In addition to the 588th, Major Raskova was also instrumental in founding the 586th (Fighter) Regiment and the 587th ( Bomber) Regiment, both of which were also all female.

Lydia Litvyak, the most successful woman fighter pilot of WW2, flew with the 586th for part of her career.


The person she shot down on that day was 11-kill German ace Staff Sergeant Erwin Maier who parachuted out of his plane. After his capture by the Soviet troops, he asked to be taken to the ace which shot him down.
At first, Maier thought that the Soviet soldiers were making fun on him when he was taken in front of Litvyak, only after she described in immense detail how she took him down did he realise he was shot down by a woman.

The Western Democracies made much greater use of their female populations for war work and in the armed forces than Nazi Germany, who relied on imported forced labour to make up the shortfall in manpower, the Soviet Union went way beyond any other country in using females in combat roles.
In addition to the aviation units mentioned above, the SU employed women as radio operators in tanks, as gunners and as snipers.

Sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko, killed 309 Germans;



The use of women in combat roles was anathema to the Nazis, who thought women should be at home with their families. 

German treatment of Soviet POWs was brutal anyway, and especially so in the treatment of captured female combatants:

Yes indeed. As I see it Nazi Germany certainly missed a huge opportunity there. While Germany refused to include women into the draft - believing they would better serve the fatherland at home raising babies and doing soft support - Soviet Russia (and Britain too, but notably not the US) pushed ahead and introduced the conscription of all young women - and not just into any voluntary or patriotic service, but compulsory conscription into whatever job the government said you must go whether that be the military forces, civil defence, communications, industrial and agricultural work, or whatever. To both Russia and Britain this brought very many millions of extra personnel into the fight and ultimately it might actually have been a decisive matter.

Interesting indeed, MM. There are arguments on both sides, of course. Did the Wrens of Western Approaches do more to win the war than an equal number of riflewomen could? Almost certainly. Was Rozelle Raynes releasing a male seaman to do a vital job? (see her book "Maid Matelot") Probably. How about the Idle Women, Lumberjills etc. Would they  have been more valuable on the front line? Less sure about that.

British women served in the uniformed services, but only in support duties, not in combat roles, a very worthy contribution, but not decisive.
As for Soviet women, 800,000 served on the frontline, this only amounting to 5% of the total Soviet military personnel, some served in the infantry, many were snipers, others medics and nurses, although  more involved than British women, they were far from a significant factor.

Fact Wizard wrote:

British women served in the uniformed services, but only in support duties, not in combat roles, a very worthy contribution, but not decisive.

In uniformed service perhaps, but in terms of overall war work the IWM gives a figure, for 1944, of 7 million British women involved in industry etc. Which is a very significant factor.

Ruby Loftus screwing a breech ring by Laura Knight, 1943, in the Royal Ordinance Factory at Newport

Fact Wizard wrote:

British women served in the uniformed services, but only in support duties, not in combat roles, a very worthy contribution, but not decisive.

I would add that women manning anti-aircraft guns, searchlights etc, freed up men for combat roles. Which is important because by 1944 the British Army was beginning to experience manpower shortages, especially infantrymen, 20% of the Army, 70% of the casualties.

Andrew J Higgins, proprietor of Higgins Industries of New Orleans was a believer in equal opportunities and employed his staff regardless of race or gender. Quite a step for Louisiana in the 1940s: