Why Women Were Allowed into Combat

Gary describes the Soviet need for personnel, rhetoric of equality, and Stalin's approval to accept women into combat.

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In the dark skies over the Eastern Front of World War II, the Soviet Union deployed one of the most unusual and effective combat units of the war: the Night Witches.

Officially the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, this unit flew outdated, fragile biplanes on nighttime harassment missions against German forces, cutting their engines to glide silently toward their targets before dropping bombs.

More notably, the regiment was entirely composed of women.

Learn about the Night Witches on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.

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