Two exhibitions marking 65 years since Belarus liberation from the Nazi occupiers

The National Archives of the Republic of Belarus offers two exhibitions based on the unique documents relating to partisan and underground movement in the Second World War.

The exhibition “The Unconquerable Belarus” prepared in collaboration with the National Library of Belarus presents materials of partisan and underground press dating from the years 1942-1944.
In all, the Archive’s collection totals 177 titles of newspapers of Belarusian underground regional and district executive committees, and partisan units.

In 1942, when the struggle against the Nazis on the occupied territory rapidly increased, only nine underground newspapers were published using a printing press, five of which are displayed at the exposition. At that time newspapers were brought into the occupied area of Belarus from the Soviet home front, entailing great difficulties. But already in the late 1942, publishing activities began to spread behind the enemy’s line with the use of typewriters and hectographs.

Newspapers published by underground organizations, despite their short print run and small size, played an important role in raising the population to fight against the occupiers.

The exhibition also presents memoirs and reports of partisan brigades and detachments about combat operations and common people’s life in the enemy’s rear. Of especial interest are the drawings and pictures made by direct participants in the struggle against the enemy.

Another exhibition, prepared by this Archive in collaboration with the Archives of Films, Photographs and Sound Recordings, has been staged at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus. In addition to underground press and drawings, this exhibition presents archival documents relating to Belarus’ liberation from the Nazis.