State Archives of Mogilev Region

Historical background

The State Archives of Mogilev Region was founded on July 5, 1938.

In 1941 the Archives had 1 316 fonds with 650 000 items.

In the Second World War part of documents were evacuated into the Soviet area unoccupied by the Nazis; the building was burned to the ground; 1 200 fonds (620 000 items) as well as reference and library materials were lost. Around 70 000 documents were taken by the Nazis to Riga, and part of them – to Tropau and Edolie.

In December 1943 the Archives resumed its work in the town of Krichev, and in July 1944 it was moved to Mogilev. In 1944 its holdings included 30 000 items created by the activities of Soviet organizations in the Mogilev region before the Second World War; and around 15 000 items – records of the Nazi Occupation. Some documents were taken back from Riga and re-evacuated from Cheliabinsk and Tambov.