Sobir Rakhimov

Sabir Umaruly Rakhimov (; 25 January 1902 – 26 March 1945) was a Red Army Major general and posthumous Hero of the Soviet Union. Rakhimov fought in World War II and commanded the 37th Guards Rifle Division from November 1944. Rahimov was killed by shrapnel from an artillery shell in Gdańsk during the East Pomeranian Offensive. During the Soviet period Rakhimov was considered national hero, as he was the first Red Army general officer from Uzbekistan. Metro stations, streets, schools and other places in Uzbekistan were named after Rakhimov. However, these were all renamed during 2010 and 2011 as part of a campaign by Islam Karimov to remove Soviet influence.

Early life and prewar career Sobir Rakhimov was born on 25 January 1902 in Tashkent to a working-class family; his father was an ethnic Kazakh and his mother was an ethnic Uzbek. In early childhood he was poor and spent several years in an orphanage. He became a farmworker, and later worked at a textile factory in Tashkent.

In September 1922, Rakhimov joined the Red Army, becoming a student at the Baku Joint Military School. After graduating in August 1925, he was appointed a platoon leader in the Separate Uzbek Cavalry Battalion, and held the same position in the 1st Uzbek Cavalry Regiment of the 6th Uzbek Cavalry Brigade from 1927, stationed in Samarkand. During this period, he participated in the fight to suppress the Basmachi movement. He was wounded multiple times and awarded the Order of the Red Banner. Rakhimov joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1928.

Rakhimov entered the Vystrel course in June 1930 During the winter, Rakhimov fought in battles at Rostov-on-Don and at Taganrog on the Southern Front. In January 1942, he was wounded again. After leaving the hospital in May, Rakhimov became the deputy commander of the 395th Rifle Division, and served as temporary commander of the 395th from 1 August. During the summer, he led the division in the defense of the Don River and the Kuban. On 4 September he became the division's commander and led it during the Battle of the Caucasus during the fall. During the Tuapse Defensive Operation on 15 September, Rakhimov was again wounded. During the operation from 25 September to 20 December, the 395th Rifle Division as part of the 18th Army was able to stop German troops from capturing Tuapse. In January and February 1943, the division participated in the Krasnodar Offensive during the North Caucasus Strategic Offensive. He was promoted to major general on 19 March.

On 2 May 2018, Karimov's successor, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that the monument to Rakhimov would be returned to its original place. On 9 May 2018, the monument was returned to its former place in the center of Tashkent.

Awards and honors Hero of the Soviet Union (5 May 1965, posthumous) Order of Lenin (5 May 1965, posthumous) Order of the Red Banner, four times (1 April 1942, 13 December 1942, 14 August 1944, 3 November 1944) Order of Suvorov, 2nd class (8 March 1944) Order of Kutuzov, 2nd class (10 April 1945, posthumous) Order of the Red Star (30 April 1936) Medal "For the Defence of the Caucasus" (1944)