The Belarus in the USSR
The war brought innumerable grief to Belarus. Almost each third resident of Belarus perished, 380,000 were departed to compulsory labour to Germany. The Belarusian capital of Minsk numbered less than 40% of its population by the time of liberation.
The republic lost more than a half of its national welfare. For the period of occupation 9.2 thous. of inhabited localities were destroyed; 628 of them were destroyed completely, 186 were never restored after the War.
Nearly 10 thous. of industrial enterprises were devastated, 90% of machinery and engineering equipment were taken away, Belarusian libraries and museums lost books, paintings, ancient monuments and many others.
The response to the occupation regime appeared to be mass anti-fascist movement, struggle of partisans and participants of the underground movement.
Belarus is called the Republic of partisans. During the time of the War, 374 thousands of people were partisans, more than 70 thousands – participants of the underground movement. More than 4 thousand of anti-fascists from other countries were struggling in partisan parties of Belarus.
The liberation of Belarus from fascists occupants is annually celebrated on 3rd of July.
1918 | Poland starts occupation of Belarusian and Ukrainian lands. |
1918-1920 | Occupation of Minsk by Polish troops. |
1919 | The All-Russia Executive Committee adopted the Decree “On Unification of Soviet Socialist Republics, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus to struggle against the world’s imperialism.” Proclamation of the Belorussian SSR with the capital in Minsk in Smolensk. Adoption of First Constitution of the BSSR. Foundation of Lithuania-Belarus SSR. |
1920 | “The Declaration on proclamation of the independent Soviet Socialist Republic of Belorussia” is signed. |
1921 | Beginning of the USSR transition to the New Economic Policy (NEP) to restore agriculture and industry. The Riga Peace Treaty is signed by RSFSR, the Ukraine and Poland. According to the treaty the Eastern Belarus becomes a part Poland. |
1922 | 1-st Congress of Soviets of the USSR adopted the Declaration and Treaty to form the USSR. The BSSR entered the union having equal rights. |
1926 | Due to addition of the Gomel and Rechitsa districts the BSSR population reaches nearly 5 mln. persons in 1927. |
1937 | Adoption of new Constitution of the BSSR. The peak of Stalin’s repressions. |
1941 | Hitler’s Germany without declaration of war assaults the Soviet union. Occupation of the entire Belarusian territory by the German fascists troops. The policy of fascist genocide. |
1943 | The village of Khatyn (the Minsk district) is destroyed together with its residents. Hundreds of Belarusian villages share it plight. The beginning of Belarus’s liberation. |
1944 | Operation “Bagration” – the liberation of the BSSR capital, Minsk, by the troops of 3rd and 1st Belorussian Fronts. The liberation of Belarus from German-fascists occupants. |
1986 | The Chernobyl disaster. Nearly 70% of radioactive exhausts are accounted for Belarus. 23% of the country’s territory is in radioactive contamination zone. |
1990 | The Session of Supreme Soviet of the BSSR adopts the “Declaration on State Sovereignty of the BSSR.” (July 27, 1991) |
1991 | The BSSR renamed the Republic of Belarus (Belarus in short and complex titles). |
The leaders of Belarus, Russia and the Ukraine sign an agreement on creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States. | |
The Supreme Council of Belarus ratifies an agreement on denunciation of a treaty dated 1922 to form the USSR. | |
1994 | Alexander Lukashenko is elected as the first President of the Republic of Belarus. |
