Karabay Kaltayev: He who went through the fire for his Motherland

On this day we remember all the people, peaceful populace and soldiers, living and dead, those who were at war and won in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. 65 years have passed, but what had happened during the war is not forgotten, it's still in our memory, in memorials, monuments and on the pages of books. The events of the first days of the Great Patriotic War drift away. Many soldiers who participated in the war pass away and with them, who witnessed the years of war, it feels like significant historical monuments drift away. That's why there's a question mark: "Do we know everything about the war?" "Do we know the true value of the victory?" "Are we able to keep the idea of war for the future generations?" Remembering the labor of veterans of the past is the testimony of priceless historical deeds. We had a chance to meet one of such witnesses.

Today's talk is about a man who passed through the battle field of the Great Patriotic War, and for many years served in the units of internal affairs. Our hero is the Lieutenant Colonel of Police, Karabay Kaltayev.

Karabay Kaltayev was born on May 5, 1923 in Akzhar village of South Kazakhstan region. Karabay experienced the severities of war at an early age. At the age of 19 he joined the liberation war against the enemy. In 1941 he called in the Red Army and was sent to the 9th troop of the 4th artillery regiment of the 1st guard airborne division. In October 1943 having been wounded he landed in the hospital. He came back to the homeland with a serious wound in his body. After recovery in 1944 he continued his military service in the 3 troop of the 20th guard rifle division and 15th guard rifle division of the I Ukrainian front line.

Karabay Kaltayev having studied the weapon, got a few military qualifications.

In the battles on the shores of Ingula river he eliminated heavy machine gun of the enemy and 30 Nazi soldiers. For this heroism he was awarded with the Honor Order of the III grade. During these battles Sergeant Kaltayev eliminated 2 main guns, 2 tanks and 2 handheld machine guns and 25 soldiers of the enemy. For courage and heroism he was awarded with the Honor Order of the II grade.

Furthermore Karabay approved himself during battles at Elba river in April of 1945. With his weapon he eliminated 3 tanks, 4 self-propelled guns, 4 heavy machine guns and 4 handheld guns and about 50 soldiers and officers of the enemy. Sergeant-Major Kaltayev on May 27, 1945 for courage and heroism was awarded with the Honor Order of the I grade.

In April 1947 when the war ended by victory, commander of 3 grades of Honor Order returned to the units of internal affairs. In 1954 he graduated from the Militsia School in the city of Tashkent. Since then having worked in the units of internal affairs for 30 years in a row he retired.

Along with that Karabay Kaltayev was awarded with the medals for "Honorable Service" and "Militsia Excellence".

Currently Karabay Kaltayev is retired and actively involved in upbringing. He and his wife Mary raised 6 children, 9 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Two years ago his wife passed away. Now he lives with his second daughter Nurzhamal and his son Bauyrzhan. His youngest daughter Nazira followed him and now serves in the units of internal affairs. Nazira Kaltayeva is the Head of the Department of Migration of the Department of Internal Affairs in South Kazakhstan region. Other children of Karabay-ata also work in various fields and serve people.

The memory about mournful days is passed from generation to generation, and we must keep it. One word of "Victory" contains heroism and courage of the millions of our countrymen who were at the front line. This word contains hard work of people who worked in the rear area for the sake of victory. This day, the day of gratitude to the liberators from the aggressor who drew near the day of victory by its hard work. The Day of May 9th is a sacred holiday for all of us. Obviously there's no family that hasn't been touched by this sorrow. Thousands of soldiers left to the front line, thousands of countrymen worked in the rear area. All the people rose to defend their Motherland and kept its right for peaceful life. Therefore we must be grateful to the generation who won the Great Victory. The victory is paid for by thousands of lives and tears of dear families. One of the heroes who brought the victory to us, Karabay Kaltayev, never forgets to share his experience with us. In 1996 Karabay Kaltayev was awarded with the title of "Honored Citizen of the city of Shymkent". A street in Shymkent is called after his name. He is always with us in the image of a hero..

Eternal memory to those who went through the fire for Motherland

This year it's the 65th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. On the threshold of the Victory Day we bow down before those who laid their lives in the Great Patriotic War. Many years passed since then, but the grievous years remain unforgotten by people forever. The names of sons who heroically and courageously fought at the battle fields are sown with golden thread in the history.

Honor and respect to veterans, fathers and mothers who granted peaceful life to us. We owe to brothers whose names are written on the pages of history.

One of those is Omirzak Atemov who showed his heroism during the years of the Great Patriotic War. He distinguished himself during liberation of Ukrainian lands from the enemy. He was born in 1923 in Yangiyul district of Tashkent region.

