The White Lily of Stalingrad

Lidya Litvyak made history by becoming the first woman pilot to shoot down an enemy aircraft.
Also known as Lilya, she was a skilled pilot during WW2. Taking part in the battles of Stalingrad and Kursk she saw intense action in her short career. Lydia’s fame grew. Her commanding officer said of her “She was very aggressive, a born fighter pilot”. With her striking looks and fame in defending Stalingrad she was given the name, “The White Lily of Stalingrad” by her comrades. On February 1943 she was promoted to a junior lieutenant and chosen to join a group of elite pilots that were permitted to search for targets under their own initiative. These "free hunters" were made up of only the most experienced pilots. In recognition of this status she had a white
lily painted on the side of her plane.
Finally she was shot down while engaging several fighters and went missing leaving a mystery that would not be solved for many years.

[@Yarnhub]

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[@user-gj3ri9qv9w]

Красный Луч - это город, где я родился. Спасибо за видео!

[@Yarnhub]

We worked hard on new faces for this film. Let us know if you like them ! And please subscribe !

[@daecho6804]

Hey The people Who work on this I have a question what made you do all these videos for yarnhub

[@reyeslee6115]

Yayyyyyy!!!

[@daecho6804]

Also you make my day and I watch videos like this and learn stuff like this good job enjoy your New Year’s wherever you are have a good one

[@bubassvaba6221]

I wish you guys the best in following year and years more to come. I was excited, and the video is amazing. To whole team, happy new year!

[@zarahmb1711]

Great storytelling! And the animation is awesome! Now a certain band has to do a song about this lady, I think ...

[@Vuk_Stajic]

The end credit with the wreckage covered in white lilies was very touching. Incredible work overall!

[@caroltenge5147]

My eyes are wet..... and I am not Russian.

[@escstudios2068]

@@caroltenge5147 Great video. Animation !

[@thegermanfool8953]

@@caroltenge5147 balls

[@the-db9bn]

@@caroltenge5147 rule 34:Heyy we exist and the white liley of Russia sounds a good commission topic :D

[@stellarrock7991]

@@thegermanfool8953 i agree

[@andro7862]

I'm impressed by her mechanic, Pasportnikova. She dedicated 36 years of her life to ensure her friend got the recognition she deserved.

[@DogKacique]

The friendship stories between WW2 personel are always heartwarming. The bloodiest conflict ever forged some of the stronger bonds we'll ever see

[@benpurcell4935]

The commandant of the Night Witches spent about the same amount of time looking and recovering each and every one of her pilots remains that were shot down.

[@hertzair1186]

@bastiat ….that’s Franz Stigler and American Charlie Brown

[@hertzair1186]

@bastiat ….you’re welcome!

[@moniquealvarez1687]

When I’m an aldut I will be communit

[@themegaforce810]

Amazing how her friend spent 36 years to find her friends wreckage, and finds 17 others along the way. Truly amazing work and an amazing friend.

[@cherami8445]

The new faces are incredible, the animation stunning and the final frames with Lydia's Yak-1 downed and lilies growing around her plane is beautiful. Awesome video dedicated to an awesome pilot.

[@pagadianbro2890]

Yes it is.

[@321CatDaddy]

Definitely the best yet. Kudos!

[@hillfortherstudios2757]

UV Texturing is really good too!

[@samueldamuel1689]

it gets 10x better every episode

[@brokenbridge6316]

Hey I like your profile pic CherAmi.

[@_17_55_]

My Great-Grandmother was the first female doctor in the RAF. She basically went the the RAF recruitment office and point-blank refused to join the WAAF or WRAF instead.

[@crsfs6232]

Nice to know that

[@mikailvito7200]

Your Great Grandmother was a hero, may i ask who her name was?

[@Bad.Astronaut]

Ok👍

[@Plantedaphid07]

when did she joined?

[@barneydenstad2148]

Yeah. Most of these sovjet female combat volunteers had to fight their way, to get a front duty. Its surprising what could be done, in this time of terror and the NKWD quotas to fill a number of spies, saboterus, and traitors... These women could travel across Sovjet without permission, to meet with some leading minister, or some leading general... Write letters to Stalin, etc etc... They seldom got anything for free... Later in the war it become easier to be recruited into combat roles.

[@SammySathya]

A fitting tribute to the memory of a remarkable woman and an outstanding pilot. Thank you for making this

[@obyssey]

As well to her friend Pasportinikova, her persist efforts for half a century finally revealed the truth.

