Marat Kazei

When the war broke out, Anna Kazey (Marat’s mother) began to cooperate with the partisan underground in Minsk (she hid and treated wounded soldiers), for which she was hanged by the Nazis in 1942. After that the children, Marat and Ariadna went to the Stankovsky forest, to the partisan detachment named after the 25th anniversary of October. The new partisan Marat Kazey was then twelve years old. Later Marat became a scout of the headquarters of the 200th partisan brigade named after K.K.Rokossovsky. K.K.Rokossovsky under the command of Kombrig N.Y.Baranov. In addition to reconnaissance, he participated in raids and sabotage. For courage and bravery in battles he was awarded the Order of Patriotic War of the I degree, medals “For bravery” (being wounded, raised partisans in the attack) and “For combat merits”. Fearless and agile, Marat many times penetrated into German garrisons and returned to his comrades with valuable information. M. Kazey also participated in open battles with the enemy, in which he showed absolute fearlessness – even being wounded, he got up and went into the attack.

Marat Kazey took his last battle on May 11, 1944 near the village of Khoromitskie. Returning from reconnaissance, Marat and his comrades encountered a detachment of punishers. Holding the defense, he shot until the last cartridge, and then took his last weapon – two grenades. One of them he threw at the Germans, and the second one he left behind. The Germans, despite the losses, wanted to take him alive. With the second grenade, when they came very close, he blew himself up with them.

For courage and bravery pioneer Marat Kazey was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. A monument to the young hero was erected in Minsk.