Night Witches

The WASPs of the United States Air Force had an interesting Soviet counterpart—the daring female fighter pilots known as the Night Witches. And unlike the American women who were limited to a civilian status despite their important work, the Night Witches were an official part of the military and engaged in dangerous activities like dropping bombs and harassing enemy planes. The pilots flew mostly small, old-model bi-planes constructed out of wood and canvas, only big enough to carry six bombs at a time and with engines slower than the idling speed of the larger German planes. The girls performed such daring maneuvers as cutting their engines to reduce the noise and gliding to the bomb drop point unheard. They usually had to make several trips out each night and flew without the reassuring back-up of a parachute because their planes flew too low for a parachute to open on the way down. The brave women of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment (their official name) went on an estimated 23,000 sorties and dropping about 3,000 tons worth of bombs during the war. Each pilot flew over 800 missions herself, an astounding feat for a woman in a tiny bi-plane, and it is no wonder they were the most decorated female unit of the Soviet Air Force, with twenty-three Hero of the Soviet Union titles. The brave women of the Night Witches were instrumental in defeating Hitler in World War II, taking on the most daring and dangerous of missions to ensure victory. The gave all of their skill, courage, and grit to their work, and thirty of them even gave their lives. Today the Night Witches are recognized as an important piece of both Russian and women’s history, inspiring women who made a difference.

Today, be inspired to…Do your part. The Night Witches didn’t win the war on their own, but it probably couldn’t have been won as quickly without their help either. It takes a lot of people pulling together to accomplish something.

Photo credit: madefromhistory.com

Tina Strobos

This blog has already mentioned a few selfless women who sheltered Jewish citizens during the holocaust, but there is always room for one more kind woman who deserves a little recognition for endangering her own life to save others. Tina Strobos was physician and child psychologist who was living in Amsterdam during World War II when the Nazi Germans occupied The Netherlands. Tina, her mother, and her grandmother, set up the attic of the boarding house they owned as a secret refuge for Jews fleeing persecution. There were able to keep four or five refugees at a time and also built a secret compartment a couple of people could squeeze into in case of a raid or search. Tina also helped bring food, supplies, and information to Jews hiding in other parts of the city or in the countryside so they would not have to risk being seen to find food and would know when it was safe to run. She transferred weapons and radios for the Dutch resistance and used a radio to send secret messages to Great Britain. Her dangerous work caused her to be questioned by the Gestapo nine times, but she was always released. Tina Strobos and her family managed to save the lives of over a hundred Jewish people, not to mention the aid she lent to those that didn’t stay in her home and to those who were striving to oust the Nazi regime from the country. Her courage and compassion made a difference to a lot of people and an important impact on history.

Today, be inspired to…Built a tradition of charity with your family. Maybe do something with your mom and grandmother, or maybe instill the value of compassion in your daughter or granddaughter’s life.

Photo credit: db.yadvashem.org

Pilots of WASP

Usually posts are about one particular special woman, but today’s post is about a group of women who deserve a little remembrance and admiration. During World War II, women were not allowed to be fighter pilots, but they played a very important role in keeping the military’s planes flying just the same. Because of a shortage of pilots, the army recruited women to test new planes, transport planes across the country, and pull targets for fighter pilots to shoot at. The 1,100 women of the Women Airforce Service Pilots proved their flying skills in every kind of plane and every kind of weather. Despite well-known characters like Amelia Earhart, there were many doubts about a woman’s ability to successfully fly a plane, and the women who desired to fly for the WASPs had to come with pilot license already in hand, but they came willingly and determinedly. The job was dangerous, requiring the women to fly planes that had just been repaired or to risk a bad shot from a another pilot while towing a target for practice, and the parachutes supplied were fitted to a man, not really the most comforting back-up plan. Thirty-eight female pilots died during the short time of the WASP program. As vital as their work was to the war effort, the ladies of WASP were not afforded their due compensations for their work. The women were dismissed without ceremony or recognition when the program was ended, they were not permitted military funerals because they were considered civilians, and they received no military or veteran benefits like their male counterparts did. The airforce used the women because men were unavailable, then promptly dumped them when it seemed they might threaten male jobs. It would be a long time before the WASPs finally received the recognition they deserved, but the work they did was vital to the war effort and helped a lot of young women find adventure, strength, and self-reliance flying fighter planes in the wild blue yonder.

Today, be inspired to…Be proud of our female pilots in the military today! They’re some pretty cool chics.

If you want to read a great story about these amazing women, try Fannie Flagg’s The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion–it’s a great read.

Photo credit: wingsacrossamerica.us

Emilie Schindler

Emilie Schindler and her husband Oskar are remembered for saving the lives of well over a thousand Jewish people during the Holocaust of World War II. Oskar was a reluctant member of the Nazi party who employed Jewish citizens in his factory as a way to keep them from being sent to concentration camps. He and Emilie bribed guards and forged paperwork to keep their employees from being sent away, but it wasn’t enough. Emilie sold her jewelry to buy food, clothing, and medicine and medical equipment for the people they saved. She often had to delve into the black market to find enough supplies to go around. She cared for those who were ill, hiding them from the German soldiers who would certainty cart them away. The work Emilie and Oskar did put them at great odds with the Nazi party, and they were eventually forced to flee, taking about a dozen Jewish people with them. For her work, Emilie received the Righteous Among the Nations award and the Order of May. Emilie Schindler put her own life at risk to save the lives of so many people during the war, providing food, shelter, medicine, and safety to many people who desperately needed it. Her selflessness marks her as one of humanity’s greatest and bravest givers and protectors.

Today, be inspired to…Remember that all people of all colors, religions, and nationalities are all still people. We’re all human beings, and we should look out for each other.

Photo credit: famousfix.com

Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt goes down in history as one of the world’s classiest ladies, but she was also a thoughtful and compassionate humanitarian. She was impressive for being remarkable outspoken in a time when women supporting their husbands were meant to be demure and radiate perfection, and she both campaigned on her husband’s behalf and openly admitted when she disagreed with his policies. She displayed that same outspoken attitude while supporting her causes of women’s rights, racial equality, and human rights. Eleanor worked for the Women’s Trade Union, campaigned for fair hours for workers, and opposed child labor. She was supportive and attentive to those suffering during the Great Depression, often attending meetings and visiting with those who needed a concerned listener. She was also active during the war effort, standing up for the rights of immigrants and refugees, though she admitted later she wished she had tried harder to help them. She is remembered for her support of singer Marion Anderson and her friendship with Mary McLeod Bethune, as well as her attempts to outlaw lynching. During WWII, she encouraged greater involvement for African American soldiers, notably openly praising the Tuskegee Airmen. For women, Eleanor encouraged female journalists by forbidden male journalists to attend her press conferences and by establishing an annual dinner for the female journalists who were excluded from the men-only event. She was quite a writer and journalist herself, often writing a regular column for a newspaper. Eleanor became a delegate to the United Nations after her husband’s death and the first chairperson of the United Nations Committee on Human Rights, helping to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She was also instrumental in the creation of the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women. Eleanor Roosevelt’s life positively brimmed with her passion for the rights and well-being of all people, regardless of gender, race, or place in life, and her long career championing her many causes does credit to the kind heart and optimistic spirit she surely must have had to care so much about so many people.

Today, be inspired to…If you aren’t already inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt, I don’t know what to tell you, ’cause you surely should be.

Photo credit: bjf.org