Zhanbek Akatovich Eleusov left for the war in February 1943, and accomplished the feat in September 1943. It was a time of serious strength tests, perhaps the main ones in the fate of this hero.
But no matter how difficult it was, it was then that something happened that brought him fame and glorified for the rest of his life, as a person who showed remarkable fearlessness and courage.
Much later, it will be revealed that of all those who left to fight from Oirotia and received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union at the front, it was Zhanbek who would be the youngest (born on June 20, 1925).
Indeed, at the time of the accomplishment of this feat, this young man was only eighteen. And at that autumn time, he personally hardly dreamed of awards, there was simply no time for this.
Guardsman
Zhanbek served in the 6th Guards Rifle Division in the 25th Guards Rifle Regiment. It was at the end of September 1943, in the Chernigov-Pripyat offensive operation.
His unit reached the Dnieper near the settlements Sorokosichi - Tuzhar - Novo-Glybov. The order came to force the Dnieper.
The assignment was not easy. Indeed, in order to get to the main channel of this river, it was necessary under enemy fire to move from a kilometer through a swampy forest area and cross many channels and oxbows under shelling.
At the moment when our troops approached the river, German machine gunners began to fire from the right coastline.
Zhanbek's Guards Regiment carried out the task of forcing the Dnieper a little higher than the place where the Pripyat River flows into it, that is, an additional water barrier.
As soon as it got dark, the first group of Red Army men, where Yeleusov also entered, crossed to the other side of the river in order to gain a foothold on the other side and gradually build up the grouping.
Private Guardsman Zhanbek was tasked with conducting machine-gun fire to ensure the unhindered crossing of this water barrier by the fighters of his unit.
A document on awarding Zhanbek Yeleusov with the medal “For Courage” for the battle on the eve is posted on the Memory of the People website. In the award order of September 19, 1943, it is sparingly informed in paragraph 8:
"Zhambek Akatovich, a light machine gunner of the 2nd rifle battalion of the Red Army Guards, Yeleusov, for scattering up to 20 enemy soldiers in the battles for the village of Smolyazh and destroying 8 fascists with well-aimed fire."
After that, Zhanbek's regiment - the twenty-fifth rifle regiment - approached the village of Germanshchina, on the eastern bank of the Pripyat. The Red Army men had to cross to the other side of this river, which is on the outskirts of Chernobyl from the south.
No one could tell about this better than Zhanbek himself. Here is what he himself told about those war days:
“The Nazis began to prepare a psychological attack against us, because they knew that we were surrounded. Our forces were very small, but the guardsmen began to act boldly. We entered into a fierce, difficult battle. At this time, the company commander Zhikharev sent me to the most difficult area. I felt that I was a support for him in the company, he always looked at me with hope and approval."
As a Siberian, Zhanbek was entrusted with the most difficult section.
He (the commander) again says to me:
"Well, Guardsman Zhanbek, as a Siberian and an experienced commander and machine gunner, I give you a task, I send you to a sector where mortal danger threatens."
It was about the battles in the area of the village of Yanovka.
Indeed, this area was the hardest, real test for our squad and platoon. It was at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. We dug in on the outskirts of the village of Yanovka. I also made trenches with my squad on the left side, the rest of the comrades - to the right of us."
Then Yanovka had to be held under heavy shelling.
“The Germans began to shoot from mortars and artillery. We had already prepared to repel the attack, when suddenly a whole battalion of German soldiers and officers was walking along, shooting on the move.
I carefully follow, checked the machine gun, warned everyone not to retreat a step, who should fight back with what. Comrade Gydov's heavy machine gun was on the right side, I warned him that we would shoot in crossfire - this gives great advantages. We let the Germans come closer to us and opened fire, machine guns "spoke" from all over.
The Germans could not stand the fierce fire and began to retreat."
Feat
The retreat of the enemy briefly pleased the Red Army men.
My guys say: "How sweet it is to look at their retreat, like Siberian dumplings."
I support them, but in my head there is a thought - they can joke even at such a moment.
The Germans attacked us several more times, but our guardsmen gave a real rebuff. We showed character, courage, and for two whole days we held the defense in the village of Yanovka. It was not easy, how many guys died then."
The battle had lasted for the third day.
On the third night, the company commander, the same Zhikharev, summoned me and said:
“Zhanbek, you will go ahead of the company as a scout. We are in a difficult situation, surrounded on all sides. We were surrounded by enemy tanks and infantry. Our task is to get out of the encirclement."
