school was created under the direct leadership of Sidorenko. She gave the front 250 excellent specialists, who only terrified German soldiers with their presence on the battlefield. It is interesting that, unlike most snipers, Ivan Mikhailovich’s personal account includes a damaged tank and several tractors - as the “inheritance” of the mortarman.

Stepan Pugaev: machine gunner, 350 killed

He was born in 1910 right at the Yuryuzan railway station (now Bashkiria): the whole family of the future virtuoso machine gunner worked here. He himself became a switchman, and later a station attendant.

Stepan was called to the front from the first days of the war, where he almost immediately became the most effective marksman, first in the battalion, and then in the division. Just 10 months after being drafted, his award sheet reports 350 Germans killed: this is how Stepan Pugaev and his trusty machine gun worked for the good of the Motherland. Already a squad commander, in 1943, in a battle near the village of Novye Petrivtsi, he was the first to cross the Dnieper and personally destroyed two enemy machine-gun emplacements, for which he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Colleagues remembered him as a loyal comrade and a dedicated officer to whom they could always turn for advice. The figure of 350 killed enemy soldiers and officers is confirmed by papers and is official, but according to the recollections of colleagues, it should have been twice as much.

Pugaev died a heroic death in December 1944, once again being one of the first to attack enemy ranks. A street in the city of Tirlyan bears his name, and his bust is erected in the city of Beloretsk.

Lyudmila Pavlichenko: sniper, 309 killed

The only woman on the list, but what a woman! Lyudmila was born in 1916 in the town of Belaya Tserkov, not far from Kyiv. Since childhood, she was fond of gliding and shooting sports, which predetermined her military career. After graduating from ninth grade, young Luda got a job as a grinder at the Kiev Arsenal plant in order to financially help her parents.

In 1941, she volunteered to go to the front, where she was sent to defend Odessa as part of a sniper platoon. During one of the battles, she led a platoon after the death of the commander, was shell-shocked, but did not leave the battlefield and even refused medical care. Soon all Primorsky Army transferred to the defense of Sevastopol, it is here that in less than 9 months Pavlichenko destroys 309 German soldiers and officers (including 36 enemy snipers).

In June 1942, Lyudmila was seriously wounded; she, the future Hero of the Soviet Union, was transported to a hospital in the Caucasus. In mid-1942, Pavlichenko visited the United States as part of the Soviet delegation and personally met President Franklin Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor. The latter organizes that same legendary speech by Lyudmila Pavlichenko at a rally in Chicago:

“Gentlemen. I am twenty-five years old. At the front I have already managed to destroy three hundred and nine fascist invaders. Don’t you think, gentlemen, that you have been hiding behind my back for too long?!..”.

Even the American crowd, tempted by the frequent appeals of politicians, could not bear such a speech; there were shouts of approval and a second later the noise of applause filled the ears of the spectators.

Pavlichenko was received very warmly in the United States, given a Colt and a Winchester, and the legendary country singer Woody Guthrie even composed a song about her, Miss Pavlichenko.

Schools in her hometown of Bila Tserkva and in the place of military glory - Sevastopol - are named after the woman sniper.