Lyubov Shevtsova (russian: Любовь Шевцова; 8 September 1924 – 9 February 1943) was a

Soviet partisan Soviet partisans were members of resistance movements that fought a guerrilla war against Axis forces during World War II in the Soviet Union, the previously Soviet-occupied territories of interwar Poland in 1941–45 and eastern Finland. The ...

and a member of the Young Guard, an underground anti-Nazi organization in

Krasnodon Krasnodon (Ukrainian language, Ukrainian, Russian language, Russian: Краснодон) is a city in Luhansk Oblast (Oblast, region) of eastern Ukraine. It is incorporated as a city of regional significance (Ukraine), city of oblast significanc ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

Early life

Shevtsova was born in Izvaryne, Krasnodon District in 24 September 1924 to a working-class Russian family. Her father had fought in the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and the

Russian Civil War , date = October Revolution, 7 November 1917 – Yakut revolt, 16 June 1923{{Efn, The main phase ended on 25 October 1922. Revolt against the Bolsheviks continued Basmachi movement, in Central Asia and Tungus Republic, the Far East th ...

on the side of the Red Army; her mother worked at a field hospital as a nurse. Her family moved within the limits of

city in 1927, where she graduated from seven grades of school before applying to a theater school in Rostov. However, the German invasion of the Soviet Union began shortly after she applied.

Partisan activities

Shortly after the start of the war Shevtsova attended brief nursing classes and tried to enlist as a nurse in the Red Army, but was rejected for being too young at the time. So she joined the Komsomol in February 1942 and upon the recommendation of the Voroshilovgrad District Committee she began training to become a radio operator for the Young Guard in April. After completing the course and swearing an oath of allegiance she began transmitting information collected by the partisans to the Red Army Intelligence Center. She also participated in spreading leaflets, helped Soviet prisoners of war hide from the Germans, and participated in burning down the Labour Exchange building, which contained documents with the names of people that were to be deported and forced into hard labour for Germany. On 8 January 1943 Shevtsova was arrested as a wireless operator. The members of the Young Guard had been betrayed and all of them were arrested as well. The Gestapo tortured her to find out the transmission codes, apparently without success and shot her on 9 February, at the age of 18 years.

Recognition

On 13 September 1943 Shevtsova was posthumously declared a Hero of the Soviet Union. Young pioneer detachments, streets, and ships were named in her honor and memorials were dedicated to her memory.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shevtsova, Lyubov Heroes of the Soviet Union Soviet partisans in Ukraine Soviet military personnel killed in World War II Soviet women in World War II Resistance members killed by Nazi Germany Female resistance members of World War II 1924 births 1943 deaths People from Izvaryne Executed Soviet people from Ukraine Ukrainian people executed by Nazi Germany Executed Ukrainian women People executed by Germany by firearm Recipients of the Order of Lenin

Early life

Partisan activities

Recognition

See also

References