Monday, September 16, 2019

Review: Night Witches: The Soviet Female Pilots Who Terrified The German Army by History Titans

Title: Night Witches: The Soviet Female Pilots Who Terrified The German Army
Author: History Titans
Publication: September 10th 2019
Genre: Nonfiction, History
Purchase it on: Amazon
Rating: 4/5

A fascinating look into the history of the NIGHT WITCHES

The Night Witches were World War II's female volunteers who made one of the first all-female Night Bomber Regiments of the air forces in the Soviet Union. They were war heroines who participated in combat even though they didn’t have any machine guns, radios, radars or parachutes. Yet, they used all of the advantages that a compass, map, pencils, and flashlight could possibly provide and helped to win the war.

Inside you will read about...

World War Two and the Role of Woman in the Soviet Union
Forming an All-Female Air Force Regiments
How Night Witches Got their Names
Difficulties that Night Witches had to Face During Combat
And much much more!

So if you want to learn about the NIGHT WITCHES scroll up and click the "add to cart" button!

I have many different historical interests and one of them happens to be the Soviet Union's Night Witches of World War II. I've seen documentaries and read books (only fictional books though) about them before but that didn't stop me from diving into this newly published History Titans book because I'm just too damn fascinated by the Night Witches and I finally got to read a nonfiction about them. So it was a win-win situating for me.

Ever since I first learned about the Night Witches I have been in absolute awe of them. These women were so freaking courageous and just so amazing. I can't even imagine all the shit they've gone through and how hard it all had been for them. Not just because they were fighting in a war (which is horrifying on it own) but also because of the sexism and belittling they had to endure. And the fact that the Germans were actually scared of them and gave them the nickname 'Nachthexen' made them even more awesome in my eyes. They were simply badass.

My fangirling aside, I really really really liked this book. There was a lot of interesting information about the Night Witches, even some things that I didn't know about so that was really good for me. I highly enjoyed all the chapters and was even a little sad when I had finished the book because I would've been happy to continue reading. It was a super fascinating read.

Night Witches: The Soviet Female Pilots Who Terrified The German Army by History Titans was a short but fascinating nonfiction about the first all-female Night Bomber Regiments of the air forces in the Soviet Union that everyone should read, especially girls. I'm sure not a lot of people even know about the Night Witches and that's a damn shame. So if I can reach at least one person with this review and teach them about the Night Witches or make them read this book and learn even more about them I'd be very happy. 
5 interesting facts:

  • The Night Witches were World War II's female volunteers who made one of the first all-female Night Bomber Regiments of the air forces in the Soviet Union.


  • Nazis were terrified of Night Witches, and they even gave them this nickname (Nachthexen in German). It was due to their wooden plane's noises that reminded Germans of sweeping broomstick sounds.


  • A woman who was credited with forming all-female fighting squadrons was Marina Raskova. She was also known as the "Soviet Amelia Earhart".


  • Women who were flyers received male uniforms that were handed down from other soldiers.


  • After the war ended, almost all the surviving female air force members were banned from flying.

Some pictures related to the book:

The regiment in 1942.

Polikarpov Po-2, the aircraft type used by the regiment

Photograph of Marina Raskova in uniform



14 comments:

  1. Of course they were banned from flying after the war -- they could probably fly rings around the mean *rolls eyes* Night Witches -- I love it!

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  2. I have never heard of the night witches before. Thanks for an amazing review and teaching me a few things :)

    Chanzie @ Free To Be Me

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  3. Wow, this sounds good. I have heard about these women but I haven't read any books. I also love the facts!

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  4. This sounds like it would be an interesting read for sure!

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  5. Very cool! Are these women what the character in The Huntress was based on?

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  6. Not my cup of tea, but I suppose it is an interesting book for lovers of history and/or aviation. :)

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  7. Yup! And Marina Raskova is actually in it. I thought Kate Quinn did a great job with the story.

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  8. Especially for people who are interested in women's history. And I wish these things were taught more in schools. Le sad.

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  9. Whoa!!! This book sounds absolutely fascinating! I have never heard of Night Witches before and I am pumped to learn more. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this one. I will have to check it out. :)

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  10. I'd also recommend The Huntress by Kate Quinn. It's a historical fiction that features the Night Witches. :)

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  11. Not only were they fighting a war, but they were also fighting sexism and the struggles they had to face on a personal level. I am glad this book brings them to life and attention to them as well.

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  12. And it will forever piss me off that they were banned from flying after the war.

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