{"id":989746,"date":"2006-05-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2006-05-18T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/archives.gov.by\/en\/?page_id=989746"},"modified":"2021-06-29T11:49:01","modified_gmt":"2021-06-29T08:49:01","slug":"history-of-the-administrative-division-of-belarus","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/archives.gov.by\/en\/welcome-to-the-archives-of-belarus-website\/genealogy-family-history\/history-of-the-administrative-division-of-belarus","title":{"rendered":"History of the Administrative Division of Belarus"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"submenu\">\r\n<a href=\"\/en\/?page_id=905573\">\r\n<p>List of main administrative units<\/a><br>\r\n<a href=\"#sn1\"> Present-day administrative division<\/a> <\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<p><br>\r\nIn different historical periods the area of present-day Belarus (within the boundaries of\r\nthe Republic of Belarus) formed part of different state formations: \r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n  <li><b>Polotsk <\/b>(10th-13th cc.),<b> Turov <\/b>(late 10th &#8211; early\r\n    14th cc.), <b>Smolensk <\/b>(12th-14th cc.), and also <b>Kiev<\/b> and <b>Chernigov<\/b>\r\n    (southeastern parts of Belarus)<b> principalities<\/b>,<b> <\/b>which later broke up into smaller\r\n    appanages   <\/li>\r\n  <li><b>Grand Duchy of Lithuania<\/b> (mid 13th &#8211; late 18th centuries; the full name from the\r\n    mid-15th century was the <b>Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Rus and Samogitia<\/b>)<\/li>\r\n  <li><b>Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (Rzeczpospolita),<\/b> 1569-1795, a federal state\r\n    formed by a union of the Kingdom of Poland (&#8220;the Crown&#8221;) and the Grand Duchy of\r\n    Lithuania (&#8220;Duchy&#8221; or &#8220;Litva&#8221;), which had a common government and\r\n    pursued a common foreign policy, but remained autonomous in matters of administration,\r\n    legislation, finance and judicature, had its own separate army, etc.   <\/li>\r\n  <li><b>Russian Empire<\/b> (end 18th c. &#8211; 1917) <\/li>\r\n  <li><b>Socialist Soviet Republic of Belarus<\/b> (<b>SSRB<\/b>, January &#8211; February 1919)<\/li>\r\n  <li><b>Lithuanian Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic<\/b> (<b>Litbel<\/b>, February &#8211; July\r\n    1919) <\/li>\r\n  <li><b>Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic <\/b>(<b>RSFSR<\/b>, eastern part of\r\n    Belarus in 1919-1924, certain districts in 1919-1926)<\/li>\r\n  <li><b>Republic of Poland<\/b> (western part of Belarus in the 1920s-1930s)<\/li>\r\n  <li><b>Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic<\/b> (<b>BSSR<\/b>, 1920-1991), which was a part <b>of\r\n    the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)<\/b> from 1922 to 1991 <\/li>\r\n  <li><b>Republic of Belarus<\/b> (since 1991) <\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>The administrative division of these states, except for the Republic of Belarus,\r\nfrequently changed. It should be noted that certain administrative entities that\r\nconstituted the above state formations are today part of Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia\r\nand Ukraine. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The information offered about the administrative-territorial division of Belarus is\r\narranged in the chronological order of events, according to the <a href=\"\/en\/?page_id=905573\">main\r\nadministrative-territorial units:<\/a>  \r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n  <li><strong>voevodstvos<\/strong><b> (voivodeships<\/b><strong>)<\/strong> with further\r\n    division into povets (districts) in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, including when it was\r\n    part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, from the early 15th to the late 18th centuries\r\n    and in the Republic of Poland in the 1920s-1930s<\/li>\r\n  <li><b>gubernias (governorates, provinces)<\/b> subdivided into uezds (districts) in the\r\n    Russian Empire in the late 18th &#8211; early 20th centuries <\/li>\r\n  <li><strong>okrugs (regions, areas)<\/strong> subdivided into raions (districts) in the BSSR\r\n    in the 1920s-1930s<\/li>\r\n  <li><b>oblasts (regions)<\/b> subdivided into raions (districts) in the BSSR from 1938 and in\r\n    the Republic of Belarus since 1991. <\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>There also existed other administrative units, such as volosts,\r\nprincipalities, lands, namestnichestvos, provinces etc., whose jurisdiction was not\r\ndefinitely determined by legislation nor documented or their existence was short-term. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>* * *<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In the earlier period as regards Belarus&#8217;s statehood and\r\npolitical division&#8211;from the 10th to the mid-13th centuries during the period of Old Rus\r\nand appanage principalities and from the mid-13th to the early 14th centuries during the\r\nformation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania&#8211;there existed administrative units called <em>volosts<\/em>,\r\nwhich consisted of several village communities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>* * *<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In the 15th and the first half of the 16th centuries, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was\r\ndivided into the judicial administrative districts: <em>principalities<\/em> (the remains\r\nof the former appanage estates) and <em>namestnichestvos<\/em> (founded in connection with\r\nthe liquidation of appanages and governed by the Grand Prince&#8217;s deputies). The major\r\nnamestnichestvos, which had elements of self-government, were named <em>lands<\/em>; their\r\nboundaries were set historically and were not determined by legislation. A smaller\r\nadministrative subdivision, <em>volost<\/em>, was composed of several peasant communes. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>* * *<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"left\">A <strong>voivodeship<\/strong> as an<font color=\"#FF0000\"> <font\r\ncolor=\"#000000\">administrative unit in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was introduced\r\nin the early 15th century. Later, village communities (volosts), which constituted each\r\nvoivodeship, were combined into bigger administrative units called povets\r\n(districts).  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In 1413, the <b><a name=\"vil1\"><\/a>Vilno <\/b>and<b> <a name=\"trok1\"><\/a>Troki voivodeships <\/b>were\r\nestablished. The areas not included into these units retained the status of autonomous\r\nlands.