Kazakh War Hero's Monument Unveiled in Norway (Pictures)
In the Norwegian municipality of Vestvågøy on the Lofoten Islands, a touching tribute unfolds. A memorial for three Soviet soldiers, spearheaded by local resident Per-Kore Holstad, has been unveiled, as reported by Liter.kz, in partnership with the Kazakh Embassy in Norway.
The memorial honors Ivan Pavoroznyuk, a soldier hailing from Kostanai region, who tragically gave his life during World War II. The opening ceremony drew Nicholas Tursunov, the Kazakh Ambassador to Norway, along with local authorities and community leaders. The fallen soldier's relative, Larisa Kushnereva, was also present at the emotional event.
Born in 1921, Pavoroznyuk served in the Soviet army before disappearing in March 1942. His fate remained unknown for decades until Norwegian researchers and the Kazakh Embassy in Norway pieced together the answers.
World War II saw the demise of thousands of Soviet prisoners of war, with over 15,000 meeting their end in concentration camps on occupied Norwegian soil[2]. Recently, the Kazakh Embassy has been able to identify the names of 74 Kazakh soldiers who perished in Norway between 1941 and 1945[1].
While the specific number of Kazakh soldiers perishing in concentration camps in Norway during the war remains uncertain, the dedication of this memorial ensures that Pavoroznyuk and his comrades will never be forgotten. It stands as a testament to their sacrifice and a beacon for peace and unity.
- The unveiled memorial in Vestvågøy, Lofoten Islands, specifically honors Ivan Pavoroznyuk, a Kazakh soldier who was drafted into the Soviet army and tragically fallen during World War II in 1945.
- Per-Kore Holstad, a local resident, spearheaded this memorial, with the support of the Kazakh Embassy in Norway, emphasizing the intersection of war-and-conflicts and politics.
- During the opening ceremony, General news and political leaders, including Nicholas Tursunov, the Kazakh Ambassador to Norway, paid tribute to Pavoroznyuk and their fallen comrades.
- The records uncovered by Norwegian researchers, in partnership with the Kazakh Embassy, finally revealed the fate of Pavoroznyuk, one of the 74 Kazakh soldiers known to have perished in Norway during War-and-conflicts, between 1941 and 1945.
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