Belarus: History


Figure 1.--This snapshot shows two Belarus children coming back from a walk in the woods. It was taken in 1995 in the country near Minsk. Belarus had declared itself independent in 1990 and a national constitution had been adopted in 1994. So these children were born as citizens of USSR, but they were growing up in a time of great political and social changes. Although he seems a bit too old for this style by Western tandards, the boy is wearing a t-shirt and a cap with Mickey Mouse, a 'symbol' of Western capitalist culture. Unlike neigboring Poland and the Baltics, Belrus has not made a successful democratic transition.

Belarus is now one of the new countries created with the disolution of the Soviet Union (1992). Of course the history of Belarus is as old as that of neigboring countries. Only it has been ruled by the surrounding countries. It was for many years ruled by the Poles and Lituanian-Polish Commnwealth. As Russian power expanded east, Belarus became part of the Tsarist Empire. Belarus existed for several years as part of the Tsarist Empire and became increasingly Russified. World War I led to the Russian Revolution and Russian Civil War. The Bolshevicks attempted to regain lost Tsarist territory. This led to the Polish-Soviet War (1919-21). Belarus was split. Eastern Belarus became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union and western Belarus became part of Poland. The Soviets signed abd alliance with the NAZIs--the NAZI-Sovier Non-Aggression Pact (1939). The resukt was the invasion of Poland and Workd war II. The NAZIs abd Soviets invaded and dismembered Poland (1939). In the process Belarus was united under Soviet control and the NKVD began targeting Poles and various groups seen as anti-Soviet. The NAZIs invaded the Soviet Union and quickly occupied Belarus (1941). The Germans targeted much of the population for destruction under Generalplan Ost. The NAZIs treated Belarus savagely. Euinsatzgruppen killed most of the large Jewish population. Occupation authorities severely suppressed the others. The Germans seized large numbrs of people for forced labor in the Reich or murdered as part of anti-partisan campaigns. The Red Army drove the Germans out with Operation Bagration (1944). Belarus with the disolution of the Soviet Union achieved its independence (1992). It has, however, with a largely Russified population retained close political and economic ties with Russia, more so than any other former Soviet Republic most of which have moved to disassociate themselves from the Russians.

Early History

Belarus is now one of the new countries created with the disolution of the Soviet Union (1992). Of course the history of Belarus is as old as that of neigboring countries. Only it has been ruled by the surrounding countries. Polatsk is the eldest known city in Belarus, first mention (862 AD). The beautiful white Saint Sophia Church there was build by Usiaslau Caradziej (around 1060). Belarus was for many years ruled by the Poles and Lituanian-Polish Commnwealth. A major event was the Union of Lublin which created a single state, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. What is now Belrus was a major part of the Comminwealth. As Russian power expanded east, Belarus became part of the Tsarist Empire. Belarus existed for several years as part of the Tsarist Empire and became increasingly Russified during this period. .

World War I (1914-18)

Belarus along with most of Poland and the Baltics were part of the Russian Tsarist Wmpire at the time of world War I. Poland at the onset had been a major battlefield on the Eastern Front. After seizing Warsaw (1915), the Germans advanced east. The Bolsheviks seized powe (November 1917). They dithered, however, on ending he war. The Germans launched a new offensive and took Minsk (February 21, 1918). World War I proved to be period in which Belarusian culture started to flourish. The German administration, presumably to undermine Russian control allowed schools to be taught in the Belarusian language, something that had been banned by Tsarist officials. Belarus was occupied by Germans under the terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The Belarus National Republic was proclaimed (March 25, 1918). This was part of the German Mitteleuropa plan. The Armistice was essentially a German surrender to the Allies. As part of the provisions, the Trearty of Brest Litovsk was abrogated. This rendered the Mitteleuropa Plan null and void. The Germans withdrew from the Ober-Ost territory (December 1918). Several Belarusian schools had been opened. This was, however, banned by Polish authorities who seized control in many areas (1919) This began a period in which a political vacuum was created in which various nationalist and foreign factions attempted to contol the area. The Russian Revolution led to the and Russian Civil War.

Inter-War Era (1920s-30s)

The Bolshevicks attempted to regain lost Tsarist territory. This led to the Polish-Soviet War (1919-21). Belarus was split. Eastern Belarus became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union and western Belarus became part of Poland. Thus the people of Belarus had very different experiences during the 1920s and 30s.