[@mrwhips3623]

Men will always be better pilots, keep coping

[@ArxInvicta]

I really like the gesture of the german pilot, offering his gold watch once he realized he insulted her - and the fact that she did not shoot him down while he was on the parachute. (Was sadly relatively common on the eastern front to do that) Shows that both sides in this case had a code of honor, very impressive especially on the eastern front.

[@barneydenstad2148]

Yeah. And also, the russian didnt took per automato the golden watch from their POW...

[@barneydenstad2148]

@@AaronRMG Ah, yes. The Me109 whom not only didnt finished off the badly damaged B-17, but also escorted it almost home, so no other german figher pilot would take them.

[@mdokuch96]

@@AaronRMG that "code of honor" was mostly for aerial combat in the West. In the East Luftwaffe were quite infamous for attacking non-combatant targets like hospitals with all the prescribed signs of one like red crosses, refugee columns were common targets for their strafing runs in summer of 1941. Also they had the habit for shooting down parachutes. German pilots being "gentlemen" with their enemies is a Western narrative - not even a lie, technically. It is just an omission that there was VERY different war on the Eastern Front.

[@ThermicLight]

@@mdokuch96 "Also they [Luftwaffe] had the habit for shooting down parachutes" You get this information from Pravda maybe? Seriously you're talking such utter nonsense. Namely as the act of shooting parachutes was not a common occurrence on any side, and was fervently disciplined, except for notable cases from Japan. You'll find plenty of anecdotes even, whether it be American, German or Soviets who with great disdain go out of there way to down any odd foe caught shooting at parachutes.

[@MaeckesPlanB]

@@ThermicLight Shooting a parachute would have been extremely stupid, givem the limited amount of ammunition these planes carried.

[@VERRATENMEMESANDCOD]

Fun Fact: Lydia Litvyak is also the female pilot with the highest number of kills ! Happy New Year Everyone ❤️

[@amazingandy007yt3]

thanks from the Interesting info

[@jokekopter2509]

Is she best femal pilot?

[@canthi109]

@@jokekopter2509 Yes

[@jokekopter2509]

@@canthi109 ok

[@andreakaruniawan335]

Seems like Manfred von Richtofen will have an Rival now

[@t.j.payeur5331]

" So stand by your whiskey glass steady. The world is just a web of lies. Here's a toast to us, dead already! Hurrah for the next man who dies..." Those white lilies growing up around the plane wreck at the end..pure poetry, man, made my eyes burn for a second...thanks, nice work.

[@KaerRid]

Автору - спасибо за труд, Лидии и её коллегам - вечная слава, и вечная память!

[@darrenblack5541]

Some one give props to pasportnikova for keeping up the search for 3 decades to prove her friend was a hero. That is some true loyalty there

[@Wolfen443]

Not many women got to see actual combat in WWII as pilots, so thanks for the story and good animation. I am sure that there is a Russian Film about her somewhere, I hope.

[@thunderbird1921]

Does anyone happen to know if any female pilots flew for the Communist side in the Korean War? I've always had a hard time figuring out whether the female combat pilots were only because so many men got killed during World War II or even if it was normal whether it was limited to only the Soviet Union (as opposed to Mao's China or North Korea).

[@Yvarov]

There is crowdfounding indie company film is preparing. Litvyak (Литвяк). You can support it.

[@crinkly.love-stick]

@@thunderbird1921 I'm not sure specifically about Korea, but I do know the Soviets were very progressive for the time. The logic was, To put it bluntly, a woman can fight and die the same as a man. I'd imagine that, like everything else in communism, they were recruited after showing some sort of "promising" skill/characteristics at a young age. And after years of specialist training, were chosen based on class grade rankings, and what the Army needed at the time.

[@LittleNala]

A long time ago, I happened to watch an old black and white Russian movie (with subtitles) about a woman who had been a fighter pilot during the war. She had become a teacher, and the movie showed her mundane life, getting shouted at by naughty kids, and having hassles with the school bureaucracy, and every so often, she would just drift away, and there were flashbacks of her having dogfights and zooming through the clouds over the battlefields. The movie was about the contrast in her life, after the war finished. It was melancholy, but a good movie. I have no ides of the title - it was a long time ago.

[@mikepette4422]

many female pilots handled things like transports and ferrying aircraft from the USA to Russia. Others like the woman who searched for Lydia were members of the Night Witches (my great uncle was actually killed by them they dropped a small bomb on him when he made a mistake by lighting a cigarette at night ) So actually the Soviets did use a lot of women in Combat just not in the roles you'd think like fighter pilots.

[@bramborovyastronaut]

Well, you made it to the top of my list of 2021 series. It's close with For All Mankind, but you'r the best. Thank you guys for another amazing year with amazing stories about heroes just like Lydia Litvyak. Thank you and HAPPY new year.

