HOW THE HEROES OF THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR WERE HONORED ON NURYZ

Every year S. Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University  celebrates Nauryz in the best traditions of the holiday, gathering a thousand people under the “united shanyrak”. The management of the university, not changing itself, organized the Great Alley of yurts, each of which was dedicated to an outstanding personality of Kazakhstan. This year three Kazakh houses were named in honor of heroes of the Great Patriotic War, natives of East Kazakhstan – Kasym Kaisenov, Izgutta Aytikov and Tulegen Tokhtarov.

As the organizers of the event explained, May 9, 2025 will be 80 years since the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. This is a historical date that immortalizes the heroism, courage and unity of peoples. On the eve of the significant anniversary, the staff of East Kazakhstan University decided to remember the famous compatriots in the celebration of Nauryz.

Inexhaustible heroism of Kasym Kaisenov

Hero-front-line soldier, writer and holder of the title “Halyk Kaharmany” Kasym Kaisenov was born in 1918 in the aul Asubulak of Ulan district. At the age of 22 young Kasym was drafted into the army, there he was sent to a special sabotage and reconnaissance school near Moscow. It was the only and the best school in the Soviet Union, where only one out of a thousand of those willing was accepted …

Akmaral Akhayeva, head of the Department of Culture, Sports and Primary Military Training, said that the decoration of the yurt named after Kasym Kaisenov was painstakingly prepared for a month by joint efforts. The best works of the author and his archive photos are presented here.

-Kasym Kaisenov was born in a family that was descended from noble warriors – Kabanbai-batyr and Barak-batyr. That is he is a descendant of Kazakh batyrs. Therefore, it is not surprising that our Kasym Kaisenov became such a great fighter for the Motherland,” Akmaral Akhayeva said.

…After graduating from reconnaissance school on November 19, 1941, Kasym Kaisenov together with ten fighters were transferred to the forest near the Ukrainian town of Boguslav. It was the headquarters of the South-Western Front. Here the 23-year-old fighter with his comrades got into an encirclement and became the only survivor. Ten days later he met Ivan Primak, who was conducting partisan activity behind enemy lines and immediately noticed the Kazakh warrior.

– Kasym Kaisenov’s fame rattled throughout the Soviet Union. They talked about him, admired him, set him as an example,” said Gulnara Borisovna, dean of the Higher School of Pedagogy.

After the war, Kasym Kaisenov discovered his talent as a writer. He wrote numerous works describing the most difficult periods of the Great Patriotic War, selfless heroism of ordinary soldiers. In total, he wrote more than 30 books.

Courageous compatriot Izgutty Aitykov

The village of Targyn in East Kazakhstan region is rightfully considered to be the homeland of Izgutty Aitykov. His childhood and youth years passed here.

From the very first days of the war he was eager to go to the front. Repeatedly wrote applications to the district military enlistment office. Only in May, 1942 Izgutty Aitykov got into the active army. He fought at the walls of Stalingrad, liberated the lands of Kalinin, Kursk, Belgorod regions, reached the shores of the Western Dvina.

Fearless scout Aitykov was not once behind enemy lines. He personally destroyed 50 Hitlerites and delivered to the unit more than 20 prisoners. For excellent performance of combat missions he was awarded the Order of Red Star, the Order of Glory of II and III degrees, the medal “For the Defense of Stalingrad”. Aitykov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for forcing the Western Dvina.

It is noteworthy that among the guests of the event was the grandnephew of Izgutty Aitykov – Nurlan Aitykov, to whom the university representatives proudly presented the finished yurt.

-I am very grateful to the rector of East Kazakhstan University Mukhtar Tolegen for such a bright, beautiful, rich holiday, as well as for honoring my respected relative. I was especially pleased with the book exhibition, which collected the most important works about Izgutty Aitykov, – shared Nurlan Aitykov.

According to the relative, the Hero of the Soviet Union did not have time to marry and have children, so his main love of life can be rightly considered the Motherland, and his descendants – numerous acts of heroism.

“Red Army man Tulegen Tokhtarov is an example for the younger generation”

Tulegen Tokhtarov was born on December 19, 1921 in Ulan district of East Kazakhstan region. He went to the front in December 1941. He became a machine gunner of the 23rd Guards Rifle Regiment of the Eighth Guards Order of Lenin Red Banner Rifle Division named after Major-General I.V. Panfilov of the Third Shock Army of the Kalinin Front.

Two months after the draft, on February 5, 1942, in the battle for the village of Nagatkino, Starorussky district, now Novgorod region, Tulegen Tokhtarov was one of the first to break into the village, killed seven enemies and took two prisoners.

Two days later, on February 7, in the battle for the village of Borodino, Starorussky district, the fearless guardsman destroyed five more fascists, having broken into the house where they were hiding. On February 10, 1942 Tulegen Toktarov took a heroic death.

-Our yurt is named after Tulegen Toktarov, who demonstrated unprecedented strength of mind and body. This is a bright example for all the young generation. Today we organized an exhibition dedicated to the hero and presented to the guests of the yurt books about the Kazakh Red Army soldier, his portrait and military overcoat. In this way we develop in students the ideas of patriotism and love for the Motherland, – said Senior Lecturer of the Higher School of Business and Law Aigul Asubayeva.

January 30, 1943 by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR year for the exemplary performance of combat missions of the command at the front of the fight against the German invaders and courage and heroism shown by the Guards Red Army soldier Tokhtarov Tulegen posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

Let’s remind, on May 9, 2025 it will be 80 years since the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Kazakhstan made an invaluable contribution to the Victory: more than 1.2 million Kazakhs went to the front, of which more than 600 thousand did not return. Kazakhstani people proved themselves in key battles, such as the Battle of Stalingrad and the storming of Berlin, and in the rear, the country became a reliable support for the production of ammunition, food and accommodation of evacuees.