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In 1471, the <strong>Kiev voivodeship<\/strong> was <b><a name=\"kiev\"><\/a><\/b>established,\r\ncomprising, among others, the Mozyr povet and some lands in the far southeast of\r\npresent-day Belarus. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"viteb1\"><\/a>After 1511, the <strong>Vitebsk voivodeship<\/strong> was created out of the Vitebsk\r\nland. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"polosk1\"><\/a>About 1504, the <strong>Polotsk voivodeship<\/strong> was created out of the Polotsk\r\nland.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In 1507, the <b><a name=\"novogor1\"><\/a>Novogorodek (Novogrudok) voivodeship<\/b><font\r\ncolor=\"#000000\"> was split off from the Vilno voivodeship.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"podl\"><\/a>In 1513, several districts in the Troki voivodeship were merged into the <strong>Podlasie-Berestie\r\nvoivodeship<\/strong> (from 1520, <strong>Podlasie<\/strong> voivodeship). <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>(See map &#8220;The Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 15th and the first half of the 16th\r\ncenturies&#8221; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vln.by\/sites\/default\/files\/map2_0.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/www.vln.by\/sites\/default\/files\/map2_0.jpg<\/a>).\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><b>* * *<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"left\"><a name=\"berest1\"><\/a>    In 1565-1566, an administrative reform was carried out in the Grand Duchy\r\nof Lithuania, dividing Belarusian lands into the following <strong>voivodeships<\/strong>\r\nand povets (districts): <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b>Berestie (Brest)<\/b> <strong>voivodeship<\/strong> (Brest and Pinsk povets)<br>\r\n<b><a name=\"vil2\"><\/a>Vilno voivodeship<\/b> (Braslav, Vilno, Lida and Oshmiany povets, and also the Vilkomir\r\npovet, the lands of which are now in the Republic of Lithuania)<br>\r\n<b><a name=\"viteb2\"><\/a>Vitebsk voivodeship<\/b> (Vitebsk and Oshmiany povets)<br>\r\n<b><a\r\nname=\"mensk\"><\/a> Mensk (Minsk)<\/b> (Minsk and Rechitsa povets and from 1569, Mozyr povet)<br>\r\n<b><a name=\"mstislav\"><\/a>Mstislavl voivodeship<\/b> (no povets)<br>\r\n<b><a name=\"novogor2\"><\/a>Novogorodek (Novogrudok)<\/b> <strong>voivodeship<\/strong> (Volkovysk, Novogrudok and\r\nSlonim povets) <br>\r\n<b><a name=\"polosk2\"><\/a>Polotsk<\/b> <strong>voivodeship<\/strong> (no povets)<br>\r\n<b><a\r\nname=\"trok2\"><\/a>Troki voivodeship<\/b> (Grodno povet, and also the Kovno (Kaunas), Troki and Upity\r\npovets, the lands of which are now in the Republic of Lithuania). <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>From 1569, the Kiev and Podlasie voivodeships were part of the Kingdom of Poland. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>This administrative division was documented in the 1588 Statute of the Grand Duchy of\r\nLithuania and existed until the late 18th century.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><b>* * *<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In the late 18th century, following the three partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian\r\nCommonwealth between Russia, Prussia and Austria in 1772, 1793 and 1795, the\r\nadministrative division of Belarus underwent significant changes. In the areas\r\nincorporated into the Russian Empire a new administrative unit, <strong>gubernia<\/strong>\r\n(governorate, province) was introduced. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"mog1\"><\/a><a name=\"pskov1\"><\/a><a name=\"pol1\"><\/a>As a result of the First\r\nPartition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the eastern part of Belarus was annexed\r\nby the Russian Empire and was incorporated into the newly formed <strong>Mogilev, Pskov\r\nand Polotsk gubernias<\/strong> (see map &#8220;The administrative-territorial division of\r\nEastern Belarus. 1772-1792&#8221; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vln.by\/sites\/default\/files\/map6.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/www.vln.by\/sites\/default\/files\/map6.jpg<\/a>). <br>\r\n<br>\r\nIn the Belarusian lands that remained in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania <a name=\"berest2\"><\/a><a\r\nname=\"vil3\"><\/a><a name=\"novogor3\"><\/a>new districts were created in 1791: in <strong>Brest\r\nvoivodeship<\/strong> &#8211; Pinsk-Zarechny povet with center in the village of Plotnitsa (in\r\n1792, renamed Zapinki povet with center in the town of Stolin) and Kobrin povet; in <strong>Vilno\r\nvoivodeship<\/strong> &#8211; Zavileika povet (centerd in Postavy) and Eishishki povet; in <strong>Novogrudok\r\nvoivodeship<\/strong> &#8211; Slucheretsk (Slutsk) povet.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"min1\"><\/a>After the Second Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth,\r\nthe central part of Belarus was incorporated into the Russian Empire, where the <strong>Minsk\r\ngubernia<\/strong> was established (see map &#8220;The administrative-territorial division\r\nof Belarus. 1793-1796&#8221; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vln.by\/sites\/default\/files\/map3.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/www.vln.by\/sites\/default\/files\/map3.jpg<\/a>).\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"grodno\"><\/a>In 1793, the Grodno povet of Troki voivodeship, which remained in\r\nthe Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth after the second partition, was reorganized as the <strong>Grodno\r\nvoivodeship<\/strong>. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"vilen1\"><\/a><a name=\"slonim1\"><\/a>After the Third Partition of the\r\nPolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the western part of Belarus was incorporated into the\r\nRussian Empire, where the <strong>Vilno<\/strong> and <strong>Slonim<\/strong> <strong>gubernias<\/strong>\r\nwere established. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><b>* * *<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"mog2\"><\/a>When founded in 1772, the <strong>Mogilev gubernia<\/strong> consisted of the following\r\nprovinces: Mogilev, Mstislavl, Orsha and Rogachev. In 1777, the gubernia was subdivided\r\ninto 12 <em>uezds<\/em> (povets or districts, the term <em>povet<\/em> was officially used\r\ntogether with the word <em>uezd<\/em> until 1840): Babinovichi (abolished in 1840), Belitsk\r\n(renamed Gomel in 1852), Klimovichi, Kopys (abolished in 1861), Mogilev, Mstislavl, Orsha,\r\nRogachev, Senno, Stary Bykhov (renamed Bykhov in 1852), Chausy and Cherikov.   <br>\r\nIn 1778, Mogilev gubernia was renamed a namestnichestvo (viceroyalty), which was governed\r\nalong with the Polotsk namestnichestvo by Tsar&#8217;s Deputy Governor General.\r\nIn 1796, the namestnichestvo was abolished and its districts were assigned to the\r\nBelarus gubernia. <br>\r\nIn 1802, Mogilev gubernia was reconstituted to include its original 12 districts.\r\n<br>\r\nIn September 1917, the gubernia went into Western Region; in January 1919, the SSRB; and\r\nin February 1919, the RSFSR.  <br>\r\nOn 11 July 1919, Mogilev gubernia was abolished; its nine districts were assigned to the\r\nGomel gubernia; Mstislavl district to the Smolensk gubernia; Senno district to the Vitebsk\r\ngubernia. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"pskov2\"><\/a>Founded in 1772, the <strong>Pskov gubernia<\/strong> originally comprised the provinces\r\nof Velikie Luki, Vitebsk, Dvinsk, Polotsk and Pskov.  <br>\r\nIn 1775, the provinces were divided into the following districts: Dvinsk Province &#8211;\r\nDinaburg, Marienhauzen and Rezhitsk districts; Polotsk Province &#8211; Nevel, Polotsk and\r\nSebezh districts; Vitebsk Province &#8211; Velizh, Vitebsk and Gorodok districts. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"pol2\"><\/a><\/b>The<b> Polotsk gubernia <\/b>was formed in 1776 from the\r\nVitebsk, Dvinsk and Polotsk provinces of the Pskov gubernia, comprising 11 districts:\r\nVelizh, Vitebsk, Gorodok, Drisa, Dinaburg, Lutsin, Nevel, Polotsk, Rezhitsk, Sebezh and\r\nSurazh.  <br>\r\nIn 1778-1796, the gubernia was renamed a namestnichestvo.\r\n<br>\r\nA part of the former Polotsk voivodeship, which was incorporated into the Russian Empire\r\nafter the second partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was reorganized in 1793\r\nas the Lepel district of the Polotsk gubernia.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"left\"><a name=\"min2\"><\/a>Founded in 1793, the <b>Minsk gubernia<\/b> initially comprised 13\r\ndistricts: Bobruisk, Borisov, Vileika, David-Gorodok, Disna, Dokshitsy, Igumen, Mozyr,\r\nNesvizh, Postavy, Pinsk and Slutsk.  <br>\r\nIn 1795-1796, Minsk gubernia was called a namestnichestvo. <br>\r\nIn 1796, David-Gorodok, Dokshitsy, Nesvizh and Postavy districts were abolished; in 1797,\r\nRechitsa district was added.\r\n<br>\r\nIn 1842, the gubernia received Novogrudok district from the Grodno gubernia, while the\r\nVileika and Disna districts were assigned to the Vilno gubernia.\r\n<br>\r\nFrom November 1917, Minsk gubernia was included into Western Region; from 1918, Western\r\nCommune; from January 1919, the SSRB; from February 1919, the Litbel. <br>\r\nIn 1919, Baranovichi district was formed. The Rechitsa and Mozyr districts and certain\r\nparts of the Bobruisk, Borisov and Igumen districts were transferred to the Gomel\r\ngubernia. In 1920, Nesvizh district was formed.  <br>\r\nIn 1921, when a part of the gubernia went into the Republic of Poland, except for\r\nBobruisk, Borisov, Igumen, Mozyr, Minsk and Slutsk districts, the Minsk gubernia ceased to\r\nexist. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The<b> <a name=\"bel\"><\/a>Belarus gubernia <\/b>with the capital in Vitebsk was formed in\r\n1796 from the Polotsk and Mogilev namestnichestvos, comprising 16 districts: Belitsk,\r\nVelizh, Vitebsk, Gorodok, Dinaburg, Lutsin, Mogilev, Mstislavl, Nevel, Orsha, Polotsk,\r\nRogachev, Sebezh, Senno, Chausy and Cherikov.   <br>\r\nIn 1802, the Belarus gubernia was abolished, and its territory was divided into the\r\nVitebsk and Mogilev gubernias. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"slonim2\"><\/a>Founded in 1796, the <b>Slonim gubernia<\/b> comprised 8 districts: Brest, Volkovysk,\r\nGrodno, Kobrin, Lida, Novogrudok, Pruzhany and Slonim. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Founded in 1795, the <strong><a name=\"vilen2\"><\/a>Vilno gubernia<\/strong> comprised 11 districts: Braslav\r\n(from 1836, Novo-Aleksandrov), Vilno, Vilkomir, Zavileisk, Kovno, Oshmiany, Rossieny,\r\nTroki, Upity (Ponevezhis), Teleshevo and Shavel.\r\n<br>\r\nIn 1801-1840, the Vilno gubernia was named Lithuania-Vilno gubernia. <br>\r\n<a name=\"koven1\"><\/a>In 1843, some of its districts were assigned to the newly formed <strong>Kovno gubernia<\/strong>,\r\nincluding Novo-Aleksandrov district. <br>\r\nIn the Vilno gubernia remained Vilno, Oshmiany, Sventsiany (Zavileisk) and Troki\r\ndistricts, and the gubernia received additional districts: Lida district from the Grodno\r\ngubernia, and the Disna and Vileika districts from the Minsk gubernia. <br>\r\nIn 1920, most part of the Vilno gubernia was occupied by the Polish troops; in 1922-1925,\r\nit constituted the Vilno Land; in 1925-1939, was included into the Vilno voivodeship of\r\nthe Polish Republic; the remaining parts went into the Lithuanian Republic; a small part\r\nof the Vileika district was given to the Belarusian SSR. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"lit\"><\/a><a name=\"slonim3\"><\/a>In 1797, the <strong>Slonim<\/strong> and <strong><a name=\"vilen3\"><\/a>Vilno gubernias<\/strong> were united\r\ninto the <strong>Lithuania gubernia<\/strong> with center in Vilno, comprising 19\r\ndistricts: Braslav, Brest, Volkovysk, Vilno, Vilkomir, Grodno, Zavileisk, Kobrin, Kovno,\r\nLida, Novogrudok, Oshmiany, Pruzhany, Rossiena, Slonim, Teleshevo, Troki, Upity and\r\nShavel.  <br>\r\n<a name=\"grod1\"><\/a>In 1801, the Lithuania gubernia was again divided into the Vilno and\r\nSlonim (from 1802, <strong>Grodno<\/strong>) gubernias. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"grod2\"><\/a>From 1802, the <strong>Grodno gubernia<\/strong> comprised 8 districts: Brest,\r\nVolkovysk, Grodno, Kobrin, Lida, Novogrudok, Pruzhany and Slonim.\r\n<br>\r\nIn 1843, the gubernia received Bialystok, Belsk and Sokolka districts from the abolished\r\nBialystok Region, while the Novogrudok district was assigned to the Minsk gubernia and the\r\nLida district to the Vilno gubernia.\r\n<br>\r\nAccording to the Peace Treaty of Riga of 1921, the Grodno gubernia was assigned to Poland;\r\nits districts went into Bialystok (Bialystok, Belsk, Volkovysk, Grodno and Sokolka\r\ndistricts), Polesie (Brest, Kobrin and Pruzhany districts) and Novogrudok (Slonim\r\ndistrict) voivodeships.