Garei Abdullovich Nafikov was born in the village of Satyevo in the Belebeevo District of the Ufa Governorship (Miyakinsky District of the Republic of Bashkortostan today) into a family of modest means on 25 August 1907. Having graduated from a secondary school, in 1929 he was drafted into the Red Army, where he served in the Central Asian Military District in the reserve regiment of the 8th separate cavalry brigade. Having attended a preparatory course there he enlisted in the Joint Central Asian School in Tashkent. He also fought against Urazgeldy basmachi guerrillas in Turkmenistan.
In 1941 Garei commanded a construction battalion; on 20 September he took part in the Moscow battle; on 10 December he was involved in the build-up of the 112nd Bashkir Cavalry Division, and on 23 December he was appointed commander of the 294th regiment of the division. From July 1942 his regiment was actively engaged in the Bryansk front operations and in the Stalingrad defensive battles. For the success of these operations, Nafikov was awarded the Order of the Red Banner, Order of the Red Star and an engraved watch.
The 112nd Bashkir Cavalry Division has the record number of titled Heroes of the Soviet Union among all land forces that fought in the Soviet Army during the Great Patriotic War: it produced 78 Heroes of the Soviet Union and 5 Full Cavaliers of the Order of Glory.
The Bashkir-Caucasus Division was set up in Ufa during one of the most difficult periods in the Russian history. Its soldiers were actively engaged in the defensive battles of the summer of 1942, in the Stalingrad battle, and in the liberation of Eastern European countries and western regions of the Soviet Union, to reach Berlin where they welcomed the victory.
Garei A. Nafikov died a hero’s death liberating the village of Lobanovka in the Kursk region on 10 July 1942. He was buried in a common grave in the village of Vtoryie Terbuny.
On 9 July 2012, memorial events were held in the Terbuny District to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the death of Garei Nafikov. An official Bashkir delegation, which included two nephews of the legendary commander, came to give its respects to the kinsman and fellow countryman. One year later, on 8 June 2013, the native village of the hero had his bust erected in the local school in Satyevo. Representatives of the Terbuny District attended the event and donated some military exhibits and soil from Lobanovka to the school.
The heroic deeds of the 112nd Bashkir Cavalry Division and Garei A. Nafikov himself have forever twinned the two distant districts: Miyakinsky in Bashkortostan and Terbuny near Lipetsk.
In 1941 Garei commanded a construction battalion; on 20 September he took part in the Moscow battle; on 10 December he was involved in the build-up of the 112nd Bashkir Cavalry Division, and on 23 December he was appointed commander of the 294th regiment of the division. From July 1942 his regiment was actively engaged in the Bryansk front operations and in the Stalingrad defensive battles. For the success of these operations, Nafikov was awarded the Order of the Red Banner, Order of the Red Star and an engraved watch.
The 112nd Bashkir Cavalry Division has the record number of titled Heroes of the Soviet Union among all land forces that fought in the Soviet Army during the Great Patriotic War: it produced 78 Heroes of the Soviet Union and 5 Full Cavaliers of the Order of Glory.
The Bashkir-Caucasus Division was set up in Ufa during one of the most difficult periods in the Russian history. Its soldiers were actively engaged in the defensive battles of the summer of 1942, in the Stalingrad battle, and in the liberation of Eastern European countries and western regions of the Soviet Union, to reach Berlin where they welcomed the victory.
Garei A. Nafikov died a hero’s death liberating the village of Lobanovka in the Kursk region on 10 July 1942. He was buried in a common grave in the village of Vtoryie Terbuny.
On 9 July 2012, memorial events were held in the Terbuny District to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the death of Garei Nafikov. An official Bashkir delegation, which included two nephews of the legendary commander, came to give its respects to the kinsman and fellow countryman. One year later, on 8 June 2013, the native village of the hero had his bust erected in the local school in Satyevo. Representatives of the Terbuny District attended the event and donated some military exhibits and soil from Lobanovka to the school.
The heroic deeds of the 112nd Bashkir Cavalry Division and Garei A. Nafikov himself have forever twinned the two distant districts: Miyakinsky in Bashkortostan and Terbuny near Lipetsk.
