As featured on World War II Today

WW2 Today

"...while Zhukova might not have experienced years on the front line, her few months left her with memories and experiences that help us better understand what Red Army forces experienced, survived, and what many Soviet women had to contend with in addition to the enemy during their time at the front."

World War II and Other Book Reviews, March 2022

Having recently completed a book about Germany's leaders in WWII I was curious to see this book advertised as it portrayed the wartime experience of a person at the opposing end of the scale, a teen-aged young Russian girl - a fully hardened sniper. The book deals with her experiences from sniper school to the lone snipers' killing fields of the front line. Russian snipers like Yulia Zhukova took a heavy toll of German officers and were feared to the extent that their capture would result in merciless torture before being killed. This young girl, nevertheless, stood her ground and did what she did best - shooting Germans from a distance. Composed from letters she wrote home, the book gives an insight into what the war meant to this young girl. She survived and describes life post war before settling down to motherhood and a normal family life. Highly recommended.

Dr Adrian Greaves, Rorkes Drift, Lawrence of Arabia, Isandlwana

I think this is an important book that I recommend to those interested in WWII, especially in personal accounts, and more particularly those looking for Eastern Front memoirs. Also, to historians or readers eager to learn more about women’s involvement in WWII, and, in general, to anybody keen to read a memoir from an era we should never forget.

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Author Translator

Those who would like to get an insight in how a woman – Yulia Zhukova – experienced the Second World War, or those who want to get a better understanding of how some veterans look back on their experiences at the front, will most certainly have a good read with this book.

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Traces of War

An insightful, thoroughly absorbing, first-person account of being a successful Russian female sniper.

Leatherneck Magazine

Providing an absolutely fascinating, impressively informative, deeply personal account, "Girl With A Sniper Rifle: An Eastern Front Memoir" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community and academic library World War II Military History & Biography collections.

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Midwest Book Review

A rare story of the women snipers who achieved so much for the Soviet war effort. The author provides an illuminating and engaging account of her exceptional service and of her comrades – Much Recommended.

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Firetrench

Author interview conducted by Tom Garner as featured by

History of War, issue 74

This is truly is a mix of vivid and fascinating characters, Historical saga, dastardly well written and intricate story-line!

NetGalley, Kelly Watley

This memoir is a truly insightful story into how the war affected just one person, who wanted to serve her country. This book is well written and as the memory of the War is lost to history, it will only be first-hand accounts like this that will keep the memories of these brave and courageous people alive.

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Armorama

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The author's painstaking research and attention to detail is obvious in the writing of this book. There were many facts that I only discovered after reading this!

NetGalley, Cristie Underwood

Featured 'ON THE SHELF' by Neil Smith

Wargames Illustrated, September 2019

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I found this book to be fascinating! The author, now in her 90's, details her experiences in World War 2 as a sniper for the Russian army. Never bragging, yet obviously very proud of her contributions, she bares her soul to the reader of her history. From being a teenager who wanted to defend her country, all the way through to today, she makes you feel like she is sitting at a table with you, telling her story. And what a story! The sacrifices she suffered, the horrors she witnessed, the PTSD she experienced; it's amazing she is still alive. As she relates the extremely difficult training she went through, the sexism she endured, and her escape from the Nazi's, you will feel your heart being ripped out of your chest. Never dwelling on the blood and gore, simply telling her story and what she did to save her country, this should be a book that everyone interested in World War 2, and in Russia today, should read!

NetGalley, Randal White

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Girl with a Sniper Rifle was a surprise. It was about World war 2. The surprise was that it was about how the Russian women were so Important to the war. Yulia Zhukova of Russia, whose hometown was Uralic, joined the Young Communist League as a young girl. She wanted to help defend her country and people. She was brought up with a love for her country. She became a sniper for the Red Army. Training was very hard. There wasn’t any rest and not much food. She was a woman who shared with men all the horrors of war. She has written in such details about her life at the front and she became very close to her frontline friends, both men and women. She was awarded many medals. She did Cadet training at the Central Women’s Sniping School. Went to the front end in 1944. War ended and she arrived home on August 6, 1945. I think the reason that she wrote her story is so that the young people of Russia would remember the war of 1941 to 1945 and respect the veterans. I especially enjoyed all the photos at the end.

NetGalley, Jean Blankenship

A thoroughly good read detailing the service of a female Russian sniper. It reads as if she were sat talking to you. It offers some good insights into the Russian Army and the political background to its actions. Recommended.

Michael McCarthy. Battlefield Guide

Michael McCarthy