In 1937 he entered Textile Vocational School in Tashkent. In 1937 transferred to the 2 year of Tashkent Kazakh Pedagogical Vocational School that he graduated from with distinction in 1940. Then he entered Tashkent Pedagogical Institute named after Nizami, majoring in geography. Since September 1 till December 9, 2941 teaches math in 7-year secondary school in his village. Since December 1941 till August 1942 served as a radioman in the 281-horse troops.

In November, 1942 he departed to Western frontline from the city of Bronnitsy, located 50 km away from Moscow. In 1942 he participated in the battle in Pogoreloe of Smolensk region. Here he was appointed the Chief of the radio station of headquarters of 14th air-defense division with the title of Senior Sergeant. His destiny at bloody war was quite challenging. He started his service in Amur region of Far East and continued to be at war at eastern frontlines, which demonstrates his exceptional heroism.

The division participated in liberation battles for the cities of Sychevsk, Rzhev, Mozhaysk, Sukhinichi, and Yukhnov. On August 14, 1943 being wounded in the battles for the city of Karachev, he spent 3 months in the hospital in Ivanovo city. At that time the division located near the city of Great Luki of Kaliningrad region. The division participated in the liberation campaign of the cities of Novorzhev, Rezinye, Modonna, Ogre and the capital of Latvia, Riga. On August 25, 1944 he was awarded with the Order "Red Star".

In 1945 he graduates from Military School. Omirzak Atemov for the period of late 1945 through early 1954 visits the regions of Buryatia, Chita, Amur, Khabarovsk, Primorye, Mongolia, China and North Korea. In January 1954 having the title of Senior Lieutenant he was transferred to Central Asian Military County.

Omirzak Atemov for the period of 1955-1968 worked in the units of Internal Affairs in South Kazakhstan region. In those years he worked in the management of Internal Affairs of Shymkent. He worked as the Head of Investigation Dept of City OBKhSS, Deputy Chief of the 31-colony, Chief of the Department on struggle with drug addiction in Regional Headquarters of Internal Affairs. In 1983 he was awarded with Credentials of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Kaz SSR. Since early 1970 through late 1986 he served as the Chief of Department of Information and Employment in Shymkent City Executive Committee. He greatly contributed to the development of the city and reduction of unemployment. In 1983 he was awarded with the badge "For Active Work" by State Committee of Labor of USSR. He is the holder of 2 Orders and 20 medals. At the moment he is 87 years old, bears the military title of retired Colonel. Father of 3 sons and 1 daughter, grandfather to 13 grandchildren and great grandfather to 7 great grandchildren. All of his children obtained higher education and are married.

Noone is Ever Forgotten

It is 65 years since Great Victory during Great Patriotic War. There are lots of events going on all over the republic for honorable celebration of this great holiday. Every year the number of those who participated in the Great Patriotic War is going down.

The fact is, just a few of them are still alive.

The Great Victory is not just a big event for CIS countries, but has a worlwide scale. The war has taken away lives of millions of people. It has destroyed hundreds of cities, towns and villages. The war left indelible wounds in every house of every family. The Great Patriotic war is not just a page of sorrow in the history of peoples of the Soviet Union, but also the proof of unity, invaluable courage and resistance of our peoples. Kazakhstani people that also participated in the war, were faithful to the ancient traditions of heroism of their ancestors.

We can never forget courageous work of heroes at rear who worked with a slogan: "Everything for the battlefront, everything for the victory."

Let us look back into the history.
Noone is forgotten, nothing is forgotten.

The hero of today, Omarov Nabi Omarkhanovich, saw the war and participated in murderous battles. Nabi was born in 1921 in the city of Shymkent in the family of a peasant. He lost his father at the age of 11 and started working in a collective farm. In November 1940 he was called to join the Red Army.

In June 22, 1941 Army of Hitler from Germany invaded USSR. That was the day when Soviet government was calling people to protect their motherland. Along with the rest of soldiers, Nabi went to war. He took part in liberation of cities of Minsk, Smolensk, Mogilev, Gomel.

In 1943 Nabi participated in battles for liberation of cities of Kuban, Krasnodar, Kiev, Lvov, Zhigomir, Bertech, Warsaw, and Krakow. In 1945 he reached Berlin. Nabi returned home after the end of the war. His mother, younger brother and 3 kinds of his elder brother were waiting for him. Nabi got hired into internal affairs and worked there until his retirement. In 1949 he got married and gave birth to 6 children. Along with 6 kids of his own he adopted 3 orphan kids of his elder brother. Thus, they were a big family with 9 kids. Today, Nabi and his wife, Omarova Artykai, are a happy family. His wife, Artykai, is also a veteran of the Great Patriotic war. But this is another story.

