Samovar of Kazakh heroine and machine gunner Manshuk Mametova on display in Pavlodar museum
A copper samovar (a traditional Russian tea urn) that once belonged to legendary machine gunner Manshuk Mametova is now housed in the Museum of Military Glory in Pavlodar. The artifact was brought from the town of Nevel by members of the Maidan Zholy search team, Kazinform News Agency reports.
According to Zhenisbek Kadyruly, an employee of the Potanin Museum of Local History, the samovar was donated to the museum in 2014 by Zhumabek Kamzin, a member of the Maidan Zholy team, and a public activist.
"In those years, an expedition was organized to Nevel, to the Pskov region. The team visited the places of the Kazakh soldiers' feat, searching for cemeteries where unknown soldiers were buried. Russian searchers found the samovar that had been used by Manshuk Mametova. Zhumabek Kamzin managed to get the samovar and brought it to our museum. In 2022, for the 100th anniversary of the birth of Manshuk Mametova, a memorial evening was held at the museum with schoolchildren, students, and guests of the city. During the event, we shared detailed stories about this artifact and the life of the Kazakh heroine. We were able to gather new information about the samovar. Now, the item used by the legendary machine gunner has its rightful place in the museum," said Kadyruly.
Historical records indicate that Manshuk Mametova died in 1943 near the city of Nevel during the World War II. During the war, 300,000 Soviet soldiers, including 86 women, were awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union. Two of them were young Kazakh girls - sniper Aliya Moldagulova and machine gunner Manshuk Mametova. Thanks to such relics, the courage of Kazakh women who gave their lives for the happiness of future generations and the future of the nation, is preserved in the people's memory.
Earlier, it was reported that a logo was unveiled for celebration of the 100th anniversary of legendary Kazakh sniper Aliya Moldagulova.