Kazakhstan celebrates Victory Day in Great Patriotic War

People of Kazakhstan went through the whole war which ended in the spring of 1945 in Berlin, after defending Leningrad, Stalingrad, and liberating Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Baltic nations, and the peoples of Europe. During the war, around 500 Kazakhstanis have become Heroes of Soviet Union, more than 100 received the Order of Glory, and four have been awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union twice, including Talgat Begeldinov, Leonid Beda, Ivan Pavlov and Sergey Lugansky. Bauyrzhan Momyshuly, Aliya Moldagulova, Manshuk Mametova, Tolegen Toktarov, Nurken Abdirov and many other brave heroes of the war will be forever inscribed into the history and will always be remembered in Kazakhstan. During the time of the World War II, Kazakhstan marked an increase in industrialisation and mineral extraction in support of the war effort. Besides being an overwhelmingly agricultural-based economy, Kazakhstan was one of the main arsenals for the front. In total, in 1941-45, almost 500 plants, ore mines, individual productions, and factories which produced machinery, weaponry, radio and other military technologies have been established in the country. Furthermore, Kazakhstan experienced population inflows of millions evacuated and exiled from other parts of the Soviet Union during the 1930s and 1940s. Many of the deportation victims were interned in some of the largest Soviet labour camps, including ALZHIR camp outside Astana, which held wives of men considered to be the "enemies of the people". President Nursultan Nazarbayev at the IV session of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan voiced the number - 1 million 200 thousand deported to the Republic. However, the deportation of individual nations in Kazakhstan began long before the war. Kazakhstan became the arsenal of the front line; nine out of ten bullets were cast out of Kazakhstani lead. With the outbreak of the war USSR started to relocate factories to Kazakhstan. Within the first months of the war over 140 industrial enterprises including 19 defense plants were evacuated to the republic. Before the war, Kazakhstan had only three military factories and three special workshops on civil enterprises profile. Starting with the first days of May, in honour of the Victory all towns and villages of the country celebrate the great achievement and honour veterans of the Second World War. During these days, all regions of the country hold commemorative events dedicated to this date. The highest level officials, heads of organisations, institutions, enterprises, and every single citizen congratulate the War veterans, who, in their turn, share their personal memories of the hard years and express their opinions on current affairs of the state. In addition, besides the celebration of the Victory Day on May 9, due to formation of the Armed Forces of the independent Kazakhstan on May 7, 1992, the nation celebrates this day as the Defenders of the Fatherland Day. Kazinform heartily congratulates the veterans on the Great Victory Day! We wish you good health, joy, happiness and longevity.