[@thecentralintelligenceagen9963]

If anyone hasn't watched For All Mankind you must it is such a great show

[@yearoldThatsnot]

@@thecentralintelligenceagen9963 it truly is great storyline

[@farel9476]

@@thecentralintelligenceagen9963 when will they release the season 3? Im excited

[@bramborovyastronaut]

@@farel9476 Joel Kinnaman in his instagram post set that season 3 is around the corner, but I expect release date to be very early in summer, because there was like 18 mounths between season 1 and 2, also 4th season will be here sooner, it was already green lit and some scenes were filmed while filming season 3.

[@doomsday9973]

@@thecentralintelligenceagen9963 wow. I thought it was god awful couldn’t even make it through season 1

[@jurajaryn5510]

Lidie, nejlepší stíhací ženský pilot všech dob, věčná čest a sláva

[@augustoktavian6737]

Уважаемые Yarnhub, во-первых, спасибо вам за то, что рассказываете англоязычным людям правду о подвигах советских солдат периода Второй мировой войны, во-вторых, хочу сделать одно замечание: на 0:27 у вас летчик с погонами. Погоны в Красной армии (РККА) были введены только весной 1943-го. Осеню. 1942 года знаки различия восковых званий были на петлицах.

[@user-qm5eu5hd1t]

Уточню - в январе 1943г.

[@emilpall2621]

That scene of the crashed plane at the end of the video was breathtakingly beautiful

[@daniyarsadykov3385]

Lydia Litvyak's story is the definition of the quote: "Those who survived a long time on a battlefield starts to think they're invincible."

[@foresakenog125]

IT’S TIME

[@jacextreme6432]

“I bet you do too, buddy.”

[@seavibesz689]

Here comes the snow

[@pepega508]

"yo buddy, still alive?" - a certain solo wing

[@MastermemesXD]

And dissapears and no one know if she still alive or not. SHE IS IRL CIPHER

[@Mustashkin333]

Спасибо за такую историю, очень важно знать и помнить о таких людях как Лидия, С Наступающим Новым Годом всех!!!

[@SagatBordyev]

Novi God!

[@Mustashkin333]

@@SagatBordyev ахахаха тогда уж Noviy god

[@mrains100]

I used google translate. I am not a Commie, but I admire the people who defended their country against the Nazi animals that attacked them.

[@crusinscamp]

and a Happy New Year to you, stay safe and healthy!

[@shokojunge7830]

@@mrains100 "not a commie" wtf

[@demonlordomegaacepilot7090]

What a wild story bravo to this female ace. May she be remembered to those who live history and future aviator pilots!

[@DannyBoy777777]

There is no corroboration from German sources on her claims - this is Soviet propaganda. Male pilots on both sides exaggerated their claims.

[@doomsday9973]

@USERZ123 not true. It’s well known the soviets wildly exaggerated the feats of their hero’s for propaganda purposes that goes for both male and female. It’s almost impossible to know what’s true age what’s not

[@barneydenstad2148]

Yes. What is interesting. She didnt just shot down beginners, or just bomb planes (whose both were more or less sitting ducks). She took also down expeienced fighter pilots; even aces... THAT is skill!

[@Tragicide]

You should check out Strike Witches. There’s a character based on her.

[@demonlordomegaacepilot7090]

@@Tragicide i sure will bud! When yeh get a chance check out Demonsoftacticalgaming and see the 4 knife kill. Colonel 100 style lol

[@craigs71]

I only knew her as the White Rose of Stalingrad, I would love to see a movie about her and some of the other women who had served with distinction in WW2 instead of the modern 'strong woman' trope we have nowadays.

[@KristianHerdi]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIDGpZR7m96Wb6c

[@vapormissile]

Same here. I learned that the Germans called her the White Rose because they saw the flower on her plane. Something like that.

[@ArcticuKitsu]

Well, there is always Japan and its anime. Even if its lewd there are more serious types (even the lore) to which you can admire and learn from. it's thanks to Strike Witches I was also able to find them paying respect to purposely forgotten pilots (even Canadian ones). Where North American media fails Japan tends to have you covered. Just need to be open minded instead of being needlessly critical putting things down. I'm however thankful Yarnhub made me aware of The White Lily. Hope to eventually see her in Anime, unless I already have unknowingly.

[@Tragicide]

Sanya V. Litvyak from Strike Witches is what got me interested in her.

[@claytonberg721]

American studios have little appetite for any positive portrayal of anyone from the soviet union. Someone tried in the 2000's to get a movie about the Night Witches greenlit with Malcolm McDowell staring but they couldn't get a studio to sign on.

