Participation of the State Archive of the Gomel Region in an event dedicated to the Great October Socialist Revolution as part of the «Archives for Schools» initiative

On November 5, 2026, ahead of the Great October Revolution anniversary, the State Archive of the Gomel Region took part in a lesson titled «November 7th – A Red-Letter Day on the Calendar!» The session was held in the library of Secondary School No.75 in Gomel.

Viktoria Rudenko, an archivist of the first qualification category, addressed an 11th-grade class. She emphasized that, given the complex geopolitical situation in the world today, it is essential to treat national history with respect and care, and to preserve the memory of past generations. Archival documents—including records and materials concerning the revolutionary movement in Gomel—play a vital role in this preservation. Memoirs of participants in the revolutionary movement, held by the archive, offer a deeper insight into the challenging political climate of the early 20th century.

«The initial achievements of the revolution — the ‘Decree on Peace’ — put an end to Russia’s involvement in the imperialist war, while the ‘Decree on Land’ granted peasants something they had never received under the Tsarist regime in the decades following the abolition of serfdom: land», Viktoria explained.

Viktoria Rudenko also spoke to the students about the policies of «Belarusianization» and collectivization, which were implemented by the leadership of the Communist Party of the Byelorussian SSR during the 1920s and 1930s.

Continuing the theme of the October Revolution, the students were shown a documentary film from the Belarusian State Archive of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents (BGAKFFD) depicting the 65th-anniversary celebrations of the Great October Socialist Revolution in Gomel.

1-2. Presentation by Victoria Rudenko

3. Screening of a documentary film