Mariya Bayda

Mariya Karpovna Bayda (Russian: Мария Карповна Байда; February 1, 1922 – August 30, 2002) was a World War II scout in the Crimea. When she was surrounded by Wehrmacht submachine gunners, she fought a heated gun battle against them, killing fifteen, wounding several more, and routing the rest, escaping wounded. For her wartime exploits, Bayda was awarded the honorary title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

In 1936, she dropped out of the school in Dzankoy without completing her studies. She worked on a state run farm, in a hospital, and then in a cooperative society in of the village of Voinka. In 1941, she joined the Red Army.

Mariya was a nurse in the 2nd Battalion of 514th Rifle Regiment, 172nd Rifle Division of the Red Army of the North Caucasian front and senior sergeant. From September 1941 she was present at or near the front lines.

The decree of Presidium of the Supreme body of the USSR from June 20, 1942 reads (a loose translation follows), "for exemplary performance of fighting tasks of command, both showing courage and heroism in fighting fascist aggressors, to Senior Sergeant Mariya Karpovny Bayda is awarded the rank of Hero of Soviet Union, with delivery of an award of Lenin and a medal, with a Gold Star..."

On July 12, 1942, after being severely wounded, Bayda was taken prisoner and sent to Slavuta concentration camp in Ukraine and later Ravensbruck. She was released from captivity by the American forces on May 8, 1945.

After the war, she was discharged from military service. For many years, she headed the Sevastopol city department of civil registration, and she was repeatedly selected the deputy of city council. In 1976, she was recognized as a Hero and an Honourable Citizen of Sevastopol.