Symbol of courage, duty and national heroism -
Monuments to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War in Almaty -
The monument to General Ivan Vasilyevich Panfilov is one of the most revered places of memory in Almaty, dedicated to the man whose name has become a legend. Ivan Panfilov is the commander of the 316th Infantry Division, formed in Kazakhstan, which became famous in the Battle of Moscow in 1941. His feet and the heroism of his soldiers are forever inscribed in the history of the country and the hearts of the people.
The monument is located in the park of 28 Panfilov Guards, one of the most famous memorial sites in the city, where thousands of residents and visitors of Almaty come every year to lay flowers and honor the memory of the defenders of the Motherland. There is also a Memorial of Glory with an eternal flame and a Cathedral.
The history of the monument's creation
The monument to General Panfilov was erected in 1968 in honor of the Hero of the Soviet Union, commander of the 316th Infantry Division, formed in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan during the Great Patriotic War.
The monument became a sign of Kazakhstan's eternal gratitude to its military commander, whose division participated in the decisive battle of Moscow in 1941-1942.
The author of the sculpture is B. A. Tulekov, the architect is T. K. Basenov. The monument is a bronze bust mounted on a rectangular pedestal of gray granite about 2 meters high. The total height of the composition is 3.65 meters.
On the front of the pedestal there is an inscription in two languages:
"Council of Odagyn Batyr Panfilov Ivan Vasilyevich. Hero of the Soviet Union Panfilov Ivan Vasilyevich".
Initially, the monument stood at the intersection of Panfilov and Vinogradov streets, but in 1989 it was moved to the memorial park, where the memory of the entire division rests. Here the bust took its rightful place next to the Alley of heroes and the Eternal Flame.
General Ivan Panfilov and his division
Ivan Vasilyevich Panfilov (1893-1941) was an outstanding military commander, commander of the 316th Infantry Division (later the 8th Guards), formed in the cities of Alma Ata and Frunze. In the autumn of 1941, his soldiers took part in the Battle of Moscow, where they showed unparalleled heroism.
On November 18, 1941, General Panfilov died in battle near the village of Gusenevo, Moscow region, inspiring his soldiers with a personal example.
It was near Volokolamsk, near the Dubosekovo junction, that the soldiers of his division – the legendary "28 Panfilovites" stopped the onslaught of fascist tanks, becoming a symbol of the courage of the entire Soviet people.
This story has been overgrown with legends and songs. The lines live in people's memory: "A platoon is dying near the village of Kryukovo...", a reminder of those who stood to the death for the Motherland.
The fate of memory
After the war, the memory of General Panfilov and his soldiers was immortalized in many cities.
In Moscow, the ashes of unknown soldiers from near Volokolamsk were transferred to the Grave of the Unknown Soldier by the Eternal Flame.
In Almaty, a memorial complex has been created in honor of the heroes, where 28 cenotaph monuments are located along the main alley – symbolic graves of Panfilov's fighters, between the busts of generals Ivan Panfilov and Bauyrzhan Momyshuly.
But the history of the Panfilovites was not simple. Later, historians pointed out that the original list of "28" did not include two participants, Ivan Dobrobabin and Daniil Kozhubergenov, whose fates turned out differently. This is a reminder that heroism is not measured by lists, and memory requires honesty and respect.
Over the years, many old commemorative plaques and plaques talking about the places where the division was formed disappeared in the city, on the buildings of the old Vernenskaya fortress, in schools and technical schools.
The former town of Panfilov in the Almaty region (now Zharkent) was also named after the general from 1942 to 1992.
Even at sea, Panfilov's name continued to live on: during the war years, the Americans transferred a ship named "General Panfilov" to the USSR under Lend-lease. Later, in the 1970s, Soviet shipyards launched dry cargo ships of the "Panfilov Heroes" series, which sailed the seas, carrying the names of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War on board.
Architectural appearance of the monument
The sculptor B. Tulekov managed to convey in bronze the character of Panfilov – firm, resolute, restrained. His gaze is fixed into the distance, and his face is filled with inner peace.
The composition is concise, without excessive pomp, which makes it particularly expressive.
The gray granite pedestal symbolizes steadfastness and eternity, and the very location of the bust among the trees of the old park gives the place a sense of silence and strength.
The monument does not overwhelm, it inspires, as if it says to everyone: "Stand, fight, remember."
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How to get there and visit
The monument to Panfilov is located in Almaty at Kazybek bi Street, corner of Dostyk Avenue, southern part of 28 Panfilov Guards Park, Medeu district, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°15'27"N 76°57'18"E
The Park has excellent transport links. On the one hand, buses No. 5, 5a, 5B, 65, 121, 141 along Dostyk Avenue approach it. On the other hand, buses No. 21, 29, 29P, 60, 111, 114, 118 and trolleybuses No. 9, 11, 19, 25 run along Kaldayakov Street to the Kazybek bi stop.
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Monument to Panfilov – eternal memory of the hero
Today, the monument to Ivan Panfilov is not just a part of the memorial, but the heart of national memory. Every year there are solemn ceremonies, military parades, rallies and excursions.
In spring and autumn, the park's alleys are filled with schoolchildren and veterans, and the bronze general greets them with his calm gaze.
He reminds us that heroism does not go away in time, it lives in deeds, in the heart, in memory.
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