Petra Herrera facts for kids
Petra Herrera was a brave Mexican woman who fought as a soldier during the Mexican Revolution. She was also known by the name "Pedro Herrera" during her time in the army.
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Petra Herrera's Early Life and Disguise
Petra Herrera was a "soldadera," a woman who joined the fight in the Mexican Revolution. To be able to fight, she decided to pretend to be a man. She changed her name to "Pedro Herrera" and joined the revolutionary groups led by Pancho Villa.
Petra made sure she looked and acted like a man. She even made up stories, like saying she shaved very early in the morning before other soldiers woke up. She was known for being very brave. Petra was especially good at blowing up bridges, which was a very important skill during the war.
As "Pedro" Herrera, she was well-liked and respected as a leader. However, when she finally told everyone she was a woman, the male leaders of the revolution would not give her a high military rank.
Petra Herrera Leads Women Fighters
After this, Petra Herrera decided to leave Pancho Villa's group. She wanted to fight at the front lines, and she knew other women felt the same way. So, she started her own group of women who wanted to fight. Some reports say there were tens of thousands of women in her group!
The Battle of Torreón
Petra Herrera and her women fighters played a big part in one of the most important battles of the war. This was the second battle of Torreón in 1914. On May 30, 1914, Petra and about 400 other women helped capture the city.
Another soldier named Cosme Mendoza Chavira said that Petra was the one who took Torreón. He even said she turned out the lights when they entered the city. However, many history books do not mention Petra Herrera's important role. Pancho Villa often gave the credit for her actions to an unknown woman.
What Happened to Petra Herrera?
After the main fighting ended, Petra Herrera wanted to become a general and keep fighting. But she was only promoted to the rank of colonel. Later, the groups of women soldiers she led were broken up.
It is not completely clear how Petra Herrera died. Some stories say she became a spy after her military days. They say she was attacked by bandits and died from her injuries. Other stories say she died in a fight between federal soldiers and revolutionaries in a place called Zacatecas.
There are even other tales about her life. Some say she formed her own army of 25,000 women and lived in a camp where men were not allowed. Still others believe she ended up working as a waitress in the city of Juarez.
See also
- In Spanish: Petra Herrera para niños
