Military operations in Belarusian lands

Official documents of the Russian Government, the Army High Command and local authorities relating to military activities

Russian Empire
Secret order of the Governor of Minsk to the Chief of Minsk City Police on bringing into force the Regulation on the period preparatory to war. 15 July 1914. Typescript on institutional letterhead. (NIAB, f. 300, op. 1, d. 63, l. 1-1 ob.)
Declaration by the Governor of Minsk introducing a state of martial law in the province of Minsk from 18 July 1914. 19 July 1914. Typescript, print on institutional letterhead. (NIAB, f. 295, op. 1, d. 8591 б, l. 67-68)
Order by the Commander of Vilna Military District, General of Cavalry Paul von Rennenkampf on the operational readiness of the army. 17 July 1914. Copy. Print. (NIAB, f. 1430, op. 1, d. 49083, l. 133)
Telegram of the War Minister, Navy Minister and Interior Minister to the Chief of Minsk City Police on bringing the army and navy to a state of readiness for war. 17 July 1914. Copy. Manuscript on telegraph form. (NIAB, f. 300, op. 1, d. 63, l. 8)
Decree of the Senate on the beginning of the general mobilisation addressed to the Governor of Vitebsk. 18 July 1914. Copy. Print. (NIAB, f. 1416, op. 1, d. 2352, l. 1-2 ob.)
Order by the Commander of the North-Western Front on the division of the Warsaw and Vilna military districts into the Dvinsk and Minsk military districts. 20 July 1914. Print. (NIAB in Grodno, f. 336, op. 1, d. 6, l. 98)
Decree of the Senate declaring a state of martial law in the province of Vitebsk addressed to the Governor of Vitebsk. 24 July 1914. Copy. Print. (NIAB, f. 1416, op. 1, d. 2351, l. 1)
On actions punished under laws of war (from mandatory resolution of the Commander of Minsk Military District to residents of Brest-Litovsk, Kobrin, Pruzhany and Slonim districts in Grodno province). 31 July 1914. Photocopy. Print. Dokumenty i materialy po istorii Belorussii. T. III. Minsk, 1953. P. 786-789. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
On measures against spreading ‘false and disquieting’ rumours among the population about the actions of Russian troops (instruction of the Governor of Minsk to police chiefs). 2 August 1914. Photocopy. Print. Dokumenty i materialy po istorii Belorussii. T. III. Minsk, 1953. P. 789. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
News item “Punishment for crimes in war time”. Newspaper “Nasha niva”. 21 August 1914. № 33. P. 2. Belarusian. (BGAMLI, library, № 36103)
Report from the Governor of Minsk A. Girs to the Department of Police, Ministry of Interior on police reinforcement in the township of Razvadovo-Baranovichi, Novogrudok district due to the location there of the General Headquarters of the Supreme Commander of the Russian Army. 3 September 1914. Typescript on institutional letterhead. (NIAB, f. 299, op. 13, d. 797, l. 20-20 ob.)
Prohibition of pacifist ideas among the soldiers (letter from the Chief of Staff of Minsk Military District Departments to the Governor of Minsk). November 1914. Photocopy. Print. Dokumenty i materialy po istorii Belorussii. T. III. Minsk, 1953. P. 876-877. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Regulations for the issue of permits to enter the fortress of Brest-Litovsk (supplement to the fortress commandant’s order). 1915. Certified copy. Hectograph. Typescript. (NIAB in Grodno, f. 674, op. 2, d. 11, l. 80-80 ob.)
Letter from Member of the 4th State Duma A. Kerensky to the Chairman of the Duma M. Rodzyanko concerning the high treason at the Ministry of Interior, provocative activities of the central government institutions and the necessity to strengthen control over the executive authorities. February 1915. Copy. Manuscript. (BGAMLI, f. 3, op. 2, d. 10, l. 3)
Letter from the Governor of Mogilev A. Piltz to the Marshal of the Nobility of Mogilev District E. Oldekop concerning the procedure of awarding bronze medals for efforts in the 1914 mobilisation. 26 March 1915. Copy. Typescript. (NIAB, f. 2053, op. 1, d. 80, l. 5-5 ob.)
On conducting a test of political loyalty for early recruits (information from the Governor of Minsk to police chiefs). April 1915. Photocopy. Print. Dokumenty i materialy po istorii Belorussii. T. III. Minsk, 1953. P. 790. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Ordinance of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief prohibiting the sale of alcohol in the area of military actions. 26 May 1915. Print. (NIAB in Grodno, f. 1, op. 9, d. 1772, l. 358)
Instruction of the Chief of Railway Communications at the North-Western Front for the protection of the front railways. 1 June 1915. Print. (NIAB in Grodno, f. 587, op. 1, d. 105, l. 104)
Secret order banning access to the area of military operations for political revolutionary parties (from the Headquarters Intelligence Division of the Commander of the North-Western Front to the Grodno Province Gendarme Department). 6 June 1915. Certified copy. Hectograph. Typescript. (NIAB in Grodno, f. 366, op. 1, d. 465, l. 109-109 ob.)
