Izgutty Aitykov
- Early Life and Childhood
- Military Service and Valorous Deeds
- Heroism in Belarus
- Forcing the Western Dvina River
- Death and Legacy
Early Life and Childhood
Izgutty Aitykov was born on January 20, 1922, in the village of Soldatskoe, now part of the Ulan District in Kazakhstan. In the mid-1920s, he moved with his family to the neighboring village of Targhyn. Here, he completed seven grades of education and began working at the Kolbaolovo mine.
Military Service and Valorous Deeds
With the outbreak of World War II, Aitykov repeatedly petitioned the Ulan military commissariat to join the Red Army. It was not until January 1942, after writing directly to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, that he was enlisted.
Arriving at the front in May 1942, Aitykov fought at Stalingrad and participated in the liberation of the Kalinin, Kursk, and Belgorod regions. He reached the banks of the Western Dvina River, where he distinguished himself as a fearless scout. Aitykov personally eliminated 50 German soldiers and captured 22 prisoners.
Heroism in Belarus
Aitykov's heroism reached its peak during the summer of 1944 in the liberation of Belarus. On June 22, 1944, in the battle for the village of Pligovka, he led the charge, destroying enemy trenches with grenades and eliminating a tractor and an enemy cannon. He continued his valiant efforts at the village of Pershino and the railway station of Lovscha, destroying enemy machine guns and killing around 40 enemy soldiers.
Forcing the Western Dvina River
On July 3, 1944, Aitykov commanded a platoon that stormed the city of Polotsk. He led the defense against enemy counterattacks until the city was liberated.
Later that month, Aitykov again distinguished himself in the crossing of the Western Dvina River. With a small group of soldiers, he crossed under heavy enemy fire, opening fire on the German positions and forcing them to retreat. This enabled the полк to cross the river successfully.
Death and Legacy
Aitykov's heroic deeds were chronicled in an article in "Komsomolskaya Pravda" on September 3, 1944. On July 22, 1944, the same day his Hero of the Soviet Union award was signed, Aitykov was severely wounded in battle in Lithuania. He died in a hospital on July 25, 1944.
Izgutty Aitykov was a true hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. His courage and leadership inspired his comrades and will forever be remembered in the annals of Soviet history.