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"left\"><a name=\"vit1\"><\/a>Founded in 1802, the <b>Vitebsk gubernia<\/b> comprised 12 districts:\r\nVelizh, Vitebsk, Gorodok, Dvinsk, Drisa, Lepel, Lutsin, Nevel, Polotsk, Rezhitsa, Sebezh\r\nand Surazh (abolished in 1866). <br>\r\nIn November 1917, the Vitebsk gubernia was included into Western Region; in September\r\n1918, Western Commune; in January 1919, the SSRB; in January 1919, the RSFSR. <br>\r\nFollowing the formation of the Gomel gubernia in April 1919, the Vitebsk gubernia received\r\nSenno district from the Mogilev gubernia (July 1919) and later Orsha district from the\r\nGomel gubernia (November 1920). <br>\r\nAccording to the Peace Treaty of 11 August 1920 between the Russian SFSR and Latvia, the\r\nDvinsk, Lutsin and Rezhitsk districts went into Latvia. <br>\r\nIn February 1923, the Gorodok, Senno and Drisa districts were abolished; the Lepel\r\ndistrict was renamed Bocheikovo. On 10 March 1924, following the 1st enlargement of the\r\nBelarusian SSR, the Vitebsk gubernia was abolished. The districts of Vitebsk, Gorodok,\r\nDrisa, Lepel, Polotsk, Senno and Surazh were included into the Belarusian SSR; the\r\ndistricts of Velizh, Nevel and Sebezh, into the Pskov gubernia of the Russian SFSR.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\">***<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"left\">An<strong> oblast (region)<\/strong> as an administrative unit in\r\nBelarusian lands appeared for the first time in the early 19th century; the term to be\r\nreintroduced only over a century later. <\/p>\r\n<span lang=\"ru\">\r\n\r\n<p align=\"left\">The area which went into Prussia after the third partition of the\r\nPolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was later assigned to Russia according to the Peace\r\nTreaty of Tilsit of 1807 was named <strong><a name=\"be\"><\/a>Bialystok Region<\/strong>, with center in\r\nBialystok The Region was composed of 4 districts: Bialystok, Belsk, Sokolka and Drogichin and\r\nmap &#8220;The administrative-territorial division of Belarus. The first half of the 19th\r\ncentury&#8221; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vln.by\/sites\/default\/files\/map4.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/www.vln.by\/sites\/default\/files\/map4.jpg<\/a>).\r\nIn 1842, Bialystok Region was abolished; its districts were transferred to the Grodno\r\ngubernia; the Drogichin and Belsk districts were reconstituted as the Belsk district.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"left\"><a name=\"zapad\"><\/a><a name=\"vilen4\"><\/a><a name=\"min3\"><\/a><a name=\"mog3\"><\/a>In\r\nMarch 1917, the <strong>Western Region<\/strong> was established, comprising the gubernias\r\nof Vilno, Minsk and Mogilev, with the capital in Minsk. <br>\r\n<a name=\"vit2\"><\/a>After the October Revolution of 1917, the Region included the <strong>gubernias\r\nof Vilno, Vitebsk, Mogilev and Minsk<\/strong>. In February 1918, in view of the German\r\noccupation of some parts of Belarus, the center of the Region was moved to Smolensk.<br>\r\nIn April 1918, the <strong><a name=\"smol1\"><\/a>Smolensk gubernia<\/strong> went into the Western Region.<br>\r\nIn September 1918, the Region was renamed Western Commune, which was abolished after the\r\nproclamation of the SSRB (January 1, 1919).<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><b>* * *<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"vit3\"><\/a><a name=\"grod3\"><\/a><a name=\"min4\"><\/a><a name=\"mog4\"><\/a><a\r\nname=\"vilen5\"><\/a><a name=\"koven2\"><\/a><a name=\"smol2\"><\/a>Founded on 1 January 1919, the\r\nSocialist Soviet Republic of Belarus (SSRB) comprised the<strong> gubernias of Vitebsk,\r\nGrodno, Minsk <\/strong>and<strong> Mogilev, <\/strong>certain districts of the <strong>Vilno\r\n<\/strong>and<strong> Kovno gubernias, <\/strong>and the western districts of the<strong>\r\nSmolensk gubernia<\/strong>. On 16 January 1919, by the resolution of the Russian Communist\r\nParty (Bolsheviks) Central Committee, the Vitebsk, Mogilev and Smolensk gubernias were\r\ntransferred to the Russian SFSR.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In February 1919, the remaining part of the SSRB and the Socialist Soviet Republic of\r\nLithuania were united to form the Soviet Socialist Republic of Lithuania and Belarus (<a\r\nname=\"koven3\"><\/a>Litbel), which comprised the <strong><a name=\"vilen6\"><\/a>Vilno<\/strong> and <strong><a name=\"min5\"><\/a>Minsk<\/strong>\r\ngubernias and <a name=\"grod4\"><\/a>parts of the <strong>Grodno<\/strong> and <strong>Kovno gubernias<\/strong>.\r\nBy the end of summer 1919, most territory of the Litbel had been occupied by the Polish\r\ntroops and the Republic de facto ceased to exist.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><b>* * *<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>On 26 April 1919, the<strong> <a name=\"gom1\"><\/a>Gomel gubernia<\/strong> was formed, comprising nine\r\ndistricts of the abolished Mogilev gubernia (Bykhov, Gomel, Gorki, Klimivichi, Mogilev,\r\nOrsha, Rogachev and Chausy), the Rechitsa district of the Minsk gubernia, and the Mglin,\r\nNovozybkov, Starye Duby and Surazh districts of the Chernigov gubernia.  <br>\r\nBetween August 1919 and August 1920, the Gomel gubernia received Mozyr district and\r\ncertain parts of the Bobruisk, Borisov and Igumen districts.   <br>\r\nIn November 1920, Orsha district was transferred to the Vitebsk gubernia.  <br>\r\nIn May 1922, Mglin and Chausy districts were abolished, Surazh district was renamed\r\nKlintsy, Pochepy district was formed.  <br>\r\nIn July 1922, most of the Gorki district was given to the Smolensk gubernia.  <br>\r\nIn February 1923, Bykhov district was abolished.  <br>\r\nIn May 1923, Pochepy district was transferred to the Briansk gubernia.  <br>\r\nIn March 1924, the districts of Bykhov, Klimovichi, Mogilev, Rogachev, Chausy and Cherikov\r\nand a part of the Rechitsa district were transferred to the Belarusian SSR.  <br>\r\nIn December 1926, Gomel gubernia was abolished: the Gomel and Rechitsa districts were\r\nassigned to the Belarusian SSR; the Klintsy, Novozybkov and Starye Duby districts went\r\ninto the Briansk gubernia of the Russian SFSR. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><b>* * *<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"min6\"><\/a>On 31 July 1920, the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR) was re-established,\r\ncomprising the <strong>Minsk<\/strong> <strong>gubernia<\/strong> (without Rechitsa\r\ndistrict) and the Belarusian districts of the <strong><a name=\"grod5\"><\/a>Grodno<\/strong> and <strong><a name=\"vilen7\"><\/a>Vilno\r\ngubernias<\/strong>. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"grod6\"><\/a><a name=\"min7\"><\/a><a name=\"vilen8\"><\/a>According to the Peace\r\nTreaty of Riga of 18 March 1921, the western part of Belarus (<strong>Grodno<\/strong>\r\ngubernia, nearly half of the <strong>Minsk<\/strong> gubernia, and most of the <strong>Vilno<\/strong>\r\n<strong>gubernia<\/strong>) went into Poland.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"left\"><a name=\"min8\"><\/a>The following six districts of the former <strong>Minsk gubernia<\/strong>\r\nremained in the BSSR: Bobruisk, Borisov, Igumen (from 1923 Cherven) and Mozyr districts\r\nand certain parts of the Minsk and Slutsk districts.<a name=\"min8\"><\/a> <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"vit4\"><\/a>In March 1924, in connection with the return of eastern Belarusian lands from the\r\nRussian SFSR, or the so-called <strong>1st enlargement of the BSSR<\/strong>, the <strong>Vitebsk,\r\n<a name=\"gom2\"><\/a>Gomel <\/strong>and<strong> <a name=\"smol3\"><\/a>Smolensk gubernias<\/strong>, where the Belarusian population\r\nprevailed, were incorporated into the Belarusian SSR. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><b>* * *<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>On 17 July 1924, a new administrative unit called<strong> okrug<\/strong> (region, area)\r\nwas introduced in Belarus, which further divided into raions (districts). In all, ten\r\nokrugs were formed, comprising 100 districts. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"bobr\"><\/a>Bobruisk okrug <\/b>comprised Bobruisk 1st, Bobruisk 2nd, Buda-Koshelevo, Gorodok,\r\nGlusk, Zhlobin, Klichev, Osipovichi, Parichi, Rogachev, Svisloch and Streshin districts.\r\n  <br>\r\nOn 9 June 1927, Krasnaia Sloboda, Luban, Slutsk, Starye Dorogi and Starobin districts were\r\nadded to Bobruisk okrug. <br>\r\nOn 4 August 1927, Bobruisk 1st and Bobruisk 2nd districts were united into the Bobruisk\r\ndistrict; Gorodok and Streshin districts were abolished.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"boris1\"><\/a>Borisov okrug<\/b> comprised Begoml, Berezino, Borisov, Zembin, Krupki, Lepel,\r\nPleshchenitsy, Kholopenichi and Chereia districts. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"v\"><\/a>Vitebsk okrug <\/b> comprised Beshenkovichi, Vitebsk, Vysochany,\r\nGorodok, Ezerishche (abolished in 1929), Liozno, Losvid (renamed Kuznetsovo in 1924 and\r\nabolished in 1927), Mezhany, Senno, Sirotino, Surazh and Chashniki districts. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"kalin1\"><\/a>Kalinin okrug <\/b>comprised Belynkovichi, Kostukovichi,\r\nKrasnopolie, Krichev, Miloslavichi, Mstislavl, Rasnena, Khotimsk and Cherikov districts. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"m\"><\/a>Mogilev okrug<\/b> comprised Belynichi, Bykhov, Zhurovichi, Korma,\r\nLupolovo, Mogilev, Propoisk, Chausy, Chechevichi and Shklov districts. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"moz1\"><\/a>Mozyr okrug<\/b> comprised Zhitkovichi, Kalinkovichi, Karolin,\r\nKopatkevichi, Lelchitsy, Mozyr, Narovlia, Ozarichi and Petrikov districts. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"mi\"><\/a>Minsk okrug <\/b>comprised Zaslavl, Koidanovo, Logoisk, Ostroshitski\r\nGorodok, Pukhovichi, Samokhvalovichi, Smilovichi, Uzda, Cherven and Shatsk (abolished in\r\n1927) districts. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"orsa\"><\/a>Orsha okrug<\/b> comprised Bogushevsk, Gorki, Dribin, Dubrovno,\r\nKopys, Kokhanov, Krugloe, Liadny, Orsha and Tolochin districts. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"polo1\"><\/a>Polotsk okrug<\/b> comprised Vetrino, Volyn (from 1929\r\nBorkovichi), Dretun (later Krasnopolie, abolished in 1927), Drisa, Osveia, Polotsk,\r\nRossony, Ulla and Ushachi districts. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"slutsk1\"><\/a>Slutsk okrug <\/b>comprised Gresk, Kopyl, Krasnaia Sloboda,\r\nLuban, Slutsk, Starye Dorogi and Starobin districts. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\">***<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"gom3\"><\/a>In December 1926, following the <strong>2nd enlargement of the\r\nBelarusian SSR, <\/strong>the BSSR received the Rechitsa and Gomel districts of the <strong>Gomel\r\ngubernia<\/strong> from the Russian SFSR. On 8 December 1926, these districts were renamed\r\nokrugs, while their 18 volosts were renamed districts.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"g\"><\/a>Gomel okrug<\/b> comprised Vetka, Gomel, Diatlovichi (abolished 4\r\nAugust 1927), Dobrush (abolished 4 August 1927), Krasnaia Buda (abolished 4 August 1927),\r\nNosovichi (abolished 4 August 1927), Svetilovichi (abolished 4 August 1927), Uvarovichi\r\nand Chechersk districts.<br>\r\nThe Bragin, Vasilevichi (abolished 4 August 1927), Gorval (abolished 4 August 1927),\r\nKomarin, Loev, Rechitsa, Khoiniki, and Kholmy (abolished 4 August 1927) districts were\r\ntransferred to the Gomel okrug on 9 June 1927; Terekhov district was established on 4\r\nAugust 1927; Buda-Koshelevo district was added on 27 October 1927.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"res1\"><\/a>Rechitsa okrug<\/b> comprised Bragin, Vasilevichi, Gorval,\r\nKomarin, Loev, Rechitsa, Khoiniki, Kholmy and Yurovichi districts. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>On 9 June 1927, <strong><a name=\"boris2\"><\/a>Borisov, <a name=\"kalin2\"><\/a>Kalinin, <a name=\"res2\"><\/a>Rechitsa and <a name=\"slutsk2\"><\/a>Slutsk okrugs <\/strong>were\r\nabolished; their districts were reshuffled among the neighbouring okrugs. On 26 July 1930,\r\nthe remaining eight okrugs were abolished. Only the system of districts remained in the\r\nBSSR.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The number of districts was changing: 16 districts were abolished on 4 August 1927,\r\nanother 23 districts were abolished on 8 July 1931, 15 districts were re-established on 15\r\nFebruary 1935.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>* * *<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In the aftermath of the Soviet-Polish War of 1920, the western territories of Belarus\r\n(Western Belarus) were occupied by Poland and formed its part until September 1939. The\r\nmain administrative division here was a <strong>voivodeship <\/strong>(province)<strong> <\/strong>with\r\nfurther subdivision into <strong>povets<\/strong> (districts) (see maps <a href=\"http:\/\/militarymaps.narod.ru\/maps\/atl1937\/map07.djvu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/militarymaps.narod.ru\/maps\/atl1937\/map07.djvu<\/a>\r\nand <a href=\"http:\/\/militarymaps.narod.ru\/maps\/atl1937\/map09.djvu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/militarymaps.narod.ru\/maps\/atl1937\/map09.djvu<\/a>).\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"belostok\"><\/a>Bialystok voivodeship <\/b>was formed in 1919, comprising\r\nAvgustov, Bialystok, Belsk, Volkovysk (from 1921), Grodno (from 1921), Sokolka and other\r\npovets. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"novogr\"><\/a>Novogrudok voivodeship<\/b> was formed in 1921, comprising\r\nBaranovichi, Vileika, Volozhin, Disna, Dunilovichi, Lida, Nesvizh, Novogrudok, Slonim,\r\nStolbtsy and Shchuchin (from 1929) povets.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"poles\"><\/a>Polesie voivodeship<\/b> was formed in 1921, comprising Brest-Litovsk, Drogichin,\r\nKamen-Kshirski, Kobrin, Kossovo, Luninets, Pinsk, Pruzhany and Sarno (in 1929 assigned to\r\nthe Volyn voivodeship) povets. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In April 1922, the <strong>Vilno Land<\/strong> was formed, having the jurisdiction of a\r\nvoivodeship and comprising Braslav, Vilno-Troki, Oshmiany and Sventsiany povets. In July\r\n1922, Vileika, Disna and Dunilovichi (renamed Postavy in 1925) povets were added. <br>\r\n<a name=\"vil4\"><\/a>In December 1925, the <strong>Vilno voivodeship<\/strong> was formed, comprising Braslav,\r\nVileika, Vilno-Troki, Disna, Oshmiany, Postavy, Sventsiany and Molodechno (founded in\r\nApril 1927) povets.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><b>* * *<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"lep\"><\/a><a name=\"moz2\"><\/a><a name=\"polo2\"><\/a><a name=\"slutsk3\"><\/a>On 21\r\nJune 1935, the Belarusian districts located along the Polish border were united into\r\nfour <strong>okrugs<\/strong> (areas):  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b>Lepel okrug<\/b>, comprising four districts: Begoml, Lepel, Ushachi and Chashniki;<br>\r\n<b>Mozyr okrug<\/b>, comprising nine districts: Domanovichi, Elsk, Zhitkovichi,\r\nKopatkevichi, Lelchitsy, Mozyr, Narovlia, Petrikov and Turov;<br>\r\n<strong>Polotsk okrug<\/strong>, comprising five districts: Vetrino, Drisa, Osveia, Polotsk\r\nand Rossony;<br>\r\n<b>Slutsk okrug<\/b>, comprising six districts: Gresk, Kopyl, Krasnaia Sloboda, Luban,\r\nSlutsk and Starobin.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><b>* * *<\/b><\/p>\r\n<a name=\"vi1\"><\/a>   \r\n<p>On 15 January 1938, the system of okrugs was abolished, and an <strong>oblast<\/strong>\r\n(region, province) division was introduced in the BSSR. On 20 February 1938, all 90\r\ndistricts existing at the time were distributed among five oblasts (see map <a href=\"http:\/\/militarymaps.narod.ru\/maps\/atl1939\/atl1939_38.djvu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/militarymaps.narod.ru\/maps\/atl1939\/atl1939_38.djvu<\/a>).\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b>Vitebsk oblast<\/b> comprised 20 districts: Beshenkovichi, Bogushevsk, Vetrino,\r\nVitebsk, Gorogok, Drisa, Dubrovno, Lepel, Mekhovo, Orsha, Osveia, Polotsk, Rossony, Senno,\r\nSirotino, Surazh, Tolochin, Ushachi and Chashniki. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"go1\"><\/a >Gomel oblast<\/b> comprised 14 districts: Buda-Koshelevo, Vetka, Gomel, Dobrush,\r\nZhlobin, Zhuravichi, Korma, Loev, Rechitsa, Rogachev, Svetilovichi, Terekhovka, Uvarovichi\r\nand Chechersk. In 1939, Streshin district was founded.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"mi1\"><\/a>Minsk oblast<\/b> comprised 20 districts: Begoml, Borisov, Gresk, Zaslavl, Kopyl,\r\nKrasnaia Sloboda, Krupki, Logoisk, Luban, Minsk, Pleshchenitsy, Pukhovichi, Rudnia,\r\nSlutsk, Smolevichi, Starobin, Starye Dorogi, Uzda, Kholopenichi and Cherven. In 1939,\r\nDzerzhinsk district was founded.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"mo1\"><\/a>Mogilev oblast<\/b> comprised 21 districts: Belynichi, Berezino, Bobruisk, Bykhov,\r\nGorki, Dribin, Kirovsk, Klimovichi, Klichev, Kostiukovichi, Krasnopolie, Krichev, Krugloe,\r\nMogilev, Mstislavl, Osipovichi, Propoisk, Khotimsk, Chausy, Cherikov and Shklov.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"po1\"><\/a>Polesie oblast<\/b> comprised 15 districts: Bragin, Vasilevichi, Glusk, Domanovichi,\r\nElsk, Zhitkovichi, Komarin, Kopatkevichi, Lelchitsy, Mozyr, Narovlia, Parichi, Petrikov,\r\nTurov and Khoiniki. In 1939, Okiabrski and Kalinkovichi districts were founded.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><b>* * *<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Following the reunification of Western Belarus with the Belarusian SSR, the town of\r\nVilno and the Vilno Land in November 1939 according to the resolution of the USSR\r\ngovernment were assigned to Lithuania. On 4 December 1939, on the remaining territory of\r\nWestern Belarus were formed five oblasts (regions) and 101 raions (districts) (see map <a href=\"http:\/\/militarymaps.narod.ru\/maps\/atl1940\/map20.djvu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/militarymaps.narod.ru\/maps\/atl1940\/map20.djvu<\/a>).\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"baran1\"><\/a>Baranovichi oblast<\/b> comprised 26 districts: Byten, Valev (in 1940 renamed\r\nKorelichi), Vasilishki, Volozhin, Voronovo, Gorodishche, Diatlovo, Zheludok, Zelva,\r\nIvenets, Ivie, Kletsk,  Kozlovshchina, Lida, Lubcha, Liakhovichi, Mir, Mosty,\r\nNesvizh, Novogrudok, Novaia Mysh, Radun, Slonim, Stolbtsy, Shchuchin and Yuratishki. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"be2\"><\/a>Bialystok oblast <\/b>comprised 24 districts: Avgustov, Bialystok, Belsk, Bransk,\r\nVolkovysk, Graevo, Grodno, Dombrovo, Edvabno, Zabludovo, Zambrov, Kolno, Krynki, Lapy,\r\nLomzha, Monki (later renamed Knyshin), Porechie, Svisloch, Skidel, Sniadov, Sokolka,\r\nSopotskin, Tsekhanovichi and Chizhovo. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"br1\"><\/a>Brest oblast<\/b> comprised 18 districts: Antopolie, Bereza, Brest, Vysokoe, Gaina,\r\nDivin, Domachevo, Zhabinka, Kamenets, Kleshchi, Kobrin, Kossovo, Malorita, Porozovo,\r\nPruzhany, Ruzhany, Semiatichi and Shereshevo.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"vileika\"><\/a> Vileika oblast<\/b> comprised 22 districts: Braslav, Vidzy, Glubokoe, Godutishki,\r\nDisna, Dokshitsy, Dunilovichi, Iliani, Krivitsa, Kurenets, Miory, Molodechno, Miadel,\r\nOstrovets, Oshmiany, Plisa, Postavy, Radoshkovichi, Sventsiany, Svir, Smorgon and\r\nSharkovshchina. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b> <a name=\"pin1\"><\/a>Pinsk oblast<\/b> comprised 11 districts: Gantsevichi, David-Gorodok, Drogichin,\r\nZhabchitsy, Ivanovo, Lenin, Logishin, Luninets, Pinsk, Stolin and Telekhany.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"left\">In November 1940, following the transference of certain areas to\r\nLithuania, the districts of Godutishki, Porechie and Sventsiany were abolished. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><b>* * *<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"left\">During the Second World War, in 1941-1944, Belarus was divided by the\r\nGerman Nazis into:<br>\r\nthe General Okrug Belarus as part of the Reichscommissariat Ostland;<br>\r\nthe Rear Region of the Center Army Group; and<br>\r\nthe Okrug Bialystok as part of the Province East Prussia. <br>\r\nSome of Belarusian districts were included into the Reichscommissariat Ukraine; some of\r\nthem, into the General Okrug Lithuania. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><b>* * *<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a name=\"br2\"><\/a><p>In September 1944, after the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders, three\r\ndistricts of the <strong>Brest oblast<\/strong> (Gaina, Kleshchi and Semiatichi) and 17\r\ndistricts of the <strong><a name=\"be3\"><\/a>Bialystok oblast<\/strong> (Avgustov, Bialystok, Belsk, Bransk,\r\nGraevo, Dombrovo, Edvabno, Zabludovo, Zambrov, Kolno, Lapy, Lomzha, Knyshin, Sniadov,\r\nSokolka, Tsekhanovichi and Chizhovo) were assigned to Poland. The <strong>Bialystok\r\noblast<\/strong> was abolished. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"bob1\"><\/a>On 20 September 1944, new oblasts were added to the\r\nabove-mentioned oblasts previously existing in the BSSR.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b>Bobruisk oblast<\/b> comprising 14 districts: Bobruisk, Glusk, Gresk, Kirovsk,\r\nKlichev, Kopyl, Krasnaia Sloboda, Luban, Oktiabrski, Osipovichi, Parichi, Slutsk, Starye\r\nDorogi and Starobin. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"gr1\"><\/a>Grodno oblast<\/b> comprising 15 districts: Berestovitsa (formerly Krynki),\r\nVasilishki, Volkovysk, Voronovo, Grodno, Zheludok, Zelva, Lida, Mosty, Porozovo, radun,\r\nSvisloch, Skidel, Sopotskin and Shchuchin. <br>\r\n<b><br>\r\n<\/b><strong><a name=\"p1\"><\/a>Polotsk oblast<\/strong> comprising 15 districts: Braslav, Vetrino, Vidzy,\r\nGlubokoe, Disna, Dokshitsy, Drisa, Dunilovichi, Miory, Osveia, Plisa, Polotsk, Rossony,\r\nUshachi and Sharkovshchina. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b><a name=\"mol1\"><\/a>Molodechno oblast <\/b>(formerly named Vileika oblast) included\r\nVolozhin, Ivie, Iliany (abolished in 1957), Krivitsa, Kurenets (renamed Vileika in 1946),\r\nMolodechno, Miadel, Ostrovets, Oshmiany, Postavy, Radoshkovichi, Svir (abolished in 1959),\r\nSmorgon and Yuratishki districts.  <br>\r\nIn 1954, Molodechno oblast received the districts of Braslav, Vidzy, Glubokoe, Disna\r\n(abolished in 1959), Dokshitsy, Dunilovichi, Miory, Plisa and Sharkovshchina  from\r\nthe abolished Polotsk oblast and the Ivenets district from the abolished Baranovichi\r\noblast; Ivie district was assigned to the Grodno oblast.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In 1944, the Berezino district was transferred from the Mogilev oblast to the Minsk\r\noblast. In 1945, the Propoisk district of the Mogilev oblast was renamed Slavgorod. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In 1946, the districts of Kokhanovo, Orekhovo and Ulla were established in the Vitebsk\r\noblast. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In 1947, the Kossovo district of the Brest oblast was renamed Ivatsevichi. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The administrative division into 12 oblasts existed until 1954. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><b>* * *<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>From the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s an administrative division in the Belarusian SSR\r\nunderwent another significant reorganization.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"p2\"><\/a>On 8 January 1954, the <strong><a name=\"baran2\"><\/a>Baranovichi,\r\n<a name=\"bob2\"><\/a>Bobruisk, <a name=\"pin2\"><\/a>Pinsk, <a name=\"po2\"><\/a>Polesie and Polotsk oblasts <\/strong>were abolished and their districts\r\nwere again reshuffled.<br>\r\n<br>\r\nThe districts of the Baranovichi oblast went into:<br>\r\nBrest oblast &#8211; Byten, Gorodishche, Liakhovichi and Novaia Mysh (in 1957, renamed\r\nBaranovhici) districts;<br>\r\nGrodno oblast &#8211; Diatlovo, Kozlovshchina, Korelichi, Lubcha, Mir, Novogrudok and Slonim\r\ndistricts;<br>\r\nMinsk oblast &#8211; Kletsk, Nesvizh and Stolbtsy districts;<br>\r\nMolodechno oblast &#8211; Ivenets district.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The districts of the Bobruisk oblast went into:<br>\r\nGomel oblast &#8211; Oktiabrski and Parichi districts;<br>\r\nMinsk oblast &#8211; Glusk, Gresk, Kopyl, Krasnaia Sloboda, Luban, Slutsk, Starye Dorogi and\r\nStarobin districts;<br>\r\nMogilev oblast &#8211; Bobruisk, Kirovsk, Klichev and Osipovichi districts.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The districts of the Pinsk oblast went into the Brest oblast. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The districts of the Polesie oblast went into the Gomel oblast.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The districts of the Polotsk oblast went into:<br>\r\nVitebsk oblast &#8211; Vetrino, Drisa, Osveia, Polotsk, Rossony and Ushachi districts;<br>\r\nMolodechno oblast &#8211; Braslav, Vidzy, Glubokoe, Disna, Dokshitsy, Dunilovichi, Miory, Plisa\r\nand Sharkovshchina districts. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In 1958, the Mekhovo district of the Vitebsk oblast was renamed Ezerishche. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a name=\"mol2\"><\/a>On 20 January 1960, the <b>Molodechno oblast<\/b> was abolished and its districts went into:<br>\r\nVitebsk oblast &#8211; Braslav, Vidzy, Glubokoe, Dokshitsy, Dunilovichi, Miory, Postavy, Plisa\r\nand Sharkovshchina districts; <br>\r\nGrodno oblast &#8211; Ostrovets, Oshmiany, Smorgon and Yuratishki districts; <br>\r\nMinsk oblast &#8211; Vileika, Volozhin, Ivenets, Krivichi, Molodechno, Miadel and Radoshkovichi\r\ndistricts.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><b>* * *<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n    \r\n\r\n<a name=\"br3\"><\/a><p>In 1956-1962, during the districts enlargement, the following districts were abolished:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>in <strong>Brest oblast<\/strong> &#8211; Domachevo, Shereshevo (1956); Byten, Zhabchitsy\r\n(1957); Antopolie, Divin, Zhabinka, Telekhany (1959); Lenin (1960); David-Gorodok (1961);\r\nVysokoe, Gantsevichi, Gorodishche, Ivanovo, Ivatsevichi, Logishin, Malorita, Ruzhany\r\n(1962);<br>\r\nin <strong><a name=\"vi2\"><\/a>Vitebsk oblast<\/strong> &#8211; Kokhanov, Orekhovo, Ulla (1956); Osveia (1959);\r\nBogushevsk, Vetrino, Vidzy, Dunilovichi, Surazh (1960); Dokshitsy, Drisa, Dubrovno,\r\nEzerishche, Plisa, Rossony, Ushachi, Chashniki, Sharkovshchina, Shumilino (1962);<br>\r\nin<strong> <a name=\"go2\"><\/a>Gomel oblast<\/strong> &#8211; Zhuravichi, Svetilovichi, Streshin (1956); Vasilevichi\r\n(1959); Domanovichi (1960); Vetka, Komarin, Kopatkevichi, Korma, Lelchitsy, Loev,\r\nNarovlia, Oktiabrski, Terekhovo, Turov, Uvarovichi, Chechersk (1962);<br>\r\nin <strong><a name=\"mi2\"><\/a>Minsk oblast<\/strong> &#8211; Gresk (1956); Zaslavl, Krasnaia Sloboda (1959); Begoml,\r\nRadoshkovichi, Rudensk, Kholopenichi (1960); Berezino, Volozhin, Ivenets, Kletsk,\r\nKrivichi, Pleshchenitsy, Smolevichi, Starobin, Starye Dorogi, Uzda (1962); <br>\r\nin<strong> <a name=\"mo2\"><\/a>Mogilev oblast<\/strong> &#8211; Dribin, Krugloe, Cherikov (1956); Glusk, Klichev,\r\nKrichev, Osipovichi, Slavgorod, Khotimsk (1962);<br>\r\nin <strong><a name=\"mol3\"><\/a>Molodechno oblast<\/strong> &#8211; Ilia (1957); Disna, Svir (1959).