[@chenus6544]

Спасибо вам большое за ваш труд!

[@Tragicide]

Sanya V. Litvyak

[@paul_ujb]

Those Yak fighters look gorgeous! It’s not often to see Russian pilots receive attention in Western media - apart from the Night Witches - so this was a great video to watch. An incredible story of an incredible woman. The air combat scenes looked amazing and the new faces are great. Hats off to you and the team once again!

[@bestservedrandom2892]

Spectacular editing and has shown how hard and well deserved you guys are for having more than a million subs

[@TheGreg6466]

OMG, I didn't realise, they've only got 450k subs?! that's messed up, they deserve 2 million at least.

[@louisavondart9178]

Actual reports stated that 4 German 109's attacked Lydia's Yak 1, not two. The Germans executed all women Soviet soldiers that they captured so had she survived the fight, she would not have lived long afterwards. When her body was found after the war it was declared that she had died of a head wound. From an aircraft machine gun or a Luger... we will never know.

[@TheSoundsage]

Well, it was the German report that cited her as ramming and killing the German pilot, so why would there be any question of her being executed later?

[@view1st]

@@TheSoundsage Perhaps because they didn't want to admit to shooting on sight enemy soldiers who were women.

[@askewcat3209]

@@view1st its also possible she just died aswell when she rammed the german pilot

[@user-ds2yw2ct9n]

@@askewcat3209 Ramming was commonplace and I've never heard about survivors after any of those ramming.

[@kianokao4286]

Wow the animation detail has just gone up insanely great! Good job yarnhub!

[@shayaldwarka7907]

She is lucky to be in the air. Since ground battle in stalingrad was one of the most bloodiest battles ever

[@carlkangethe939]

It is the bloodiest battle in history

[@DomWeasel]

The air war over Stalingrad was no picnic. The Luftwaffe had air superiority due to the bulk of Soviet aircraft being used to defend the Moscow front and the disasters of 1941 had cost the VVS what few experienced pilots it possessed, meaning German pilots with experience over Poland, France, the Low Countries and Britain were fighting Soviets who had barely finished training. In '42, new Soviet pilots had as little as ten hours flight time before being sent into battle, usually in obsolete biplanes which handle differently to the monoplanes they were given to fight with. The result was a truly appalling rate of attrition for the VVS.

[@aliceyagami8260]

@@DomWeasel damn just 10 hours and later go to battle. Damn..... By the way battle in air still a hell Planes can make this more romantic but still a hell.

[@finddeniro]

Titans Clashed. . Entirely Different Grind... Soviets were Lied to.. Motivation ...yes...

[@barneydenstad2148]

@@DomWeasel Good analysis. Although these obsolete bi-planes, in hands of an experienced pilot, could do OK. If nothing else, they were usually more maneuverable than the modern planes, and thus, did OK in dogfights. But of course, it didnt helped much a beginner...

[@son_of_caesar8908]

Man, the way you animated the flowers growing from the wreckage of the plane was an inspired idea. That was brilliant. Amazing job!

[@xuda7100]

Great video as always, Lydia Litvyak was the most badass woman in World War two! She deserves a full feature length film dedicated to her!

[@ZweGGy]

she was a communist scum.

[@theflash0815]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6SsXp93gbiae5Y

[@Tragicide]

There’s an anime series called Strike Witches with a character based on her. It’s definitely worth checking out.

[@Tragicide]

@ ZweGGy tho it is kinda unfortunate that she had to fight for the soviets at that time, it was more of a fight for survival against the Nazis who committed many atrocities rather than trying push a faulty ideology. Maybe if she was around a little longer she probably would’ve been disenchanted with the soviet union as well but, who knows.

[@travelerforever8849]

so many russian women were baddass. Even many snipers were women because stalin believed women very detailed and careful so they were excellent snipers.

[@hanswittmann]

I LOVE THIS CHANNEL!!! Your animations are amazing guys! You really should be proud of you terrific effort! Happy new year! ❤️

[@thespadeplays1]

The greatest gift before the year ends! Thank you so much for all you do Yarn Hub! Your animations are becoming more interesting with each day you upload! Thank you again for all you do!❤❤

[@tehehdbqywyeye8155]

Когда увидел летчика в кабине... Качество изображения, эффекты, прорисовка мельчайших деталей - это просто высший уровень. Спасибо за такие истории. Продолжайте и дальше радовать своих подписчиков. И еще хочу поздравить с Новым Годом!

