Kazakhstan Families Search for Clues About 270,000 ‘Missing Soldiers’ from World War II

Families in Kazakhstan are seeking answers about the over 270,000 ‘missing soldiers’ from World War II. Nazym Arzimbetova’s uncle, drafted into the Red Army in 1942, has left his family with a painful absence. Despite efforts to uncover his fate, many remain lost in history, echoing a broader search for closure among Kazakh families.

In Kazakhstan, families are grappling with the mysterious disappearances of countless soldiers, specifically the over 270,000 who served in the Soviet Army during World War II. This search for answers has become a heartfelt journey for many, including Nazym Arzimbetova. Struggling to hold back tears, she shared the painful story of her uncle, Rashit Temirjanovich Saguindykov, who was drafted into the Red Army in May 1942. He was just 20 years old when he left his hometown of Balkhash, a scenic spot by the lake in central Kazakhstan, never to return, leaving his family without closure on his fate, even after 80 years since the war ended.

Arzimbetova, now 49 and a therapist in Almaty, spoke movingly of her grandmother’s suffering: “My grandmother died of grief after her only son disappeared. All her life, she hoped at least to recover his body, so she could give him a proper burial.” This deep-rooted anguish resonates with many Kazakh families still trying to piece together their relatives’ fates, with insufficient information and lingering uncertainties.

In her quest for answers, Arzimbetova spent a significant amount—1 million tenges, which is about €1,750—to hire a private investigator in Russia, tasked with digging into the Soviet Defense Ministry archives located in Podolsk. After some search, she received a crucial lead concerning her uncle, a small solace in her painful quest.

The investigator found that Rashit Saguindykov trained with the “6th Reserve Communications Battalion, at the Alkino camp” during August 1942 in Bashkiria, Russia. Unfortunately, the file revealed no further information, leaving Arzimbetova and her family with still more questions than answers. The man who left for war—full of hope and promise—remains a ghost in their family history, a story shared by many in Kazakhstan grappling with the loss of their loved ones 70 years on.

The search for missing soldiers from World War II tragically continues in Kazakhstan, revealing deep family pain and unresolved histories. Families like Nazym Arzimbetova’s are not just looking for names on paper; they seek the return of loved ones in spirit, and closure surrounding their mystery. With private archives holding fragments of information, the journey for discovery remains a painful yet necessary pursuit for many families. The scars of war linger long after the battles are over, and the quest for solace remains critical.

Original Source: www.lemonde.fr