Dear reader!

You are holding in your hands a book which is very significant to us – the editors, authors-
compilers and, we are hoping, it will be of significance to you.

Rosa EgorovnaShanina (1924-1945) was our compatriot, the pride of Ustyanskiy District and the whole
of Arhangelsk oblast. Her name became known during the times of war and it is still known to date,
throughout the whole of our immense country and beyond.

Rosa Shanina was a famous, excellent, legendary sniper during the Great Patriotic War. She was a
fearless female-soldier with an outstanding beauty coupled with high moral qualities. Moreover, she
kept a diary – a unique type of document, which revealed an unknown side of the war. This document
serves as the best description of her personality – a girl, someone with the calmest job, who went to
protect her Motherland, forced to protect the honor and dignity of her country in a ruthless fight with
the enemy.