[@MonolophosaurusEnj0yer]

I find it funny that the day after I see the decal in War Thunder, I get to learn the story behind it. Nice job with this one Yarnhub!

[@cadetkohr5508]

Wow, the animation can't stop getting better with every video, and the new faces look really good! Thank you for sharing the stories of these amazing soldiers throughout the year!

[@rajchowdhury5153]

Yarnhub always does that. The way he describes events and the personalities, he always makes me fall in love with the person or event. Btw.... animations are becoming great and great. Especially the blue eyes of her stunned me.

[@ligma5058]

The amount of detail here makes me cry. Holy crap dude....I can't even imagine the time to make a single minute of this clip. I really should tell my girlfriend to watch your channel! Thanks for your dedication team Yarnhub!

[@TheKey133]

Skąd wy bierzecie tak ciekawe historie! Ogląda się to świetnie, przyznam się, że czasem nawet ze łzami w ochach. Podziwiając heroizm i oddanie, bohaterstwo i odwagę wspomnianych ludzi. Uwielbiam wasz kanał. Pozdrowienia z Polski. 😊

[@Rubufguid]

Thank you for filming a pilot about our heroine, we still have many heroes of the USSR, I hope you will also film about them! Good luck and promotion to the channel :)

[@dragonball41876]

Communist thug

[@user-fd5rc2kz7g]

@@dragonball41876 north korea?)

[@manuelvalentin2648]

Another awesome production! These shorts on little known military history are entertaining and informative in every way. Kudos to you guys in your efforts in producing such quality material!

[@acommon1]

Solid post. Love the history. Amazing animation. Great voice overs and storytelling. For decades, I've marveled at the superb heroic women's contributions in the WW2 / Great Patriotic War. Thank you for creating and sharing.

[@Boeing-ER-yj8nn]

hew guy, *happy new year!*

[@gavionne0558]

Happy new year

[@partycrasher1569]

almost but happy new year

[@BlueLobster457]

Happy new year 2 mate

[@mr.randomyt1097]

You too

[@jamasa0074]

In 8h 51min its new year for me but a happy new year to some

[@twitchingphoenix4595]

I'll always love the music in these videos. The toned down "Strike Witches" during the TV broadcast was just perfect. With the tone used, it makes the song sound slightly confusing, which is perfect for the situation.

[@hoshyro]

You guys are making it far already, thanks for sharing yet another pearl! Keep going, your skill and passion in keeping stories alive is admirable :)

[@finntastique3891]

A story worth telling, professionally made. Well done!

[@ididntthinkofaname2576]

Dear Yarnhub I am a Filipino who would love an animation of battle of Yultong a battle in the Korean war where 1,000 or 900 Filipino soldiers fought 40,000 Chinese and North Korean outnumbered but the brave Filipino soldiers put up a good fight and infilicted heavy casualties to the Chinese and North Korean forces I would understand if you couldn't do the animation or not see this comment but i would be happy if you did do it, have an amazing day Yarnhub and as always a beautiful animation love and support from the Philippines 🇵🇭

[@GAMER123GAMING]

nah

[@ididntthinkofaname2576]

@@GAMER123GAMING what nah

[@GAMER123GAMING]

@@ididntthinkofaname2576 nah has nh nah nah nah has nah no nah

[@janitha001]

With this great quality videos and hard work, I can't believe why they still didn't hit one million subscribers😕. Everybody plz share this channel with your history enthusiastic friends.

[@brianhartsell4085]

Really enjoy the videos. Both of my Grandfather's served, during WW2. One in the Army, the other served in the Navy. My maternal Grandfather served and fought in Europe. He actually fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Was wounded by a 20mm, which grazed his head. Thanks to God, he survived. My fraternal Grandfather, served on a destroyer, which was hit by a Kamikaze pilot. It struck the guide wires and radio transmitter antennas. He survived, also. These stories are very interesting and thanks for presenting them.

[@catjudo1]

That was truly a great story! Ten minutes and I now know something and someone I never knew before. Thank you.

[@aviationfilms5601]

Goodness,i knew it would be good but holy cow! The detail is insane! I love this! Wish you a happy new year aswell!

[@Spudtron98]

First woman pilot to shoot down an enemy, and she did it _twice_ in one mission, taking out a fucking _ace_ in the process. And then she went and knocked out _another_ ace the next sortie. What a mad lass.

[@derkaiser420]

That was one of your best ones yet. The animation just gets better. Keep it up.

