Kazakhstan to hold historic military parade for Victory Day after five-year hiatus

Kazakhstan will hold its first Victory Day military parade in five years in May 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.

This announcement was made by President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev during an interview with the Ana Tili (Mother Tongue) newspaper, Caliber.Az reports.

The parade, which will take place in the capital, Astana, will be the central event in the country’s year-long commemoration.

"The plan for celebrating the anniversary is quite intense," said Tokayev. "The parade in Astana will be the central event, and we will honour veterans and home front workers on May 9. None of them will be left without attention."

Tokayev emphasized that, in addition to the parade, the commemorations would include concerts, exhibitions, documentaries, TV programs, and the publication of historical books. The President also stated that the Victory Day celebrations would be a tribute to Kazakhstan’s immense contribution to the Soviet Union's victory during World War II.

Kazakhstan has not hosted a military parade since 2019, with the absence of events in 2020 and subsequent years primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic and financial constraints. However, the 80th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War has prompted the government to bring the parade back, recognizing Kazakhstan’s role in the war as vital to the overall victory.

Kazakhstan’s critical role in the Great Patriotic War

The Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), a part of the larger Second World War, saw Kazakhstan, then part of the Soviet Union as the Kazakh SSR, make significant contributions to the Soviet war effort. Over 1.2 million Kazakhs were drafted into the Red Army, and 178,000 more served in other capacities within the Soviet military. Tragically, more than 600,000 Kazakh soldiers and civilians died in the conflict.

Kazakhstan's military played a key role in every major battle, with more than 100,000 Kazakh soldiers being awarded combat honours, including over 500 who were recognized with the prestigious title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Among those honoured were Kazakh women such as machine-gunner Manshuk Mametova and sniper Aliya Moldagulova, who made extraordinary contributions during the war.

Kazakhstani citizens were also active in partisan movements across territories occupied by German Nazis, further demonstrating the nation’s dedication to the Allied cause.

In addition to the military’s direct involvement, Kazakhstan’s economic and industrial contributions were indispensable to the war effort. The republic’s economy was converted to meet military needs, and Kazakhstan emerged as a major arsenal for the Soviet Union.

Kazakhstan became the Soviet Union’s key producer of critical materials like copper, lead, bismuth, molybdenum, and polymetals, all of which were essential for the production of weapons and ammunition. "9 out of 10 bullets were cast from Kazakhstani lead," Tokayev remarked, underscoring the country’s pivotal role in the war’s logistics.

More than 700,000 Kazakhstani citizens were drafted into the labour army, working in defence factories to produce weapons, shells, mines, and other military supplies. Kazakhstan's agricultural sector also played a crucial role in supplying food and raw materials for the Soviet front and home front.

Kazakh soldiers were also instrumental in the final stages of the war, particularly during the defeat of the Kwantung Army of Japan in August-September 1945, which helped secure the Allies’ victory in the Pacific theatre. The military efforts of Kazakhstan’s soldiers were crucial in driving out the Japanese forces from Manchuria and the broader region.

Kazakhstan's vast contribution to the Soviet war effort, in terms of both human lives and material support, has not been forgotten. President Tokayev emphasized that Kazakhstan's contribution to the victory was undeniable and continues to be a source of national pride.

The 80th anniversary celebrations, which will culminate in the military parade in May 2025, will be a national tribute to the sacrifices made by Kazakhstan's citizens during the war.

By Tamilla Hasanova