In that fierce battle, Zhanbek was wounded in the head. But he did not abandon the machine gun. He was only even more angry at the Fritzes. This is how he himself told about it:
“… It was 3 o'clock in the morning. Suddenly we hear a conversation in German.
We came close to the Germans and dug in.
It was getting light. I see a cart not far from us and a horse tied. Even before dawn, I parked the machine gun near the road and disguised myself with my assistant. We see that the Fritzes are walking not far from us, about 20-25 meters away. Suddenly a Fritz came up to the horses. Himself hardened as a wolf. I could not bear it, took him at gunpoint and gave a short burst. He fell, other Germans ran up to him and began to untie the horses.
Vanya and I together began to shoot at the Germans point-blank. Suddenly I see fascists coming from the forest. I rushed to my machine gun, quickly gave the machine gun to my assistant, and I myself opened fire on the Germans from the forest. They did not notice me, since I was sitting in disguise.
I let them come closer to me and give them a long queue. The Germans did not expect such a blow and began to run in all directions. Then they ran into our second machine gun, where my friend Gydov was sitting …
The fight was very hot. In this battle, many were killed and wounded. And I was wounded in the head, tore my skin. Blood flows from my head, flooded the whole body, but I didn’t throw the machine gun”.
After being wounded, Zhanbek scribbled into his machine gun for another three hours. But then he did not leave the battlefield for the medical unit. And he continued to beat the fascists. And not because he did not feel pain, but because he was angry with the enemy.
I feel a lot of pain, but I have to endure it, because the Germans are pressing us.
We have an oath of the guardsmen - not to retreat a step, and if necessary - to give their lives. Let the blood flow, let the wounds hurt, but this is war."
“I had to mess with the Germans for three hours. Commander Zhikharev saw me and ordered me to immediately go to the medical unit. But then he saw my anger and allowed me to stay in the trenches.
It was later he recalled that at that moment I was as angry as a dog. Even death didn’t take me, it was frightened”.
This fight lasted 6 days.
“This war makes a person angry. Maybe thanks to this anger, we were able to get out of the environment. When the battle was over, my comrades brought in the wounded. I said goodbye to the guys, to my dear commander Zhikharev and went to the medical unit.
This fight lasted six days, and it seemed to me that it was one long, long day."
For that battle, Zhanbek was awarded the highest government award - the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Here is what is written in the award list of October 10, 1943:
“When crossing the Dnieper River on the night of 09.22 to 09.23.1943, he was the first to cross to the right bank of the river and secured with his machine gun, allowing his unit to cross the river without hindrance.
When the battalion crossed the Pripyat River on 1943-25-09, the enemy from the right bank opened heavy machine-gun fire and did not give an opportunity to cross to the right bank. Comrade At the risk of his life with his light machine gun, Yeleusov, having reached the right bank, opened heavy fire on the enemy's firing points, suppressed most of them, and ensured the successful crossing of the river by the entire battalion."
During the Great Patriotic War, Zhanbek Yeleusov got more than once in the medical unit to the military doctors: then he had to remove 6 ribs and a lung there.
After the war, he returned to his homeland. He began teaching first in Yakonur, then in Kyrlyk. Then he grew up to be the headmaster of a school in Verkh-Belo-Anui. And even served as chairman of the Turatinsky village council.
Finally, in 1957 he moved to Kazakhstan. There he first worked as a teacher. And then he began to live in Dzhambul. He worked as the head of the regional sports and shooting club DOSAAF.
In 1985 he received the award - the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree.
He lived to be 70 years old, died on April 21, 1996. Buried in the city of Taraz.
Awards
Hero of the Soviet Union (1943-10-10). He was awarded the Order of Lenin (1943-16-10), the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree (1985-11-03), medals, including the medal "For Courage" (1943-19-09) (in the award documents - Eliusov).
Memory
Memorial plaques on the houses where he lived were installed in the city of Taraz (house number 1 on Sabir Rakhimov Street) and in the village of Turata.
The busts were installed in the cities of Gorno-Altaysk, Borisovka and in the village of Turata.
Streets bear his name in the villages of Turata and Kyrlyk, Ust-Kansk region.
Turatinskaya elementary school also bears his name.
On the obelisk in honor of the Great Victory in Kiev, the name of Zh. A. Eleusov is inscribed in golden letters.
