Aliya Moldagulova

This name uses Eastern Slavic naming customs; the patronymic is Nurmuhambetqyzy and the family name is Moldagulova.

Aliya Nurmuhambetqyzy Moldagulova
File:Alija.jpg Alia Moldagulova commemorated on a 1995 Kazakhstan postage stamp
Native name	Әлия Нұрмұхамедқызы Молдағұлова
Born	October 25, 1925 Bulak, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union
Died	Novosokolniki, Pskov Oblast, Soviet Union
Buried	Monakovo, Pskov
Allegiance	Soviet Union
Service/branch	Red Army
Years of service	1942-1944
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards

Aliya Nurmuhambetqyzy Moldagulova (Kazakh: Әлия Нұрмұхамедқызы Молдағұлова) is a Soviet Hero of the Soviet Union recipient.

Biography

Moldagulova was born on October 25, 1925 in Bulak, Kazakhstan. She lost her parents during her childhood and was living with her uncle in Alma-Ata. By 1935 she moved to Leningrad where her uncle was enrolled into a Military-transport academy. In fall of 1939 she was sent to the orphanage from which she was evacuated when the war began in 1942 via Ladoga Lake. On October 1 of the same year Moldagulova got a scholarship at Rybinsk Aviatechnical School. After studying there for three months she filed a waiver to join the Red Army. In May 1943 she was enrolled into Central female school where she was trained as a sniper. In July 1943 she joined the 54th shooting brigade with her girlfriends. In January 1944 her brigade ambushed Germans at the Novosokolniki—Dno railway. Later on, she realized that the commander is missing, and assumed command. On top of her lungs she shouted: «For the Native land! Let`s go!» and the whole battalion jumped into German tranches. Aliya was hit by a land mine blast which happened during hand-to-hand combat, but she got only a splinter on her hand. Despite the wound, she bravely fought off the enemy officers, but she was wounded again and this time the wound was a mortal one. She died from a gunshot wound that day and was awarded Hero of the Soviet Union badge on June 4, 1944 and Order of Lenin. Her burial can be found in Monakovo, Pskov.

Legacy

File:Alie Moldagulovoi Novosokolniki.jpg

Aliya Moldagulova monument in Novosokolniki

• On May 9, 1995 as a part of 50th anniversary of end of World War II, Kazakhstan issued a stamp dedicated to Aliya Moldagulova.
• In 1997 a monument was erected in her name in Astana Square.

See also

• List of female Heroes of the Soviet Union