A legendary tank - a gift from a Turkmen peasant
And here is «a holiday with tears in the eyes» - Victory Day!
To memorials and monuments to the soldiers who fell in the Great Patriotic War, they lay memory wreaths. Monuments to heroes-liberators were established in many countries, after all events of terrible war touched the major part of the world.
In April and May, 1945 the capital of Germany became a bloody battlefield, here fell more than 70000 persons - soldiers of the Soviet and German armies, civilians. In memory of tragedy in the centre of Berlin where about 2500 soldiers were buried, one of the first had been erected a memorial to the Soviet soldiers in Tiergarten - a column in the middle of which the eight-metre bronze sculpture of a soldier with a lowered rifle on his shoulder, symbolising the end of war, towers. On each side from the memorial two Soviet tanks T-34/76, taking part in fight for Berlin, and on one of them a tiny inscription is made: «From Lallyk Khanov».
Turkmen peasant Lallyk Khanov had given for the tank’s construction all his savings, having contributed to the defence fund a considerable sum. Soon to the chairman of the aul soviet of Dushak whom was Khanov, came a telegram from Moscow:
«Accept my greetings and gratitude of the red army, comrade Lallyk Khanov, for your care of armoured forces of the red army. Joseph Stalin».
A diploma and a document from the top military commander were attached to the telegram confirming that by the donated funds tank T-34/76 with an inscription: «From Lallyk Khanov» was constructed. The combat vehicle was successfully transferred to the disposal of colonel general Pavel Rybalko.
Bearing on its armour the name of the Turkmen peasant, this tank passed through the battlefields in Russian, Belarus, and Polish and German territories, becoming a real symbol of the Great Patriotic War.
Legendary tanks T-34/76 were manufactured up to 1944. Thanks to excellent cross country ability, manoeuvrability, reliability, these combat vehicles were irreplaceable on fields of battles. The main fight for Т-34 took place at the Kursk salient where from both sides took part about 6000 tanks.
After war marshal Pavel Rybalko presented a breadboard model of tank T-34/76 to Lallyk Khanov, it was an exact copy of the combat vehicle established at the memorial in Tiergarten. A "younger brother" of the legendary tank was kept for many long years by the peasant’s family and today it can be seen in the State Museum of Turkmenistan where the exposition dated to the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory is opened.
Workers of the home front brought a considerable contribution in support of front and along with soldiers of the army played a huge role in the victory over the enemy. This victory was forged by people of different countries and nationalities, but became a general pride of our courageous ancestors. Today successors of the Great Victory celebrate their heroes - veterans of war - gratitude and acknowledgment words:
Thanks you very much, veterans! Thanks you for peace all over the earth, For every battle that has laid a scare on the heart, For that you have given a repulse to war!
Selbi CHARYEVA
