Oldest Second World War Veteran in Uzbekistan Passes Away at 116
The regional administration of Kashkadarya has confirmed the passing of Roziboy Sattorov. At 116 years of age, he was officially acknowledged as the oldest surviving Second World War veteran in Uzbekistan.
Roziboy Sattorov was among the 47,000 individuals drafted from the Kashkadarya region to fight on the frontlines during the global conflict. The human toll was devastating for the local communities, as only an estimated 22,000 of those regional conscripts managed to survive and return home.
Across the wider nation, historical records demonstrate the massive scale of Uzbekistan’s contribution to the war effort. Nearly two million residents were mobilised to fight. The republic suffered tremendous losses over the course of the conflict, recording around 540,000 deaths in combat and listing a further 158,000 individuals as missing in action.
The tragedy extended to the darkest corners of the war, with over 50,000 Uzbek citizens perishing in concentration camps and more than 60,000 troops returning to their homeland bearing lifelong physical disabilities.
The critical home front
In addition to providing crucial manpower for the battlefields, Uzbekistan functioned as an indispensable strategic and humanitarian hub for the Soviet Union. The republic was rapidly transformed into a major rear support centre to sustain the protracted war effort.
The domestic population worked tirelessly to support the frontlines, repurposing local industries to manufacture and deliver essential military hardware, weapons, food supplies and warm clothing. Furthermore, the nation became a massive sanctuary for those fleeing the destruction in Eastern Europe.
The republic opened its doors to accommodate approximately 1.5 mln evacuated citizens, an immense humanitarian undertaking that notably included providing shelter, education and care for 250,000 orphaned children.
