“Women’s Army”: how a shock battalion of women was created in 1917.
In the summer of 1917, the collapse of the Russian army was in full swing. The infamous Order No. 1 of the Petrograd Soviet and the subsequent “democratization” of the armed forces led to mass desertion, refusal to go on the offensive, and lynchings of officers. The provisional government tried to turn the situation around by creating shock battalions – units consisting of volunteers who were supposed to become an example for the entire army. Among others, 105 years ago, units consisting entirely of women were also recruited: “Death Squad.” This is the name of the first female detachment of volunteers who decided to go to the battlefield and, in the fight against the enemy, die for the freedom of the Motherland. The idea of forming such a women’s detachment belongs to Maria Leontyevna Bochkareva. Having lost her husband, killed by the Germans, she decided to personally take part in the war. After much ordeal, she managed to enroll as a private in Tomsk in the 25th reserve battalion, with whom she shared all the hardships and dangers of combat life. For her outstanding exploits, Bochkareva was awarded St. George’s crosses, medals and promoted to non-commissioned officer. After the revolution, Bochkareva came to Petrograd, where she turned to the Minister of War with a request to support her idea – to call upon women volunteers to take arms. In a short time, Bochkareva’s idea was crowned with complete success. Many girls and women responded to the lonely call and wished to join the detachment… The review carried out by the detachment by the commander of the troops of the Petrograd district proved that female soldiers in a short time were perfectly trained in military techniques and handling weapons. The number of volunteers who want to enroll in the detachment is growing every day… “The woman was the first to give birth to a man,” says Bochkareva, “and we, women, must set an example of how to save the freedom that has been born.”
Petrograd leaflet”, June 15(28), 1917
In July, the women’s battalion arrived at the front. His ranks demonstrated excellent courage, but they could no longer change the situation. Having suffered significant losses, a month later the female units were withdrawn from the front. In October 1917, the shock workers (along with the cadets) were one of the few in Petrograd who remained faithful to the oath and resisted the Bolsheviks.
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