Kazakh Soldier's WWII Bravery Honored Decades After His Death in Poland
Kuatbay Zhetpisbayev, a soldier from Kazakhstan’s Atyrau Region, was honoured posthumously for his bravery during World War II. Born in 1925, he joined the Red Army at 18 and fought across multiple fronts before his death in 1945. His remains now lie in a mass grave in Poland, where family members recently paid their respects. Zhetpisbayev was born in the Oiyl Rural Council of Kyzylkoga District. At just 18, he was drafted into the military in February 1943. Assigned as a scout-observer, he served in the 116th Lviv Heavy Howitzer Artillery Brigade.
His service took him to some of the war’s most intense battlefields. He fought on the Western Front, the Bryansk Front, and later the 1st Ukrainian Front. By early 1945, he had already earned the Order of the Red Star and the Order of the Patriotic War, Second Class. In February 1945, Zhetpisbayev was killed in action near the Polish town of Oława. Initially buried there, his remains were later moved to a mass grave, where his name appears as number 176. Months after his death, in July 1945, he received the Order of the Patriotic War, First Class, in recognition of his service. Decades later, his family travelled to Oława. On November 25, 2025, relatives visited the grave to honour his memory.
Zhetpisbayev’s military career spanned just two years, yet he earned three decorations for his service. His final resting place in Poland remains a site of remembrance for his family. The soldier’s contributions are recorded in both wartime records and the memorial where he now lies.
