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Tuleugali AbdubekovSniper, Hero of the Soviet Union
Country:
 Kazakhstan |
Content:
Biography of Tuleugali Abdibekov
Early LifeTuleugali Abdibekov was born in 1916 in the family of Abdibek Nasyrkhan in the Zharminsky district of the Semipalatinsk region. During this time, the Civil War was raging, and various factions - the Reds, the Whites, and bandits - passed through villages and settlements. Each of them had their own "truth." They requisitioned livestock from nomads, condemning them to starve. The devastated Kazakh steppes, villages, and settlements faced immense difficulties, with typhus and various diseases rampant. Many villages left their native lands and migrated elsewhere with tears and bitterness. Nasyrkhan decided not to leave his native village. To survive, he turned to hunting. Tuleugali grew up and his father taught him to shoot accurately, patiently track prey, and endure hardships. Legends about the young hunter-scout Tuleugali Abdibekov spread from village to village. His hunting trophies amazed experienced hunters and elders.
In 1932, at the invitation of relatives, Tuleugali moved to southern Kazakhstan to the "Pakhta-Aral" collective farm. Here, he worked as a cotton grower. From here, he was drafted into the Soviet Army and sent to serve in the distant Khabarovsk region. From the first days of service, Tuleugali attracted attention with his discipline, exceptional physical fitness, and soldier's resourcefulness. In shooting competitions, he gained admiration from commanders and comrades when all his shots hit the bull's-eye. He consistently took first place in interregional army shooting competitions. After completing his military service, Tuleugali returned to his hometown and became the leader of a cotton-growing brigade.
World War II
In 1941, the Great Patriotic War began. In May 1942, a group of conscripts from the Chimkent region, including Tuleugali, arrived at the Kalinin Front, where the famous division named after Hero of the Soviet Union Major General I.V. Panfilov was stationed. The command of the 1077th regiment, having studied the new recruits thoroughly, deployed them according to their abilities and capabilities. When they learned that Abdibekov was a hunter, they assigned him a rifle with a telescopic sight. Handing it to him, the commander said, "You are a hunter. Now you have to track and ruthlessly exterminate the two-legged, but much more dangerous, predatory and cunning beasts." "I have strong hands and eyes like an eagle. Let the enemy know that," Tuleugali replied.
The days of battle began, and they were challenging for experienced soldiers, let alone inexperienced recruits. Snipers learned the art of tracking the enemy and developed the ability to outsmart them. The battles for the height lasted for over a week. During these days, sniper Abdibekov killed 19 enemy soldiers. The height was captured, but the Germans launched counterattacks. 25 enemy soldiers headed straight for Tuleugali's trench. 25 against one. Is this death? No! Let the enemy die. The sharp eye of the steppe hunter focused on the telescopic sight. There he is - the enemy, very close. It's an officer.
Abdibekov can hit precisely. A shot rang out, and the enemy soldier, pierced through, fell into the snow. Tuleugali aimed again, and another one fell, then another one, and another. The Germans were terrified. They floundered, unable to understand where the sniper was shooting from, and in panic, they fired randomly. Meanwhile, the sniper calmly and methodically sent one bullet after another.
Finally, the enemy managed to locate the sniper. They lay down and opened fire on him. Bullets whistled over Tuleugali's head. The struggle continued for several minutes. More than a dozen German soldiers fired at a single sniper. But their numbers dwindled, and Abdibekov remained unscathed.
To the foot of the height, 25 "Fritzes" advanced. Now only three of them remained. On the 23rd, Tuleugali killed one of them 60 meters from his trench. And only two managed to escape.
After dealing with the enemy platoon, Abdibekov rushed to help his comrades who were engaged in heavy fighting with the enemy on the other side of the height. There, he killed another 12 "Fritzes".
On that day, as comrades said, Tuleugali sent 35 fascist invaders to hell. The news of his feat spread throughout the Kalinin Front and beyond.
Some details of the combat work of the sharpshooter Abdibekov are as follows: on the first day of combat near the city of Khom, Tuleugali operated as part of a rifle platoon and personally eliminated 17 enemy soldiers. On the second day, the sniper took cover in a disabled tank and shot the Germans at close range as they gathered for a counterattack. The result of that day was 58 enemy soldiers killed. The third day changed the course of the battle again. At night, the Germans launched a counterattack, and a group of fighters, including Abdibekov, organized a circular defense and dealt a strong blow to the enemy, despite their numerical superiority. The sniper's tally increased by another 29 enemies.
The Military Council of the 3rd Shock Army sent a telegram to the sniper, stating, "Dear comrade Tuleugali Abdibekov! The Military Council warmly congratulates you on the successful elimination of fascist scoundrels in the recent battles for Velikie Luki. By eliminating 87 Hitlerites, you have proven your selfless love for the Motherland and your fierce hatred for the Hitlerite scum. We wish you further success in the great and noble task of liberating Soviet land from German invaders."
