Domestic search parties managed to find in Belarus the burial places of 18 Kazakh soldiers, who died during the Great Patriotic War. The excavations were carried out in Dubrovsky district of Vitebsk region. The search team has also found the soldiers’ ammunition and medallions.
“The front line was in the vicinity of Podnizovye village for nine months. Here you can find transitional trenches. It was difficult to find them, since the soil is clayey and the probe does not work very well. We had to use a metal detector. We managed to stumble upon eight holes and found our soldiers,” said Alexander Karolevich, instructor of the search platoon in Belarus.
“Many Kazakh soldiers died here. This is the 88th Rifle Division, formed in Almaty. And this is the 238th, which is also known as the 30th rifle division, which included recruits from Almaty, Semei and Oskemen. The 101st Kazakh rifle brigade was also fighting here. Among the personal belongings there are some knives, bowlers, spoons and glasses. We have also discovered a red badge, which proves that these were our soldiers,” added Alexander Shitov, commander of ‘Maidan Zholy’ search party from Kazakhstan.
As part of the international expedition, domestic search parties have erected more than 20 memorial signs in the places of mass graves. The remains of some Kazakh soldiers were brought home and reburied with honors.
Translation by Zhanna Smagulova
