> For this purpose, I’ve deposited all my personal savings – 50,000 rubles – to the National Bank in order to build a tank. I kindly ask to name the tank ‘Fighting Girlfriend’ and to send me to the frontline as a driver of said tank.

Not that I have any idea how close 50,000 rubles would get you to a tank back then, but it seems she at least contributed to the cost of building it.

New cost for a T-34 mid war would be 150,000 to 200,000 rubles.

A US Sherman tank from the same time would be around $46,000 then, or about a half million in today’s dollars.

The less exciting but correct headline would be "Nazis killed her husband, she joined the army and became a tank driver".

True, but I suspect the deposit of her life savings was more symbolic from the point of view of the Soviet leadership. They saw an opportunity to both facilitate the ambitions of a true believer while promoting the idea that "if she can do it, why can't you?" to rally the troops.

Ultimately she achieved the retribution she desired and she should be remembered for her convictions and ability to follow through.