The newspaper of the 8th Guards Rifle Division, "Za Rodinu," wrote on September 18, 1942: "Our glorious sniper T. Abdibekov reports that just a few hours ago, he killed the 125th fascist."
In a front-line article on October 2, 1942, titled "Glory to the Brave Snipers," dedicated to the sniper meeting, it was written: "Our renowned sniper Abdibekov reports from the meeting that just a few hours ago, he killed 125 Fascists."
In a summary report on the military actions of the 8th Guards Rifle Division in 1942, it was noted that as of the 2nd sniper meeting in December 1942, Senior Sergeant Abdibekov had already eliminated 219 fascists.
The fame of the famous sniper-panfilovets Tuleugali Abdibekov spread throughout the front, and his combat exploits were broadcasted on nationwide radio on the eve of the New Year in 1943. His relatives, friends, and comrades from the "Pakhta-Aral" collective farm listened to the broadcast with great attention, joy, and enthusiasm for their hero. The director of the collective farm, M.F. Gress, wrote in a letter to Tuleugali Abdibekov on the front, published in the division newspaper: "Hello, dear hero, our comrade Abdibekov! I send you greetings from the entire collective of workers and employees of the collective farm. The whole country knows about your feats. We are proud of you, our glorious fellow countryman. Mercilessly strike the fascist bastards, tirelessly increase your glorious Guards' tally."
Death and Legacy
On January 23, 1944, in the area of the village of Melikhovo, Tuleugali's close friend and scout Grigory Postolnikov, a brave warrior who had already received baptism by fire in the battles for Stalingrad, where he was awarded the Medal "For Courage," was killed. Grigory joined the reconnaissance unit of the Panfilov Division after being wounded.
Machine gun fire from an enemy bunker pinned down our soldiers. Postolnikov witnessed his comrades falling under the dagger-like fire. He made a quick decision: a sudden rush towards the bunker, and his body blocked the embrasure. The soldiers, with renewed fury, launched an attack. They eliminated the enemy from the village. For this feat, Grigory Postolnikov was posthumously awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class.
Tuleugali Abdibekov deeply mourned the death of his friend. At Grigory's funeral on January 23, 1944, he made a vow: "Dear, unforgettable comrade in battle! I, your brother, the Kazakh Tuleugali Abdibekov, swear at your sacred grave that I will ruthlessly avenge the fascist monsters for your death, for the blood of Soviet people, and for the sorrow and tears of our women and mothers. From my hand, 393 fascist scum have already found death on our land. I swear to you that in the upcoming battles, I will double and triple our tally of vengeance against the enemy."
During the winter offensive of 1944, Tuleugali was always at the forefront, in the most responsible positions. His accurate shots instilled horror and panic in the enemy. The best German snipers hunted him, but Tuleugali single-handedly eliminated them. Shortly before the anniversary of the Soviet Army, a duel took place - a duel with another enemy sniper. At that time, Tuleugali was unwell with a cold. The German momentarily outperformed him, and the first bullet hit Abdibekov, but he managed to avenge himself. The German sniper was killed with the last shot of the Kazakh hero. He was the 397th enemy recorded by the renowned marksman.
On February 23, 1944, on the Day of the Soviet Army, Tuleugali Abdibekov died from his wounds and was buried northeast of the Nasva Novo-Sokolnichesky district station in the Kalinin region. On the grave of the fallen hero, sniper rifle No. 2916 was handed over to one of Tuleugali's best disciples, Guards Private Ashirali Osmanaliev, who vowed to continue his friend's tally of vengeance and avenge his teacher's death. The brave sniper eliminated 128 enemies.
In 1944, on the third anniversary of the 8th Guards Division, a delegation was sent to Kazakhstan with a report on the division's combat exploits. Along with the delegation, rifle No. 2916 with its combat passport was sent, which is now kept in the Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
For his combat exploits, Abdibekov was awarded the Orders of the Red Star, the Red Banner, and posthumously, the Orders of the Patriotic War 1st Class and Lenin. The command did not recommend him for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union only because Tuleugali honestly wrote in his biographical questionnaire that his uncle Kemelbay had been repressed. Distrust and suspicion followed Tuleugali, weighing heavily on his soul.
Warrior-hero Abdibekov deeply loved his homeland, he remained faithful to his military oath until the end, and he cherished the title of Guardsman - Panfilovets. In November 1942, in the presence of his comrades, he spoke about the purpose of his life: "I am a Guardsman. It is a great honor for me. I kiss my Guards banner and swear to fight under it until my last breath for the complete victory over the enemy, just like the 28 Guardsmen - Heroes fought."
Tuleugali Abdibekov gave his life in the battles for his beloved Motherland. We will always remember and never forget his heroic deeds.
