Maria Baida

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Maria Baida (February 1, 1922 - August 30, 2002) (Russian: Мария Карповна Байда) was a World War II scout in Crimea. When she was surrounded by Wehrmacht submachine gunners, she fought a heated gun battle against them, killing fifteen, wounding several more, and routing the rest, escaping wounded.^{[citation needed]} She received the military award of Hero of the Soviet Union. Her surname is sometimes spelled as "Bade" in English, but "Baida" is a more accurate spelling.

[edit] Biography

In 1936, she left high school in the city of Jankoi without completing her studies. She worked on a state run farm, in a hospital, and then in a cooperative society in of the village of Voinka, near Krasnoperekopskogo. In 1941, she joined the Red Army.

Maria Baida was a nurse in the 2nd Battalion of 514th Regiment, 172nd Shooting Division of Red Army of the North Caucasian front, the senior sergeant. From September 1941 or was present at or near the front lines.^{[citation needed]}

The decree of Presidium of the Supreme body of the USSR from June, 20th, 1942 reads (a loose translation follows), "for exemplary performance of fighting tasks of command, both showing courage and heroism in fighting fascist aggressors, to Senior Sergeant Maria Karpovne Baida is awarded the rank of Hero of Soviet Union, with delivery of an award of Lenin and a medal, with a Gold Star . . . "

On July, 12th, 1942, after being severely wounded, Maria Baida was taken prisoner and sent to Slavuta concentration camp in Ukraine and later Ravensbruck. She was released from captivity by the American forces on 8 May 1945.

After WWII, she was discharged from military service. For many years, she headed the Sevastopol city department of civil registration, and she was repeatedly selected the deputy of city council. In 1976, she was recognized as a Hero and an Honourable Citizen of the of town of Sevastopol.

[edit] References

• Salmonson, Jessica Amanda.(1991) The Encyclopedia of Amazons. Paragon House. Page 27. ISBN 978-1-55778-420-9
• Website of Russian warheroes