[@HeWhoMurksWithOneLeap]

This channel is nearly as legendary as the tales of the Legends it regales us all with while teaching history. 👏

[@Racerxwilly]

Been great to see how far this channel has come. The often lesser known stories of Valor and bravery displayed during one of mankind's darkest chapters have always been well told. Now with better graphics... top notch. Keep it up. That outro tho... right in the feels. .. Ps. Gotta admit. Not being familiar with this story I was kinda hoping she'd eventually settle down after the war and marry her first "kill" after he offered her his watch .

[@nieznajomy7]

Bruh

[@agniteyt]

I bet a billion dollars EVERYONE blushed when they saw Lydia.

[@nachorodrigueze9197]

i also bet a billion dollars that he blushed

[@agniteyt]

@@nachorodrigueze9197 "Face to Face with the most beautiful ace"

[@Tragicide]

I blushed when Sanya V. Litvyak from Strike Witches.

[@GhemourMoncef]

Why are women from the 1940s so cute

[@agniteyt]

@@GhemourMoncef Because IMO, they were REAL women

[@gabrielwojniusz1993]

This is why I love this channel, so good animations and stories

[@andrewruddy962]

Interesting format, good to know that Lydia is remembered. Thank you for making and sharing this video.

[@williamshortfilm5818]

Could you make a video on the 'Normandie-Niemen' squadron, the French pilots fighting alongside the Soviets?

[@danshivay4007]

Восточный вариант - асы в изгнании для Сабатон...

[@rodjarrow6575]

There is a joint French-Russian film (1960) about the Normandy Squadron kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z17XqYRuadFkmZI 2) Also a 2017 doc.film kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWSqeXaCm715prs

[@DIDYOUSEETHAT172]

Excellent video I'm a historian, I'm familiar with the story of The White Lily of Stalingrad, Lidya Litvyak. Its always nice to think people like Elvis simply walked away and lived long happy lives. But I don't believe Lidya with her dedication to the cause would have done that. If she survived she would have gone back. 😊👍 PS she flew about 66 combat missions over two years. with upwards of 16 kills.

[@barneydenstad2148]

If she flew 2 years, it must have been more than 66 combat missions. Russians hadnt not the american turns of 25-30 mandatory missions. They used their flyers as long there was a need of them... That is why lotsa of them have a ratio of over 800 missions... So, if Lidya had only 66 missions; something must have happened. Perhaps she was wounded and had long recovalescence. Perhaps she was used as teacher in a combat flying school... Or both.

[@DIDYOUSEETHAT172]

@@barneydenstad2148 You are right, my bad, memory ain't what it used to be. I was thinking she started combat in 1941 when Germany invaded . She stated flying at 14, and was piloting small aircraft by 15 in1936, and earned her instructor license within a few years after that. So starting over, she attempted to enter the Russian Military Air Service 1941 but was turned down, she then forged her record by adding more hours of flight time and began training early 1942, her first combat flight was with an all female unit, no kills. She was transferred to 437th Fighter Regiment which was mixed gender, and her commander refused to let her fly, but eventually he had to, due to demand for pilots. She had her second combat mission Sept 13 1942 where she made her first two kills She was then transferred twice more before being promoted to junior lieutenant. Then she was shot down 1 Aug 1943, 17 days shy of her 22 birthday Aug 18. So about 13 or 14 months in actual combat. 😊👍

[@barneydenstad2148]

@@DIDYOUSEETHAT172 Re the question: why no hits while in the all female regiment? My theory is it depended on what tasks they got. And I presume they got the tasks of patrolling and escorting. Escorting very literally; the instruction was to escort and protect the planes (or city) they followed, NOT engaging and destroying enemy planes. Scare them off if possible, or at worst, make the attack much more difficult. Not to engage and pursue one on one; risking to come away from the protegees leaving them without active protection... Its one of the reasons the allowance to be a free ranger, allowed to hunt, seek and destroy, was so hotly desired by the experienced pilots... Being also the best way to get many victories...

[@DIDYOUSEETHAT172]

@@barneydenstad2148 Her first assignment was with the 586th Fighter Aviation Regiment. As far as I know at first they were not flying escort, mostly defensive patrols. Perhaps the powers that be did not have that much faith in an all female regiment, giving them only light assignments. Similar to what the USA did with the all African American Tuskegee Airmen 99th Pursuit Squadron when they were first deployed. They were assigned and sent to patrol areas with little enemy presence. Plositions that had already been hit and cleared. The 586's first combat mission was February 23 1942 patrolling a railway in Saratov to protect it from German bombers. The 586's first recorded kills were September 24 1942 after Lidya had been transferred. Valeriya Khomyakova and Olga Yamshchikova each scored a Junkers Ju 88 over Stalingrad. Pilots combat missions included flying patrols over factories, important towns, troop movements. Combat in general was hours of boredom followed by minutes of sheer hell breaking loose. There were also some pilots who flew multiple missions, as well as engagements without scoring a single areal victory. Out of 2,073 missions, the 586 engaged in only 125 air battles, and shot down 19 enemy aircraft. Producing only two Aces, Lydia Litvyak and Yekaterina Budanova. both of whom were killed in action.

