Day 40 (23rd June) Almaty. Went to see the Panfilov Park, named after Ivan Panfilov, leader of a group of 28 soldiers from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan who were all killed stopping the Germans from reaching Moscow in November 1941. He belonged to the 316th Rifle Division which was based in Almaty. The park is located round the stunning Voznesenskii Sobor cathedral which was built in 1907 entirely of wood without nails. Nails are taboo in some Russian churches because of the crucifixion connection. We were fortunate to see a service.
Half of the breakfast menu at our brilliant hotel the Royal Petrol, named after the adjacent filling station
Panfilov Park entrance
Statue to Bauyrzhan Momyshuly, one of Panfilov’s officers
Voznesenskii (Ascension) Sobor
Statue of Panfilov and his order not to retreat towards Moscow
Statue commemorating Panfilov’s role in putting down the Bazmachi revolt in Central Asia in 1917-1920. The black block commemorates the battle of Stalingrad (now Volgograd)