<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In 1960, the Glusk district was transferred from the Minsk oblast to the Mogilev\r\noblast.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In 1961, the Sirotino district of the Vitebsk oblast was renamed Shumilino; the Parichi\r\ndistrict of the Gomel oblast was renamed Svetlogorsk. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In 1962, the Verkhnedvinsk district was established in the Vitebsk oblast. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"center\"><b>* * *<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a name=\"br4\"><\/a> <p>In 1965 and 1966, the abolished districts were restored and additional districts were\r\nformed:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>in<b> Brest oblast <\/b>&#8211; Ivanovo, Ivatsevichi, Malorita (1965); Gantsevichi, Zhabinka\r\n(1966) districts;<b><br>\r\n<\/b>in <b><a name=\"vi3\"><\/a>Vitebsk oblast<\/b> &#8211; Dokshitsy, Dubrovno, Rossony, Chashniki (1965); Ushachi,\r\nSharkovshchina, Shumilino<b> <\/b>(1966) districts;<b><br>\r\n<\/b>in <b><a name=\"go3\"><\/a>Gomel oblast<\/b> &#8211; Vetka, Lelchitsy, Narovlia, Chechersk (1965); Korma, Loev,\r\nOktiabrski<b> <\/b>(1966) districts;<b><br>\r\n<\/b>in <strong><a name=\"mi3\"><\/a>Minsk oblast<\/strong> &#8211; Berezino, Volozhin, Smolevichi, Soligorsk (1965);\r\nKletsk, Starye Dorogi, Uzda (1966) districts;<br>\r\nin<strong> <a name=\"mo3\"><\/a>Mogilev oblast<\/strong> &#8211; Klichev, Krichev, Osipovichi, Slavgorod (1965);\r\nGlusk, Krugloe, Khotimsk, Cherikov (1966) districts.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The Dribin district of the Mogilev oblast was restored in 1989.  <\/p>\r\n\r\n<a name=\"sn1\"><\/a><p align=\"center\"><b>* * *<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a name=\"br5\"><\/a><p>As of <b>1 January 2009 <\/b>the territory of the Republic of Belarus is divided into <b>six oblasts <\/b>(regions, provinces) with further subdivision into <b>118 raions<\/b>(districts):\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b>Brest oblast<\/b> comprising 16 districts: Baranovichi, Bereza, Brest, Gantsevichi,\r\nDrogichin, Zhabinka, Ivanovo, Ivatsevichi, Kamenets, Kobrin, Luninets, Liakhovichi,\r\nMalorita, Pinsk, Pruzhany and Stolin (see map <a href=\"http:\/\/www.belarus.by\/rimage\/305\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/www.belarus.by\/rimage\/305 <\/a>).\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<a name=\"vi4\"><\/a><p><b>Vitebsk oblast<\/b> comprising 21 districts: Beshenkovichi, Braslav, Verkhnedvinsk,\r\nVitebsk, Glubokoe, Gorodok, Dokshitsy, Dubrovno, Lepel, Liozno, Miory, Orsha, Polotsk,\r\nPostavy, Rossony, Senno, Tolochin, Ushachi, Chashniki, Sharkovshchina and Shumilino (see\r\nmap  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.belarus.by\/rimage\/310\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/www.belarus.by\/rimage\/310<\/a>).\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<a name=\"go4\"><\/a><p><b>Gomel oblast<\/b> comprising 21 districts: Bragin, Buda-Koshelevo, Vetka, Gomel,\r\nDobrush, Elsk, Zhitkovichi, Zhlobin, Kalinkovichi, Korma, Lelchitsy, Loev, Mozyr,\r\nNarovlia, Oktiabrski, Petrikov, Rechitsa, Rogachev, Svetlogorsk, Khoiniki and Chechersk\r\n(see map <a href=\"http:\/\/www.belarus.by\/rimage\/306\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/www.belarus.by\/rimage\/306<\/a>).\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<a name=\"gr2\"><\/a><p><b>Grodno oblast<\/b> comprising 17 districts: Berestovitsa, Volkovysk, Voronovo,\r\nGrodno, Diatlovo, Zelva, Ivie, Korelichi, Lida, Mosty, Novogrudok, Svisloch, Slonim,\r\nSmorgon, Ostrovets, Oshmiany and Shchuchin (see map <a href=\"http:\/\/www.belarus.by\/rimage\/309\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/www.belarus.by\/rimage\/309<\/a>).\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<a name=\"mi4\"><\/a><p><b>Minsk oblast<\/b> comprising 22 districts: Berezino, Borisov, Vileika, Volozhin,\r\nDzerzhinsk, Kletsk, Kopyl, Krupki, Logoisk, Liuban, Minsk, Molodechno, Miadel, Nesvizh,\r\nPukhovichi, Slutsk, Smolevichi, Soligorsk, Starye Dorogi, Stolbtsy, Uzda and Cherven (see\r\nmap <a href=\"http:\/\/www.belarus.by\/rimage\/304\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/www.belarus.by\/rimage\/304<\/a>).\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<a name=\"mo4\"><\/a><p><b>Mogilev oblast<\/b> comprising 21 districts: Belynichi, Bobruisk, Bykhov, Glusk,\r\nGorki, Dribin, Kirovsk, Klimovichi, Klichev, Kostiukovichi, Krasnopolie, Krichev, Krugloe,\r\nMogilev, Mstislavl, Osipovichi, Slavgorod, Khotimsk, Chausy, Cherikov and Shklov (see map <a href=\"http:\/\/www.belarus.by\/rimage\/308\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/www.belarus.by\/rimage\/308<\/a>).<\/p>\r\n<\/span>\r\n\r\n<p>________________<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Please NOTE that the names of localities and administrative units on our website are\r\ntransliterated into Latin characters from the Russian Cyrillic. They have different\r\nspelling in Belarusian, Polish, Ukrainian, Lithuanian or Latvian languages.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"List of main administrative units Present-day administrative division In different historical periods the area of present-day Belarus (within the boundaries of the Republic of Belarus) formed part of different state&#8230;","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":12,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-989746","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archives.gov.by\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/989746"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archives.gov.by\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archives.gov.by\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archives.gov.by\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archives.gov.by\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=989746"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/archives.gov.by\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/989746\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1003012,"href":"https:\/\/archives.gov.by\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/989746\/revisions\/1003012"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archives.gov.by\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archives.gov.by\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=989746"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}