Back to category Published: 13 april 2026 Author: Joanna Mukhatzhanova

Manshuk Mametova Memorial Museum

A Pearl Named Manshuk

The West Kazakhstan Region is the birthplace of Manshuk Mametova – the first Kazakh woman to receive the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

She was born on October 23, 1922, in the village of Zhiekkum as Mansiya. Her parents entrusted her upbringing to her uncle’s family, believing she would have better opportunities in an educated household. Her mother lovingly called her “Monshak” (“little pearl”). The girl was unable to pronounce it and called herself Manshuk, a name that would later become known across the country.

Before the war, Manshuk excelled in school and enrolled in a medical institute. Yet her early life was marked by hardship. Her adoptive father was repressed for alleged involvement in the Alash movement against the colonial policy of the Russian Empire. Manshuk tirelessly sought his rehabilitation and even wrote directly to Joseph Stalin. Meanwhile, her biological father was accused of grain theft and died in prison.

A Battle That Made History

When World War II began, Manshuk insisted on going to the front and was eventually transferred to the 21st Rifle Division as a machine gunner.

On October 15, 1943, during the battle for the city of Nevel, her unit came under intense German fire. Left as the sole survivor, Manshuk moved between three machine guns, holding off enemy advances alone. Even after being wounded in the head by shrapnel, she continued fighting. Summoning her last strength, she opened fire once more and fought until her final breath. She killed around 70 enemy soldiers in her last battle.

A House Turned into a Museum

The early 20th-century house in Uralsk where Manshuk lived with her adoptive family from 1932 to 1934 still stands today. It now houses the memorial museum dedicated to her life and legacy.

Before its opening in 1980, her mother, Amina Mametova, visited the museum and donated her daughter’s personal belongings: letters, diaries, and books.

The exhibition also features items recovered from the battlefield, including a soldier’s helmet, a machine gun belt box, and a dented flask.

A separate building within the museum complex houses a 3D diorama titled “The Immortal Feat of Manshuk.” Created with detailed models, archival imagery, and authentic objects, it immerses visitors in the dramatic moments of her last battle.

How to Get There?

Address: 51 and 51/1 Sarayshyk Street, Uralsk

Take buses №1, 2, 6, 19, 23a, or 49 to the “S. Gumarov Museum” stop. Or buses №1, 2, 5, 12, 19, 22, 23a, 35, 43, or 49 to the “Sayakhat Hotel” stop, then walk about 200 meters to the museum.

Other tourist attractions near the museum: