An event dedicated to the 84th anniversary of the Battle of Moscow took place in Bishkek, where participants laid flowers at the monument to Hero of the Soviet Union, Major General Ivan Panfilov. Veterans, representatives of the National Guard, clergy, and public organizations participated in this important event.
As noted by the participants, the memory of the Panfilov Division and the Battle of Moscow holds an important place in Kyrgyz history, as it relates to the fates of many residents of the republic who fought on the front during the Great Patriotic War.
Evgeny Nikolaevich Tseltsov, chairman of the organizational committee of the Republican Council of Veterans, emphasized in an interview that the Battle of Moscow was a key moment in the course of the entire war.
“It was a significant event. The fate of not only Moscow but the entire country was at stake during the battle. So many lives were lost. In November 1941, when the enemy approached Moscow, the famous parade took place on Red Square. Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin expressed confidence in our forces at that time,” he said.
Tseltsov added that Panfilov's name has become a symbol of courage and selflessness of the peoples of the Soviet Union, including the Kyrgyz.
“We always remember heroes such as Cholponbay Tuleberdiev, Duishenkul Shopokov, Talgat Begeldinov, Dair Asanov, and Ismailbek Taranchiev. They are our pride. It is important for the youth to understand that war is not just history, but the fates of real people,” he noted.
Advisor to the chairman of the Republican Council of Veterans, Olga Fedorovna Shcherbovskikh, added that Panfilov's figure is a symbol of the heroism of the entire nation.
“Panfilov is not only a military leader but also a symbol of the unity of different peoples who stood together to defend their country. Such events are necessary for future generations to know their history and appreciate peace,” she said.
The honored artist of Kyrgyzstan and director of the public fund "Union of Countrywomen" stated that the history of the Panfilov Division has special significance for Kyrgyzstan.
“For many young people, the Great Patriotic War seems distant. There were no battles here, and therefore there is a sense of detachment. But the history of the Panfilov Division is our history. The division was formed in Bishkek, at school No. 24. It was from there that our ancestors went to defend Moscow,” she noted.
According to her, for many families in Kyrgyzstan, the war has forever remained a part of their personal history.
“My grandfather's brother went with the Panfilov Division and died near Volokolamsk. We learned about this only many years later thanks to search teams. There are thousands of such stories in Kyrgyzstan. The monument to Panfilov reminds us of each of them,” she added.
She also reminded that the monument to Panfilov was erected in 1942, during the war, and became the first monument of its kind in the Soviet Union.
“When it fell into disrepair, it was replaced with an exact bronze copy. It is important to preserve not only the memory but also the respect for the symbols of that memory,” she emphasized.
During the event, the correspondent spoke with young volunteers from school No. 26, Aida, Malika, and Begimai.
The schoolgirls shared that their participation in such actions is a conscious choice.
“Our ancestors went to war from Kyrgyzstan. Many of them did not return. We realize that our peaceful life is the result of their feat,” they said.
The girls noted that the history of Panfilov helps the youth feel a connection to the past.
“When you learn that the division was formed here, that our compatriots fought near Moscow, you start to relate to history differently. As long as we remember, the feat of our ancestors lives on. This is our responsibility and our gratitude,” the schoolgirls added.
Reference: During the Great Patriotic War, about 360,000 people from the Kirghiz SSR went to the front, which is almost a quarter of the population of the republic. More than 160,000 of them did not return from the war.
In the summer of 1941, General Ivan Panfilov participated in the formation of a division from the residents of the Kazakh and Kirghiz SSR. In the autumn of that year, the unit entered battles near Moscow and slowed the advance of German troops. Five days after Panfilov's death, the division was named after him. The combat path of the unit continued until the end of the war. In 2011, the division was restored and is now stationed in Tokmok, Chui region.