[@barneydenstad2148]

@@DIDYOUSEETHAT172 Tx for the additive info! Sending an inexperienced regiment into a calm area was of course wise, to give them some extra experience. But keeping them there forever is another issue.... Re this; pilots with multiple battle mission but none or few kills. One aspects is of course, not all are of the ace calibre. Another aspect is, they were typically organized in rotes, ie nr 1 was the hunter, nr 2 was mainly protecting the tail of of nr 1... Of course, nr 1 was typically the best pilot. But it wasnt the role of number 2 to score kills, his role was to protect; to abort or disturb attacks on nr 1... There WERE nr 2 whom had kills. I suppose it was usually when the enemy formation did break down, and it was hunt and pursuit... Occasionally if the enemy plane come straight before their cannons... Another aspect may be, women are often more strict with keeping with rules. If the instruction was; you protect, dont hunt if there is any risk you leave the area unprotected - so they didnt. While boys typically dare more; and break the instruction. And so, get more kills... Speculating and thinking aloud here a little... :)

[@barryporteous4904]

Well done! I can appreciate a lot of effort gone into the animation and narrative. Excellent work, thank you.

[@xyx1667]

another stunning vid! especially when comparing the older animation style of the faces in the photo frames from the Night witches vid great detail on Litvyak's grave, so much like the real one and that ending scene 9:28 just.... *BEAUTIFUL* it's a great start to the new year ^_^

[@almirmulaosmanovic3401]

Night witches music in the background towards the end is honestly amazing

[@cassandraralph5906]

I loved this video, I found it very amazing and touching, especially when the white lilies grew up, and blossomed around the crashed aircraft! Amazing just amazing!

[@Phoenix1.s]

these animations get better and better every episode keep up the great work!

[@canamwing6999]

That was awesome! Thank you for making this video.

[@krysocz4250]

The videos are getting better and better! Great job with the animations!

[@buellrod]

Happy New Year's guys and thank you for the story well yet again you hit it out of the ballpark

[@MayHBLee]

I can really notice the quality improvements of your animations! Keep up the great work!

[@apathtrampledbydeer8446]

Wow, I'm speechless! Great video, as always!

[@airplanemaniacgaming7877]

I'm of the opinion that such a legendary woman would never die so easily, and that the former Night Witch's story is true.

[@robbybee70]

I feel like footage from the year 2000 should be findable I mean I'd love to know

[@bobreams5178]

I'm with you, for the reasoning you propose and of course out of hope that Lydia did indeed survive.

[@doomsday9973]

No way in hell did she survive. It’s a nice story but a fantasy. No way would someone that dedicated to her country just “walk away” in the literal middle of the war.

[@doomsday9973]

Having a “legendary story” Doesn’t mark you invincible. Eventually another pilot got the best of her like many other aces. Also no way would someone that dedicated just “walk away” from the war literally in the middle of it

[@robbybee70]

@@doomsday9973 you are making too many assumptions based on what was in the video, which is not a primary (or even secondary) source so....

[@miguellowe2407]

Loved this! Hats off to all military ladies. I feel like subscribing again after watching.

[@quinn311nd]

I hate the lack of recognition this channel gets

[@painttank68]

Your videos always clean out my tear ducts. I have a daughter in High School ROTC who wants more than anything to be a JAG officer. Excellent video.

[@williamlingardsson6961]

I hope you see this yarnhub, i love your videos and I think your Chanel is amazing and I love history so its perfect. I hope you will hit 1 mil someday I want to see your Chanel grow like a tree keep up with the amazing work❤❤

[@aniruddhxie2k215]

Super touching story The animation did a perfect job to bring the true emotions And the mystery it carries adds to it

[@aissau5091]

I will watch this channel every day before I sleep beautiful stories beautiful animation beautiful voice actor so happy that I found this channel

[@gadgetview5813]

The nostalgic background score of "The Night witches" at the end just brought goosebumps. It felt like the story is continued here...Kudos to Yarnhub team for the minute attention to detail.