The president of the Republic of Kazakhstan N. Nazarbayev said: "We are proud by generation of winners. Their heroic deeds are a great example of all defenders of the country of today". With time, events of 1940s will fade into history, the number of participants of the war is diminishing. It is our responsibility today to show care to veterans of the war. Those were bitter and terrifying years of war. However, all peoples that consisted of over one hundred nationalities, stood to defend their motherland shoulder to shoulder. They fought with heroism and worked hard and with dedication.

At that time Kazakhstan became a mobilization center of the country. It is in Kazakhstan that tens of divisions and brigades were formed. They fought on all the battlefronts. Every family in Kazakhstan experienced burdens of the war. Before war around 6 million 200 thousand people lived in Kazakhstan. However, during the years of war, quarter of this people left for the battlefront. It is over 1 million 700 thousand of Kazakhstani people. More than half of this people never returned home. Battle routes of Kazakhstan divisions started in severe times close to Moscow in 1941, and ended in spring of 1945 in Berlin. The Victory Day for us is a remembrance of unlimited love of older generation to their motherland. It is an invaluable example for educating young generation in the spirit of loyalty, patriotism and courage. This day will be honored by many generations of Kazakh people. Through examples set by the war veterans, let us be always ready to defend our country, lifting up high the banner of conscience. 

Loyalty to State Service

Colonel of Domestic Service, Leonid Petrovich Savin, was born on February 14, 1925 in the family of a farmer, in the village of Chemal of Gorno-Altay Autonomous region. In 1941 Leonid's parents moved to Sairam district of South Kazakhstan region. In 1941 Savin from the 9th grade of secondary school started working for Mankent Motor Repair Plant. On January 21, 1943 he was called to Red Army and sent to the city of Samarkand where he was trained to be a sniper. After a 6-month training he arrived at the 601 rifle regiment of 65 army under command of General P. I. Batov. Savin was gunshot wounded in battle. After a 1-month medical treatment he was sent to the frontline for the 2nd time to 108 rifle division. With this division in battles and campaigns he reached the coastline of Baltic Sea thus having blocked 3rd Nazi army that tried to break through to help the besieged Berlin. After the end of the Great Patriotic War he was discharged from the army in 1947 and transferred to the reserve. In April 1948 following the resolution of Shymkent City Committee of Communist Party of Kazakhstan was accepted for work by the units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Since then he devoted his peaceful professional life to the struggle with law violations and public order for over 20 years. He held operative investigation positions, including 6 years on the position of the Deputy Chief of Shymkent City Police Department, Chief of Department of Correctional Work OITU of the Department of Internal Affairs in South Kazakhstan and operative unit of investigation detention facility #3. In 1964 he graduated from the Higher School of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and obtained the diploma of lawyer. 

In August 1967 mass riots started in Shymkent. Enraged ruffian crowd started to smash down stores, stands, drugstores, cafes of the city. They burnt cars and the building of City Police Department. Local youth joined them. Armed enraged crowd attacked the investigation detention facility located in the downtown of Shymkent. They broke through the gate of the detention facility in a truck, assailed the administrative building and residential area of the detention facility. Senior operative authorized officer of the Operative Unit of the Investigation Detention Facility, Colonel Leonid Savin, being on duty on that day started skirmishing with the rioters. He showed bravery and courage. Despite the gunshot wound in his head by means of cautionary blasts in the air he stopped the rioters and didn't leave his post.

Thereby Leonid Savin defended the interests of civil service and didn't let the regime of the detention facility be disturbed. At that time over 700 arrestees were held in the detention facility.

Leonid Savin retired in September 1970. Despite serious illness Savin continued working in office-supply unit of the Internal Affairs for 23 years and is recognized with respect by all his co-workers. He was selected as a member of Regional Committee of Trade Union of State Institutions and Chairman of Union of War and Labor Veterans affiliated with Enbekshinsky District Department of Internal Affairs. Leonid Savin was awarded with the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1 grade for battle merits at the frontlines of the Great Patriotic War. Besides he was awarded with medals "For Courage", with 2 medals "For Battle Merits", "For Liberation of Warsaw", "Occupancy of Berlin". Furthermore for honorable service in the units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs he was awarded with Certificates of Honor if the Ministry of Internal Affairs of KazSSR and Ministry of Internal Affairs of USSR and City Department of Internal Affairs. He was awarded with the Credentials of Excellence of Militsia of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of USSR.

Currently veteran Savin takes part in life of Veteran Organization of the region. Reflecting on his life path, he says, "A lot can be said, but all that I have achieved: Orders, medals, acknowledgement, credentials at frontlines and during my service in Internal Affairs Department - all these are thanks to my beloved half, Raisa Fedorovna". They live together for 62 years. Savin's wife, Raisa Fedorovna, is a veteran of labor frontline. During the war she worked as a cashier at the 15 interval of the railway station Shymkent.

Veteran Savin has 3 sons, 8 grandchildren and great grandchildren who reside with their families in Shymkent.