But far and away the most notorious was Lyudmila Pavlichenko, who came to earn the nickname “Lady Death.”

Born in a small village outside of Kiev, Ukraine, Pavlichenko was a driven and competitive child. After hearing a young neighbor boast of his prowess at the shooting range, she began practicing with a rifle.

She was studying for a master’s degree in history at Kiev University when the Germans invaded, and she immediately volunteered.

Though recruiters tried to steer her toward becoming a nurse, she insisted she be given a combat role.

Stationed on a hill the Red Army was defending, she was handed a rifle and given an audition — take out two distant Romanians who were working with the Germans.

She picked them off with ease, and was quickly enlisted in the 25th Chapayev Rifle Division.