[.ca] Heroines of the Soviet Union 1941-45 (ISBN 1841765988)

Five Gold Stars:
Quality can be expected from Osprey, which is why I was eager to receive this book from Amazon. It is about women combatants of the Great Patriotic War (WWll) who received the most prestigious title "Hero of the Soviet Union" (HSU). Note, that while over a million women fought and many were otherwise decorated, only about 100 were awarded the Gold Star of the HSU. This slim, 64-pg volume features a few examples from each of these categories: fighter-pilots, bomber aircrew, medics, machine gunners, snipers, scouts, tankists, partisans, and political officers. There are other books, such as "Women in War and Resistance", which provide greater in-depth information. But what sets this book apart, as with all Osprey publications, are the illustrations. On every glossy page are wonderful, rare photographs. And in the center are eight full-color plates of exquisitely detailed paintings by Christa Hook. Unexpectedly, the text contains numerous errors. Granted, most of these would be apparent only to readers familiar with the works of Kazimiera Cottam, Anne Noggle, and Reina Pennington. But one gaffe which is absolutely appalling, considering Osprey's reputation for historical excellency, jumps right off the first page: "\oStalin\c wanted to showcase the advancement of women... His wife, Nadezhda Krupskaya, headed the women's section of the Communist Party." Yikes! Krupskaya was, of course, the wife of Lenin, and outspokenly critical of her husband's successor. Stalin's hatred for her was mutual, to the point where he once suggested ominously that a more compliant widow might be "appointed for Comrade Lenin"! Moreover, Stalin contemptuously regarded women "like herring, only with ideas." Most importantly, though, the erronious text diminishes the extraordinary efforts of Marina Raskova to convince Stalin to allow the formation of her famous female aviation regiments. Normally, such inaccuracies would cost a book a review star. But the author, Henry Sakaida, earns the full five, just for being a hero in his own right! Sakaida, a collector of Soviet medals, has a superb (and highly recommended) website. Therein are the touching accounts of how he acquired and hand-returned -- to far away Uzbekistan and Buryatia Siberia! -- stolen Gold Stars to the families of two deceased HSUs. The author has taken a Russian language course because of his interest in his topic. He has journied to Ukraine expressly to visit HSU dive-bomber pilot Mariya Dolina, and to present flowers at the museum and monument to fighter-ACE Lilya Litvyak. And he has attended the annual May Day (veterans' day) celebration in Kiev. All these stories and photos are on his website, where his smile shows his pleasure at meeting the heroes of his book.