[@pokefan-ix7sh]

Lydia Vladimirovna Litvyak (Russian: Лидия Владимировна Литвяк; 18 August 1921, in Moscow - 1 August 1943, in Krasnyi Luch), also known as Lilya, was a fighter pilot in the Soviet Air Force during World War II.[1] Historians estimate for her total victories range from five to twelve solo victories and two to four shared kills in her 66 combat sorties.[2][3][4][5][6] In about two years of operations, she was the first female fighter pilot to shoot down an enemy aircraft, the first of two female fighter pilots who have earned the title of fighter ace and the holder of the record for the greatest number of kills by a female fighter pilot. She was shot down near Orel during the Battle of Kursk as she attacked a formation of German aircraft.

[@JamboreDuniaV]

Wikipedia?

[@50ap5ud5]

What a banger to finish off the year. Have a happy new year all!

[@reyeslee6115]

Happy new year!!!

[@daecho6804]

Happy New Year to you too have a good one and let’s make sure the next year isn’t shit

[@mr.monhon5179]

Congrats, you've made it another year!

[@CptManny]

Merry late christmas and happy new year

[@nelsontoondrawer7618]

Excellent. Really amazing, much improved animation. Thanks for working on these. Will make sure to be subscribed.

[@Xer0280]

When I thought the animations couldn't get better, it got better.

[@ViceroyGurin]

Love the little piano cover of Night Witches when you talked about Nina Raspopova

[@daspotato895]

At Omaka museum in New Zealand, there is a Yakovlev fighter (If I remember correctly, a Yak-3 in flying condition) with a tribute to Litvyak near it. Absolutely great video, and the faces were very good. I especially liked the ending credits with the Yak-1 and the lilies.

[@fivesthespeeddemon5642]

Still the best history content on KZbin. Keep it up yarn!

[@terryhayworth4947]

Happy New Year and thank you for bringing us this video

[@greatcanadianmoose3965]

This video's thematic content is superb. The final touches of the Yak with the Lillies, is beautiful. I appreciate the effort made with the new faces, and think there is potential, but it's a bit in the uncanny valley for me, so I'm not too sure how I feel about them for now. It also may go against the cartoonish direction you went over the past year and a bit. Either way, I'm excited to see what's next!

[@poketime6769]

Amazing! The details are getting better and better!

[@teymurj2966]

I love the extra small details Yarnhub puts in these videos that make them so much better!

[@guywholikesplanes]

There is a saying among pilots that you start flying with a full bag of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to be able to fill the bag of experience before the bag of luck runs out.

[@GeorgeSemel]

Well her mechanic had a real devotion to duty to spend thirty years looking for her friend and in the course of that fine a bunch of others that had been lost. The Russians have a lot on the MIA list.

[@rimshot2270]

No doubt some deserted and made their way to the West or were captured but stayed in Western Europe.

[@thelonelytimbit]

Pretty sure they were lovers, not just friends

[@amezcarl]

I love these stories, but this one is by far my favorite. She is an example and a role model for all women in the world. Damn, she was brave!!.

[@lynettedavies115]

Very well produced, thank you. All those girls did a terrific job. Having worked on the PO2, I consider they certainly had courage to do the sweeps at night, often in minus C conditions, in these aircraft, which were sturdy but woefully slow, & inadequate for the task. I never did fly one, (or the lovely Yak3 etc) but the Po 2 was a similar aircraft to the Tiger Moth, which I've flown & worked on for a number of years.....but never shot at... Yet!! Well done, good work

[@JimboLana]

I admit, you guys got me hooked 🤝. Good job and keep up the history lessons.

[@asdrubale2]

Wonderful reconstruction! Except for a small detail: in 1942, the Soviet military did not yet wear epaulettes. They appeared in 1943.

[@LancelotChan]

Thank you for the touching story of a female ace in the air!

[@allywilkeforsenate]

I just looked up some photos of her and your animation nailed it.

[@bhimbonggames3206]

AHHHHH the animations are amazing and awesome faces, such passion, love you guys!!!! cant wait for more news on the big project with sabaton😍

[@datathunderstorm]

Fascinating historical fact of which I’d never heard of - considering I’d studied in Belarus, USSR from 1982 to 1986. She probably did survive which is why her legend was never mentioned during the time I was there. Positive patriotic female role right there. Thank you!

[@Ok-but]

damn your acount is almost as old as i am

[@takumifujiwara2951]

@@Ok-but dear God i am only 2 years older than his account

[@algi1948]

There was a directive in the USSR not to mention nationalities, when heroes of the state were to be mentioned. Lidia Litviak was a Jewish girl. It didn't suit the then policies of the communist party.

[@doomsday9973]

No way did she survive

[@Rowan407]

I really enjoyed this one, a very moving and impactful story 🧡

[@RC-Flight]

That was a very engaging and entertaining video. Thanks for making and posting it up.