Background
Nina Onilova was born in 1921 near Odessa. She was a daughter of Ukrainian peasants. She was brought up at an orphanage after her parents' death.
Nina Onilova was born in 1921 near Odessa. She was a daughter of Ukrainian peasants. She was brought up at an orphanage after her parents' death.
Nina finished secondary school in Odessa.
Before World War II Nina was a textile factory worker.
Onilova served at the front from August 1941 as a medical NCO. She was transferred to a machine-gun platoon after proving her competence with the weapon. She had perfected her heroine Anka's machine gun technique, allowing the enemy to approach very close, then using aimed fire until the front rows were destroyed and those behind were forced to turn back.
She was seriously wounded in September 1941 and spent two months in a hospital. After her recovery, Onilova insisted on rejoining her regiment near Sevastopol. On 21 November, alone behind her heavy machine gun, she launched a Molotov cocktail that set fire to an enemy tank. She was recommended by her commander for the Order of the Red Banner. Army Commander General I.E. Petrov admitted that he had suspected that Onilova had been recommended on the basis of sexual favoritism rather than real achievement since he found it hard to believe that a woman could be so brave and decisive in battle, so he summoned her to determine whether she deserved the award. He was convinced of her merit after discussing tactics with her and granted her the award and promotion to the rank of sergeant.
Nina Andreevna Onilova received her second Red Banner on 23 February 1942 for outstanding performance during the December enemy offensive. Now famous in the entire Maritime Army and Black Sea Fleet, she became a semi-legendary figure like her prototype Anka and was given that nickname. When Petrov learned that she had been seriously wounded again on 28 February 1942, he immediately ordered his medical staff to do everything in their power to save her. When her condition deteriorated, Petrov himself came to say good-bye.
Quotations:
"I speak with the Nazis in the language of a machine gun."
"... in appearance I am, of course, very weak, small, thin. But I will tell you the truth: my hand never wavered. At first, I was still afraid. And then it all went away... When you defend your dear, native land and your family (I do not have a native family, and therefore all the people are my family), then you become very brave and do not understand what cowardice is... "
Nina Onilova was a member of the Communist Youth League.
During her early years, Nina Onilova saw the famous film "Chapaev", a movie about the Russian Civil War that spotlighted the achievements of a woman machine gunner nicknamed "Anka." Onilova determined to follow in Anka's footsteps and mastered the heavy machine gun in a course provided by the paramilitary Osoaviakhim.
Quotes from others about the person
"You fought gloriously, daughter. Thank you, on behalf of the Army, on behalf of the nation. The entire Sevastopol knows about you and the entire country will learn about you too." - Army Commander General I.E. Petrov