Soviet tank driver and mechanic who fought on the Eastern Front against Nazi Germany during World War II. After her husband was killed fighting in 1941, Oktyabrskaya sold her possessions russian woman buys tank donate a tank for the war effort, and requested that she be allowed to drive it. Oktyabrskaya proved her ability and bravery in battle, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

She was killed in battle in 1944, and was posthumously made a Hero of the Soviet Union, the Soviet Union’s highest award for bravery during combat. She was the first of the few female tank drivers to be awarded this honor. Mariya Vasilyevna Oktyabrskaya was born into a poor Ukrainian family on the Crimean Peninsula. She was one of ten children. Mariya was evacuated to Tomsk in Siberia. By this time Oktyabrskaya was 38 years old.

She took part in a five-month tank training program immediately after the donation. The five months of training was unusual for tank crews at the time: usually, tank crews were rushed straight to the front line with minimal training. Her first tank battle began on 21 October 1943. When her tank was hit by gunfire, Oktyabrskaya, disregarding orders, would leap out of her tank and repair the tank, amidst heavy fire. 18 November, the Soviet forces captured the town of Novoye Selo in the region of Vitebsk during a night battle. During this attack, Oktyabrskaya enlarged her reputation as a skilled tank driver. On the 17th, Oktyabrskaya took part in an assault on the German positions near Novoye Selo.