Families in Kazakhstan Seek Clues About 270,000 Missing World War II Soldiers

Kazakhstan families are seeking answers about the 270,000 missing Soviet soldiers from World War II. Nazym Arzimbetova shares her uncle’s story, who was conscripted at 20 and never returned. Despite his absence, Arzimbetova’s attempts to uncover his fate highlight the ongoing pain families endure after decades. Many are pursuing answers through investigations, hoping for closure.

In Kazakhstan, many families like that of Nazym Arzimbetova are on a heartbreaking quest to uncover details surrounding the fates of the 270,000 soldiers from the Soviet Army who went missing during World War II. Arzimbetova, while finding it hard to hold back tears, recalled the story of her uncle, Rashit Temirjanovich Saguindykov, who was conscripted in May 1942. At just 20 years old, he left behind his hometown of Balkhash, located by a large lake in central Kazakhstan, yet he never returned. Eight decades after the war’s end, the mysteries of his disappearance persist.

Arzimbetova, a therapist based in Almaty, reflects on the profound impact that Saguindykov’s vanishing had on her family. “My grandmother died of grief after her only son disappeared,” she shared, emphasizing the pain that lingered for generations. “All her life, she hoped at least to recover his body, so she could give him a proper burial.” This single missing soldier represents countless others whose families still grieve without closure.

Determined to find answers, Arzimbetova went as far as hiring a private investigator in Russia, which cost her a hefty 1 million tenges, around €1,750. This investigator scoured the archives of the Defense Ministry in Podolsk, situated just outside Moscow, to dig into the past of her uncle. Eventually, she obtained a significant lead: her uncle had been training with the “6th Reserve Communications Battalion, at the Alkino camp” in Bashkiria, Russia, in August 1942. However, beyond that, the records did not shed any further light on his fate.

Many families in Kazakhstan, like Arzimbetova’s, are grappling with similar stories filled with loss and uncertainty. The absence of clarity surrounding what happened to these soldiers is not just a historical issue; it is a personal struggle intertwined with emotional pain and unresolved grief. Arzimbetova’s quest reflects a broader national yearning for remembrance and closure, a reminder that each of these missing soldiers had dreams, families, and lives that were tragically disrupted by the war.

The search for the missing soldiers of World War II remains a deeply emotional journey for families in Kazakhstan. Individuals like Nazym Arzimbetova illustrate how the past continues to impact present lives. As they uncover fragments of information, these families hope for some measure of closure. The stories of these soldiers are not merely historical figures but are tied to loving families yearning for resolution and remembrance.

Original Source: www.lemonde.fr