Order of the Commandant of Brest-Litovsk Fortress on the procedures for issue of permits to enter the fortress. 10 June 1915. Print. (NIAB in Grodno, f. 674, op. 1, d. 42, l. 20)
Circular of the Governor of Minsk on granting an exemption from military service to government employees and office clerks. 26 September 1916. Manuscript on institutional letterhead. (NIAB, f. 22, op. 1, d. 1286, l. 165-165 ob.)
Letter of Nicholas II to the Chief of Staff of General Headquarters on his abdication from the throne. 2 March 1917. Photocopy. Print. Istoriia gosudarstva i prava Rossii v dokumentakh i materialakh. S drevneishikh vremen po 1930 g. Minsk, 2005. P. 341. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Russian Republic
Address to Russian citizens from the Provisional Government. 3 March 1917. Photocopy. Print. Istoriia gosudarstva i prava Rossii v dokumentakh i materialakh. S drevneishikh vremen po 1930 g. Minsk, 2005. P. 342-343. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Appeal for keeping discipline, law and order in the army (telegram of the Commander of Minsk Military District to unit commanders). 6 March 1917. Photocopy. Print. Dokumenty i materialy po istorii Belorussii. T. III. Minsk, 1953. P. 913-914. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Address of the Provisional Government to the army on bringing the war to a victorious end (from telegram of the Commander of the Western Front to the Chief of Staff of Minsk Military District). 8 March 1917. Photocopy. Print. Dokumenty i materialy po istorii Belorussii. T. III. Minsk, 1953. P. 887-888. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Resolutions of the Minsk Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies (from minutes of meeting of the Minsk Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies). 8 March 1917. Photocopy. Print. Dokumenty i materialy po istorii Belorussii. T. III. Minsk, 1953. P. 896-897. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Resolution of the Provisional Government on transfer of bread to the state authority (extract). 25 March 1917. Photocopy. Print. Istoriia gosudarstva i prava Rossii v dokumentakh i materialakh. S drevneishikh vremen po 1930 g. Minsk, 2005. P. 345. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
On the organisation of soldiers at the front (from draft resolution of the Minsk Executive Committee of Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies). 25 March 1917. Photocopy. Print. Dokumenty i materialy po istorii Belorussii. T. III. Minsk, 1953. P. 907-908. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Resolution of the Provisional Government on strengthening punishment for anti-war actions at the front. 30 May 1917. Photocopy. Print. Istoriia gosudarstva i prava Rossii v dokumentakh i materialakh. S drevneishikh vremen po 1930 g. Minsk, 2005. P. 346. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Resolution of the Provisional Government on the introduction of death penalty at the front and the establishment of revolutionary court-martials. 12 July 1917. Photocopy. Print. Istoriia gosudarstva i prava Rossii v dokumentakh i materialakh. S drevneishikh vremen po 1930 g. Minsk, 2005. P. 349. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Order of Supreme Commander-in-Chief L. Kornilov № 897 on taking measures for the salvation of Russia. 28 August 1917. Photocopy. Print. Istoriia gosudarstva i prava Rossii v dokumentakh i materialakh. S drevneishikh vremen po 1930 g. Minsk, 2005. P. 351-354. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Address of the Provisional Government “To all citizens”. 28 August 1917. Photocopy. Print. Istoriia gosudarstva i prava Rossii v dokumentakh i materialakh. S drevneishikh vremen po 1930 g. Minsk, 2005. P. 355-56. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Resolution of the Provisional Government on the suppression of the revolt (extract). 1 September 1917. Photocopy. Print. Istoriia gosudarstva i prava Rossii v dokumentakh i materialakh. S drevneishikh vremen po 1930 g. Minsk, 2005. P. 358. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Telegram regarding the refusal to convene a congress for representatives of Belarusian military organisations (from the headquarters of the Supreme Commander of the Russian Army to the Plenipotentiary of the Central Council of Belarusian Military Organisations M. Kokhanovich). 15 October 1917. Typescript, manuscript. (BGAMLI, f. 3, op. 1, d. 137, l. 98-98 ob.)
