Taimbet Komekbaev

2016-01-31T08:13:15Z

AustralianRupert: fix irregular capitalisation

{{Infobox military person|name = Taimbet Komekbaev|native_name = Тәйімбет Көмекбаев|birth_date = 1896|death_date = 13 February 1987|birth_place = [[Zhosaly]], [[Syr-Darya Oblast]], [[Russian Empire]]|death_place = Zhosaly, [[Karmakshy District]], [[Kyzylorda Region]], [[Soviet Union]]|allegiance = {{flag|Soviet Union}}|serviceyears = 1941–1945|branch = [[Red Army]]|rank = [[Sergeant major]]/ [[Starshina]]|unit = [[128th Rifle Division]]|battles = [[World War II]]
*[[Vistula-Oder Offensive]]|awards = {{Hero of the Soviet Union}}
{{Order of Lenin}}<br>
[[Order of the Patriotic War]] 1st class<br>
[[Medal for Battle Merit]]|image = Taimbet Komekbaev.jpg}}'''Taimbet Komekbaev''' ([[Kazakh language|Kazakh]]: Тәйімбет Көмекбаев; 1896-13 February 1987) was a Kazakh [[Red Army]] [[sergeant major]] or [[Starshina]] and a [[Hero of the Soviet Union]]. He was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the [[Order of Lenin]] for his actions in the [[Sandomierz–Silesian Offensive]].<ref name=":0">{{Ruheroes|name = Taimbet Komekbaev|id = 22094}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title = Герои Советского Союза: Краткий биографический словарь|last = Shkadov|first = I.N.|publisher = Voenizdat|year = 1987|isbn = |location = Moscow|pages = |language = Russian|trans-title = Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary|url = http://www.az-libr.ru/index.htm?Persons&AEC/fb2bf8c7/index}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Komekbaev was born in 1896 in the village of [[Zhosaly]] (now in Kazakhstan's Kyzylorda Region). His family were peasants. Komekbaev graduated from the village school. After graduation, he worked in a coal warehouse.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> Komekbaev reportedly spent his spare time hunting.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url = http://old.express-k.kz/show_article.php?art_id=102992|title = Два бойца|last = Aubakir|first = Eric|date = 10 Jan 2015|work = express-k.kz|access-date = 26 Jan 2016|via = |language = Russian|trans-title = Two soldiers}}</ref>

== World War II ==
In November 1941, Komekbaev was drafted into the Red Army. He was sent to the [[Leningrad Front]] and served with the 128th Rifle Division. Komekbaev conducted reconnaissance missions. In early 1943, Komekbaev helped capture 14 German military personnel during a raid on their headquarters.<ref name=":1" /> By January 1945, he was a squad leader in the 5th Rifle Company of the 533rd Rifle Regiment in the [[128th Rifle Division]]. During the capture of [[Gleiwitz]] between 23 and 25 January, machine gun fire from Komekbaev's squad destroyed three German machine guns. Komekbaev reportedly was among the first to break into Gleiwitz and killed a German sniper.<ref>Medal for Battle Merit citation, available online at [http://www.podvignaroda.ru/?#id=34975793&tab=navDetailManAward podvignaroda.ru]</ref> For his actions, Komekbaev was awarded the [[Medal for Battle Merit]] on 10 February.<ref name=":0" />

On 27 January, Komekbaev fought in the battle for [[Ruda Śląska]]. Komekbaev threw grenades and destroyed a German machine gun that was blocking the Soviet advance. On 6 February, Komekbaev crossed the [[Oder]] with his unit and helped create a bridgehead in the Eyhirind municipality. During the capture of [[Brzeg]], Komekbaev repulsed five counterattacks with his machine gun, reportedly killing 18 German soldiers. On the outskirts of the city, Komekbaev found a German machine gun and killed the crew with a grenade. During the capture of Brzeg, Komekbaev reportedly killed 60 German soldiers and captured 12, who were brought to battalion headquarters. On 8 February, German forces with artillery support counterattacked, attempting to push Soviet units out of Wannsee. During these battles, Komekbaev reportedly repulsed seven counterattacks and killed 25 German soldiers. By this point, he had reportedly killed a total of 103 German soldiers.<ref>Hero of the Soviet Union citation, available online at [http://www.podvignaroda.ru/?#id=150015827&tab=navDetailManAward podvignaroda.ru]</ref> On 10 April, Komekbaev was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin for his achievements.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> At age 49, he was the oldest Kazakh Red Army soldier to receive the award.<ref name=":1" />

== Postwar ==
Komekbaev participated in the [[Moscow Victory Parade of 1945]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Исполнительный комитет СНГ – Запомните их имена|url = http://www.cis.minsk.by/news.php?id=4174|website = www.cis.minsk.by|access-date = 2016-01-26|language = Russian|trans-title = CIS Executive Committee – Remember their names}}</ref> He was demobilized soon after with the rank of senior sergeant. He returned to Zhosaly and worked in the coal industry. On 11 March 1985, he was awarded the [[Order of the Patriotic War]] 1st class on the 40th anniversary of the end of World War II.<ref>TsAMO Anniversary card file, available online at [http://www.podvignaroda.ru/?#id=1523304444&tab=navDetailManUbil podvignaroda.ru]</ref> Komekbaev died on 13 February 1987.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

== References ==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Komekbaev, Taimbek}}
[[Category:1896 births]]
[[Category:1987 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Kyzylorda Region]]
[[Category:Soviet military personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Heroes of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Lenin]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class]]
[[Category:Communist Party of the Soviet Union members]]

Kazakhstan Encyclopedia - User contributions [en]

Taimbet Komekbaev