Litvyak was also recognised as having the highest number of kills for a female pilot. Many knew her aircraft from the white lily that was painted on one side, which became a statement of her wrath. Lydia Litvyak was amongst the many Soviet fighter pilots that fought to defend the Eastern front from German offensive. They were known for their high success rate whilst attacking targets on the ground, however, this made them severely vulnerable to fighter aircraft. Ju 87 dive bombers were deployed as a heavy defence towards the SSV along the southern wing of the Eastern front. The German air forces fought hard to maintain their position in the sky. This also meant they were able to replace aircraft constantly, something the Luftwaffe was unable to achieve. Although this may not have been enough for the Soviets to completely overrun the Luftwaffe, they were fortunate to have a clear advantage in numbers. In January of 1943, the Russians had initiated a programme for pilots to help them gain much-needed practice in preparation for the battlefield. German fighters were certainly more advanced than the SSV, they had years of tactical experience on their side. After a few days of fighting in the air, it appeared as though the Luftwaffe were weakening significantly, allowing the Soviet forces to try and claim back air superiority. Germany had never lost a summer offensive, so it would take a great deal of power to change that. After suffering many losses on the first day of fighting, the future seemed bleak for the Soviets.
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