Soviet Russia
Decree on Peace. Congress of Soviets of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies. 26 October 1917. Photocopy. Print. Istoriia gosudarstva i prava Rossii v dokumentakh i materialakh. S drevneishikh vremen po 1930 g. Minsk, 2005. P. 359-360. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Decree of the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets “On the army revolutionary committees”. 26 October 1917. Photocopy. Print. Dokumenty i materialy po istorii Belorussii. T. IV. Minsk, 1954. P. 238. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Decree of the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets “On the abolition of death penalty”. 26 October 1917. Photocopy. Print. Dokumenty i materialy po istorii Belorussii. T. IV. Minsk, 1954. P. 238. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Order of the Military Revolutionary Committee at General Headquarters on the establishment of the committee and the central revolutionary field headquarters for combating the counter-revolution. 22 November 1917. Photocopy. Print. Direktivy Glavnogo komandovaniia Krasnoi Armii (1917-1920). Moscow, 1969. P. 11-12. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Resolution of the Second Congress of the Western Front Armies on the democratisation of the army. 22 November 1917. Photocopy. Print. Dokumenty i materialy po istorii Belorussii. T. IV. Minsk, 1954. P. 292-294. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Resolution of the Second Congress of the Western Front Armies on the supply of the army. 25 November 1917. Photocopy. Print. Dokumenty i materialy po istorii Belorussii. T. IV. Minsk, 1954. P. 297-299. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Resolution of the Second Congress of the Western Front Armies on the demobilisation of the army. 25 November 1917. Photocopy. Print. Dokumenty i materialy po istorii Belorussii. T. IV. Minsk, 1954. P. 299-300. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Information on the election of A. Myasnikov at the Second Congress of the Western Front Armies as Commander of the Western Front. 25 November 1917. Photocopy. Print. Dokumenty i materialy po istorii Belorussii. T. IV. Minsk, 1954. P. 302. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Instructions on the nationalization of Russian troops № 72 and № 74 (from Commissar of the Belarusian Military Commission for Military and Political Affairs at the Romanian Front M. Mantsevich to Lieutenant Colonel Chunikhin). 27 December 1917. Copies. Typescript, handwritten notes in Russian and Belarusian. (BGAMLI, f. 3, op. 1, d. 284, l. 1-3)
Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief N. Krylenko for combating the rebellious Polish Corps led by Dovbor-Musnitsky № 291. 22 January 1918. Photocopy. Print. Direktivy Glavnogo komandovaniia Krasnoi Armii (1917-1920). Moscow, 1969. P. 15-16. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Mandate of the Assistant Commissar of the Belarusian Military Commission for Military and Political Affairs at the Romanian Front, Colonel Chunikhin. 24 January 1918. Copy. Typescript, handwritten notes in Russian and Belarusian. (BGAMLI, f. 3, op. 1, d. 284, l. 1-3)
Report of Colonel Chunikhin-Karvetsky to the Belarusian Military Commission on the organisation of Belarusian units in the Russian army at the Romanian Front in 1917-1918. Lodz. 29 December 1920. Typescript. Belarusian. (BGAMLI, f. 3, op. 1, d. 159, l. 11-11 ob.)
Telegram of V. Lenin to the chairman of the Drissa Soviet. 19 February 1918. Photocopy. Print. Direktivy Glavnogo komandovaniia Krasnoi Armii (1917-1920). Moscow, 1969. P. 18. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Appeal of the Chief of Staff of Supreme Commander-in-Chief M. Bonch-Bruevich to the command of the Northern and Western fronts and town councils in the frontier area calling to stop the advance of German troops. 22 February 1918. Photocopy. Print. Direktivy Glavnogo komandovaniia Krasnoi Armii (1917-1920). Moscow, 1969. P. 19-20. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief N. Krylenko to the command of the Northern and Western fronts on measures to stop the further advance of German troops. 25 February 1918. Photocopy. Print. Direktivy Glavnogo komandovaniia Krasnoi Armii (1917-1920). Moscow, 1969. P. 21. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Draft order of the Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars V. Lenin “To all Deputies’ Soviets”. 2 March 1918. Photocopy. Print. Direktivy Glavnogo komandovaniia Krasnoi Armii (1917-1920). Moscow, 1969. P. 25. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
Resolution of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee declaring the Soviet Republic as a military camp. 2 September 1918. Photocopy. Print. Direktivy Glavnogo komandovaniia Krasnoi Armii (1917-1920). Moscow, 1969. P. 53. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)
From report of the Army High Command to the Revolutionary Military Committee of the Soviet Republic on the strategical situation in the republic by 1 December 1918. After 1 December 1918. Photocopy. Print. Direktivy Glavnogo komandovaniia Krasnoi Armii (1917-1920). Moscow, 1969. P. 133-135, 137-138. (BelNITsED, collection of electronic copies of documents and materials on the history of the First World War)