In The Sniper Character Analysis

According to a survey administered to Carterville’s seventh grade, only 24 percent of the grade could name three countries part of the World War II Allies (McKinney). Considering the magnitude of World War II and its global impact, it is shocking that only a small portion of Carterville seventh graders learned this World War II fact through their own curiosity. Furthermore, only three percent of the seventh grade class could name a notable sniper of World War II. World War II was a huge conflict that began in the late 1930’s, when Germany invaded Poland. Two sides formed, the Allies and the Axis Powers. The Allies were led by the British, French, Soviets, and Americans; the Axis Powers were led by the Germans, Japanese, and Italians. The

Axis Powers and the Allies fought through the mid 1940’s before the Americans dropped two atomic bombs on Japanese cities, ending the war.
In The Sniper by James Riordan, the main character, Tania, is forced out of her home in Stalingrad.

She works with the secret police and then trains as a Soviet sniper (with her commander Vasily Zaitsev). The Sniper focused on her character development, her real story, and how different supporting characters helped her develop. Snipers have been used extensively in modern war; their silence, precision, and reliability made them virtually invaluable in World War II. Many British and Soviet snipers were highly successful; the British were trained in camouflage as well as combat, and the Soviets fought bravely in the battle of Stalingrad. Soldiers, such as Vasily Zaitsev, a Soviet sniper in The Battle of Stalingrad, and Simo Hayha, a Finnish sniper during The Winter War, became publicly celebrated heroes for their skill. James Riordan’s The Sniper aids the reader in understanding the role of Snipers in World War II, by personalizing Zaytsev, accurately describing his tactics, and describing the lifestyle and hardships of an active Stalingrad

sniper.
Early World War II snipers were often very effective against enemy infantry, especially trained British snipers and a particular Finnish sniper. British snipers were very successful in halting German infantry, especially in a pursuit of German infantry in northern France (Shore 311). Britain was immediately prompted to train more specialized sniper units; they were often specifically trained to blend into their environment. The threat British snipers posed increased dramatically; however, the threat was still lessened by the fact that the British trained fewer snipers during World War II than in previous historic wars (Shore 316). If England had trained more snipers, the British may be the most famous World War II snipers, rather than the Soviets. British Snipers were not the only successful World War II snipers; in fact, one particular Finnish sniper was the most successful of all. Simo Hayha was a Finnish sniper with the most confirmed kills of any sniper in any major war. He sniped over 542 invading Soviets in World War II with only a bolt action rifle, without a scope (Hiskey). Hayha used clever, innovative tactics to conceal his breath and movements, which allowed him his huge amount of fatalities. His great understanding of his environment helped him gain an edge on the opposing Soviets. Even when The Finns lost The Winter War against The Soviets, Hayha’s ground was never taken or conceded (Hiskey), showing that he was a skilled sniper. Trained snipers benefited countries that used them in the beginning of European World War II. Snipers fought in a way that suited certain battlefields, one of which was the city of Stalingrad.
Individual snipers and small sniper teams made a difference, however; The Battle of Stalingrad is possibly the best known World War II battle involving snipers. While Shore discusses sniper strategies, he writes, “The rubble in the city of Stalingrad made it the perfect battle ground for the soviet snipers” (201). The rubble of the city allowed snipers to hide in ruins, among bodies, and in sewers. Sniper were able to pick off officers and gunmen on the opposing side much more easily. Sniper groups also became more common. Groups allowed snipers to be slightly more relaxed, due to peer backup, and to eliminate enemies in a more efficient way (Shore 203). Snipers groups became a very popular way to train new snipers by allowing them to work together. Trained snipers groups were a necessity on both sides during The Battle of Stalingrad. However, according to Riordan, “Many German troops did not have formal sniper training, as their program was disbanded years ago” (Riordan 234). After Stalingrad, realizing their mistake, Germans reinstated their sniper training program, which greatly benefited them in the long run. Later in the War, German snipers were very effective when used against American infantry. The Battle of Stalingrad was the most successful World War II battle, regarding the use of snipers and the influence they had on the history of that battle.
James Riordan’s The Sniper has many ties to real World War II, including ties to famous sniper Vasily Zaitsev. Zaitsev was one of the most famous and successful snipers of the World War. Zaitsev’s name began to be known throughout Russia, due to his credited 225 kills in a month. His fame was solidified by his huge number of successful sniper trainees (“Prominent Russians: Vasily Zaitsev”). Zaitsev exercised hide and sting tactics, which made him so successful. He was not the most successful World War II sniper, but he is very well known due to a fabricated sniper duel and his successful attack strategies. Vasily Zaitsev appears as a major character in The Sniper, as the main character Tania’s Commander. Riordan writes Zaitsev grieving, “‘I gave you an order: no firing until my signal! Now look…’ His voice broke and he screamed, ‘You’ve killed my zachita! You did it. Your comrades… You went against the snipers’ first command: patience. How could you?’ Abruptly, with tears of rage in his eyes, he turned on his heel and marched off, head bowed. She’d never seen him lose his temper before” (Riordan 201). The Sniper humanizes the historical character of Zaitsev, giving him a complex personality, and desirable clashing personality traits. Riordan added depth to a flat, historical figure, making him more interesting to the general public; Zaitsev went against usual personality traits to show genuine grief. Vasily Zaitsev was an important historical figure that The Sniper creates more depth in by drawing emotional connections from the reader.
The Sniper highlights real-life sniper tactics, training, and lifestyle within its fictional story. In The Sniper, James Riordan writes Tania and her team executing real world sniper tactics. The snipers wait patiently around a base, surrounding it. Then the targets are suddenly flushed out, and a small team in sent in to pick off leftovers (Riordan 122). Snipers in The Sniper use many tactics actually used by Zaytsev, such as famous hide and sting tactics and flush out techniques. These tactics were highly effective in real World War II and in the story. The Snipers not only describes World War II sniper tactics, but also describes the lifestyle and training of World War II snipers. Tania endured rough sniper training before she could engage in real combat. Tania was forced to endure late-notice, high-intensity sniper training. She had to learn how to shoot accurately in a very short period of time. Trainees were also often ejected from sniper training if their shooting or terrain training slips up; this threat increases both stress and competitiveness (Riordan 81-90). Tania and other trainees were put through these environments so they could withstand even tougher conditions outside the safe-zone of training. The competitive atmosphere both teaches trainees to be independent, but also brings the group closer together. Tactics used by snipers in World War II were described in The Sniper, as well as accurately describing sniper training and their lifestyle.
Famous snipers during World War II became celebrated heroes after the war; however, as stated earlier, a limited number of surveyed seventh graders could recall even one (McKinney).

However, 85 percent of the students wanted to learn more about World War II (McKinney). British and Soviet snipers were also highly successful, a byproduct of training extensively and enduring harsh combat conditions. Yet only 24 percent of seventh graders knew that they were part of the Allies (McKinney). James Riordan’s The Sniper describes the role of Snipers in World War II; Riordan addresses the issue students face when wanting to learn more about World War II snipers, by providing a way for students to learn about them in their free time. Men who risked their lives for their country, men who endured some of the harshest war conditions, men who tried hard to serve and defend their country do not deserve to lay forgotten in history books. Snipers were a huge part of World War II, but surveyed seventh graders do not know that. Their contributions to the war effort were irreplaceable. Whether they be British or Soviet, Finnish or German, World War II snipers were a powerful, but often overlooked,

force.