Here is a nice set of newswire photographs that were used by Chicago Tribune to publish a story on equality of women in Partisan liberation movement in Yugoslavia led by the Communist Party of Yugoslavia. Almost shocked, this newspaper reports that nearly a third of these volunteer Partisan fighters are women, fighting side by side with their male comrades, thus making this a true people's army.
These photographs were taken in allied bases in Italy, islands in Adriatic Sea and Malta, where Partisans were trained by British and American officers in preparation for a final assault on German occupying forces in Yugoslavia.
The caption for this photograph reads:
"September 18, 1944
BATTLE SONG
Singing Partisan warriors of both sexes march to board a schooner from an island in the Adriatic Sea. The fighting men and women will soon be on Yugoslav soil, carrying out a lightning raid on German communications.
Credit: British Official Radio - photographed September 11, 1944"
The caption on this photograph reads:
"August 7, 1944
Girl fighters in a group of guerillas in Yugoslavia. Almost one-third of Marshal Tito's forces is reported to be made up of 'teen aged girls and older women."
The caption for this photograph reads:
"April 25, 1944
Wounded Yugoslav girl warrior learns to operate machine gun while convalescing in Malta."
The caption for this photograph reads:
"March 2, 1944
WOMEN GUERILLA FIGHTERS OF YUGOSLAV PARTISAN ARMY
Girl veterans of General Tito's forces at battle practice. These Yugoslav girls recovering from wounds, are preparing for return to the fighting front. The scene is at an Allied base in occupied Italy.
Photograph taken on February 29, 1944"
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