Soviet Belarus

Soviet Belarus was one of the original republics of the USSR. At first the Belarusian national culture was tolerated and enjoyed a significant revival. in the Soviet Belarus. This period of toleration ended with the rise of Stalin. Belarusian orthography was Russified (1933). Authorities began discouraging the Belarusian language as an indication of anti-Soviet attitudes. [Janowicz, pp. 247–248.] Belarusians were targeted in the Stalinist Great Terror. Centrl to Stalin's policies was to stampout nationalist sentment. These policies were most viciously applied in the Ukraine, but Belarus was also affected. The NKVD arrested almost all prominent Belarusian national intelligentsia. Many were sumarily executed. Thousands were deported to Asia. As the result of Polish operation of the NKVD tens of thousands people of many nationalities were killed. The terrible atrocities committed by the NAZIs during World War II are reltively well known beginning with the SS Eisatzgruppen. Less well knowm are the Communist atrocities committed befor the War. The NKVD in a dark day of Belarus history killed more than 100 notable Belarusian writers, poets, artists and scientists (October 29-30, 1937). This was just a beginning. The NKVD arrested much larger numbers of lesser known individuals. There are mass graves located all over the former Soviet Union. One such site discovered in the last years of the Soviet state is the Kurapaty Forest near Minsk (1988). In the relatively open atmosphere after the collapse of the SovietUnion, knvestigations began to determine who these people were. According to one assesment over 90 percent killed there were ethnic Belarusians. [Pazniak] There were also Poles and Jews killed, presumably also living in Belarus. Plus some Polish and Jews. The initial assessments found documents and personal belongins suggesting that the people were killed within just a few days of being arrested. The killing appears to be part of the NKVD Great Terror of tghe 1930s. No one knows just how many people were killed there, probably about 1937. Some estimates are as high as 250,000 victims. No one know just how such a large number of peoplewere killed. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko who took power in 1994 has prevented in any thorough investigation. There are many other such sites, perhaps not as large, in Belarus like Loshica and Chelyskency Park. A Belarusian corespondent tells us that mass graves have been found near every major city or huge village.

Polish Belarus (eastern Poland)

Poland pursued Polinization prograns in eastern Poland populted by Belrusians, Poles, Ukranans, Jews and others.

World War II (1939-45)

The Soviets signed abd alliance with the NAZIs--the NAZI-Sovier Non-Aggression Pact (1939). The resukt was the invasion of Poland and Workd war II. The NAZIs abd Soviets invaded and dismembered Poland (1939). In the process Belarus was united under Soviet control and the NKVD began targeting Poles and various groups seen as anti-Soviet. The NAZIs invaded the Soviet Union and quickly occupied Belarus (1941). The Germans targeted much of the population for destruction under Generalplan Ost. The NAZIs treated Belarus savagely. Euinsatzgruppen killed most of the large Jewish population. Occupation authorities severely suppressed the others. The Germans seized large numbrs of people for forced labor in the Reich or murdered as part of anti-partisan campaigns. The Red Army drove the Germans out with Operation Bagration (1944).

Cold War Era (1945-92)

Belarus after world War II, the Belarus SSR (BSSR) was made one of the founding members if the United Naions (UN) despite the fact that it was part of the Soviet Union. This was a concesion to Stalin who was dubious about the new organization. The same was arraged for the Ukraine SSR. (As part of this arrangement, the United States was also offered two more votes, a right it declined to exercise. [U.S. Department of State] Not only was there war damage, but the Germans conducted mass killing operarions and deported large numbers of peole for slave labor in the Reich. Thise that survived did not have an easy time as Stalin suspected people exposed to the West as tainted. The economy essentially collapsed. Much of the industry ha been evacuated east at the onset of Barbarossa and then destroyed by the Germas as they retreated. Industrial production after the War was only 20 percent of pre-War levels. Few of the factories moved beyond the Urals werewere returned, although there were a few showcase events. Rather the Soviets began rebuiling and eventually expanding the indutrial base. This was a cebtrally directed effort planned from Moscow. Is it at this time that Belarus became a major manufacturing center. Massive industrial complexes like BelAZ, MAZ, and the Minsk Tractor Plant were constructed. This looked impressive, but because the raw materials were obtained with in the Soviet Union and the output was also sold within the Soviet Union, there was no assessment as to efficency and ability to compee in world markets. The expansion of industry reqiuired ne workers. This mean a large influx of immigrant s from Russia and other areas of the soviet Union. This significantly dilutd the Belarusian ethnic character of the BSSR. Russian became the official language of administration. We think it was also used in the schools. The peasantry was the mainstay for the national culture in Eastern Europe. Stalin had attacked the oeasantry with collectivization (1931). The Great Terror nd the war took a further toll. As a result, by the end of the war a national peasant class ceased to exist. [Janowicz, pp. 247–248.] A serious Cold War nuclear reactor accident occurred at Chernobyl which was just across the Ukranian border (1986). It proved to be the worst nuclear accident in history. A plume of radioactive discharge drifted over a large area of the western Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and Scandinavia. Belarus was more heavly affected than Ukraine as the plume moved noerthwest--about 60 percent of the fallout. Sone 0.2 million people had to be resettled. There have been long term impacts such as a sharp increase in thyroid cancer.

Independence (1992- )

Belarus with the disolution of the Soviet Union achieved its independence (1992). It has, however, with a largely Russified population retained close political and economic ties with Russia, more so than any other former Soviet Republic most of which have moved to disassociate themselves from the Russians. Schools are a good way of measuring this process. Both Belarusian and Russian are used in the schools. Lukashenko has been promoting the Russian language in the schools and down play Belarusian language and culture. .

Sources

Janowicz, Sokrat. Forming of the Belarussian Nation (RYTM: 1999).

Pazniak, Zianon.

U.S. Department of State. "United Nations"






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Created: 4:08 PM 5/27/2013
Last updated: 11:21 AM 11/11/2017