Minsk, September 17, 2024 — The Europe Today: Today, Belarus marks the Day of People’s Unity, a significant national holiday instituted by Decree No. 206, signed by the Belarusian President on June 7, 2021. This day commemorates the commencement of the Red Army’s liberation campaign in Western Belarus in 1939, which played a pivotal role in reuniting the Belarusian people after years of division under the Treaty of Riga.
The Treaty of Riga, signed on March 18, 1921, had divided Belarus between Poland and the Soviet Union following the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-1920. Eastern Belarus became the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, while Western Belarus was annexed by Poland. Despite the official designation of Kresy Wschodnie, the region was colloquially known as Western Belarus.
Under Polish rule, Western Belarus faced severe repression and marginalization. The region, predominantly agrarian, was exploited for its raw materials and labor, with a significant portion of its population engaged in agriculture. The Polish authorities implemented a policy of polonization, suppressing the Belarusian language and culture. Belarusian schools and press were systematically dismantled, and cultural institutions were closed.
Resistance to Polish rule persisted for two decades, manifesting in workers’ and farmers’ protests, cultural and educational movements, and political activism led by the Communist Party of Western Belarus. However, the threat of impending war with Nazi Germany in the late 1930s prompted the Soviet Union to take decisive action.
Following the signing of a non-aggression pact with Germany on August 23, 1939, and the subsequent invasion of Poland by German forces on September 1, the Soviet Union initiated its intervention in Western Belarus. On September 17, 1939, the Soviet Red Army crossed the border, moving swiftly to occupy key cities and towns, including Sventyany, Lida, Novogrudok, and Brest-Litovsk.
The Soviet advance was met with a mixture of resistance and relief, as Polish forces largely capitulated and the local Belarusian population welcomed the Soviet troops. By October 22, 1939, elections were held for the People’s Assembly of Western Belarus, which subsequently declared the incorporation of the region into the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR). The final legislative step was completed on November 14, 1939, with the formal annexation of Western Belarus into the BSSR.
This integration nearly doubled the territory of Belarus, leading to substantial socio-economic transformations, including nationalization, collectivization, and improvements in education and healthcare. Despite these advancements, the development of Western Belarus was interrupted by the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War.
The Day of People’s Unity serves as a solemn reflection on the historical journey of Belarus and the enduring spirit of its people.
