Kazakhstan during the Great Patriotic War

High relief “Feat”. Memorial of Glory (Alma-Ata)

Kazakhstan during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 was part of the USSR in the status of a Union Republic ( Kazakh SSR ), therefore, it entered the war from the moment of the invasion of the Nazi Germany army on the territory of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941.

1 million 200 thousand people were called up to the ranks of the Red Army . in addition to 178 thousand who served in the army of the USSR. Warriors of Kazakhstan took part in all battles. At the beginning of the war, hundreds of Kazakhstanis were among the defenders of the Brest Fortress ^[1] .

In the Moscow battle , which began at the end of September 1941, the 316th Infantry Division under the command of General I.V. Panfilov and the 312th Infantry Division under the command of Colonel A.F. Naumov were especially distinguished.

The 1073rd Infantry Regiment under the command of Bauyrzhan Momyshuly provided heroic resistance to the enemy. Political workers of the Panfilov division P. B. Vikhrev , M. Gabdullin , machine gun T. Tokhtarov showed heroism in the defense of Moscow . Starting September 6, 1941, Kazakhstani military units took an active part in the defense of Leningrad . In the summer of 1942, Kazakhstanis entered the frontline zone of the Battle of Stalingrad . In the Battle of Kursk and on other fronts, Kazakh formations and units fought, they liberated Belarus , the Baltic states , Moldova , Ukraine and the countries of Eastern Europe from the invaders.

Warriors from Kazakhstan contributed to the liberation mission of the Soviet Army. They stormed Berlin , participated in the hoisting of the Banner of Victory over the Reichstag . Among the military formations that gave freedom to the peoples of Poland , Bulgaria , Czechoslovakia , Hungary , Romania , Yugoslavia , Austria , there were divisions formed in the republic: 72nd Guards Krasnogradskaya , 73rd Guards Stalingrad-Danube , 27th Guards Novobugsky , 150th Idritskaya Berlin , 314th Kingisepp Rifle , etc.

The Kazakhstanis actively participated in the partisan war. About 220 Kazakhstanis fought in the Leningrad Region , over 270 fought in Smolensk , about 3,000 in Ukraine and Belarus. Among them were Kazakh soldiers G. Akhmedyarov, B. Zhangeldin, A. Sharipov , N. Baysentova, T. Zhumabaev, J. Sain , G. Omarov and others. Partisan commanders A. S. Egorov , N. V. Zebnitsky , F. F. Ozmitel was awarded the title Heroes of the Soviet Union , and K. Kaisenov was awarded medals. About 300 Kazakhstanis took part in the resistance movement in Europe . After the victorious end of the war against fascism, Kazakhstani soldiers fought against the Kwantung Army of Japan .

For the heroism shown on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War , hundreds of thousands of soldiers from Kazakhstan, including 96,638 Kazakhs, were awarded military orders and medals of the USSR . 497 people (including 98 Kazakhs) were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Among them are Kazakh girls - machine gunner M. Mametova , sniper A. Moldagulova . Kazakh pilots T. Ya. Begeldinov , L. I. Beda , I. F. Pavlov , S. D. Lugansky twice became Heroes of the Soviet Union ^[1] .

In the first months of the war, the conversion of industry of the republic began . Her raw material base was fully involved. In conditions when natural resources of the European part of the USSR were occupied by the enemy, Kazakhstan turned into a powerful arsenal of the front. The economy of the republic was focused on military needs. Kazakhstan has taken a leading position in the production of copper , lead , bismuth , molybdenum , polymetals , necessary for the military industry. Kazakhstan's defense plants have mastered the production of new types of weapons, shells, mines and other types of military products. The Karaganda miners provided coal and coal to industry and transport. The enterprises of the Ural-Emba oil region increased by 39% the production of liquid fuel. Electricity production has doubled. A total of 460 new industrial enterprises were built in 1941–45. Among them, 142 enterprises were evacuated to Kazakhstan from the areas of military operations and entered into operation in a short time. In 1941–45, 3.6 billion rubles were invested in the development of industry in the republic, which exceeded the pre-war level of investment by 2 times. Coal production was doubled compared to the pre-war period. Kazakhstan in 1945 supplied 30% of the all-Union copper production, 60% of molybdenum, 85% of lead smelting. The share of metalworking and machine building from 16% in 1940 increased to 35% in 1945 ^[1] .

Agriculture of Kazakhstan provided the front and rear with food, industry - the necessary raw materials. In 1942, the number of livestock increased by 2 million, and the cultivated area increased by 1 million hectares . For 1941–45, the republic issued 5,829 thousand tons of grain, 734 thousand tons of meat and other types of food ^[1] .

During the war years, the working people of the republic sent warm clothing, foodstuffs to the front, tanks , planes , submarines were built at the expense of individual citizens. Working people of Kazakhstan voluntarily contributed 4,700 million rubles to the defense fund from personal savings. Kazakhstan took an active part in restoring the national economy of the liberated areas. For this purpose, specialists, agricultural machinery, equipment, 500 thousand livestock were sent from the republic. In addition, the workers of the republic for two years contained about 0.5 million head of cattle exported from the occupied regions, preserved and returned it. During the war years, artists of Kazakhstan created concert brigades that spoke to front-line soldiers.

In the war years, the science of Kazakhstan received rapid development. In 1941–45, 12 research institutes were opened in the republic. A significant contribution to the development of science in Kazakhstan was made by the USSR Academy of Sciences commission on mobilizing the resources of the Urals, Siberia and Kazakhstan, headed by academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences V. L. Komarov ^[1] .