Abstract
The article reveals the features of the social origin and formation of the Hero of the Soviet Union Sagadat Nurmagambetov (1924-2013). His life reflected all the historical events of his country: the Sec-ond World War, the difficult post-war period, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the formation of independent Kazakhstan. It was S. Nurmagambetov who became the first commander of the defense of Kazakhstan in the conditions of a sovereign state of the country. The article uses the biographical method, the methodological features of which made it possible to consider the process of identification and true assessment of personality. The source material was based on materials from archival funds and websites dedicated to the creation of the new Armed Forces of independent Kazakhstan, memories of veterans of the Great Patriotic War, memories of S. Nurmagambetov’s friends and colleagues about his role in the creation of a modern army, improvement of military service and the military education system. The article shows military educational institutions named after S. Nurmagambetov, provides an analysis of books about military events at the front during the war, describes his contribution to the formation of traditions and the foundation of the armed forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This article contributes to the development of historical memory of local actors of the Second World War, patriotism and histori-cal continuity.