Women's Battalion

Women's Battalions (Russia) were all-female combat units formed after the February Revolution by the Russian Provisional Government, in a last-ditch effort to inspire the mass of war-weary soldiers to continue fighting in World War I.

In the spring of 1917, Kerensky, the Russian Ministry of War authorized the creation of sixteen separate all-female military formations.

[2] Simultaneously, they hoped the presence of women would shame hesitant male soldiers into resuming their combat duties.

Many among the Russian military authorities were waiting to see how the women fared in battle and whether they would have a positive effect on male soldiers.

[11] Facing withdrawal of official support, the 2nd Moscow Women's Battalion of Death began to disintegrate in September.