The main stages of the Belarusian Soviet Republic territory formation (1918—1926)

Siarhiej Chomic

Territorial question is the most difficult and actual in the history of every state. History of Belarus is not exclusion. In the article the author has made an attempt to examine the process of the BSSR territory formation in 1918 — 1926, study political, social and economic conditions under which it was going on, to reveal attitude to this process of central, republican and provincial authorities, to form a correct estimate of the results of the BSSR territory broadening.

Like in other Soviet republics, in 1918—1920 foreign policy factor played the main role in the process of the BSSR borders determination. Territorial question solving depended only on expediency of the present moment and needs of Russian and world revolutions. With the end of Soviet-Polish war foreign policy factor had not lost its importance. Returning of Eastern Belarussian territories into the BSSR was made in the contrast to the policy of national press that had place in Western Belarus. But at the same time much attention was also paid to domestic factors: internal political, social, economic and national.

All decisions concerning the Belarusian Soviet Republic borders were firstly made in the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Party and then these decisions were to be approved by Party and Soviet bodies in the way of Party and state discipline. Central Committee of the Belarusian Communist Party and the BSSR government had limited influence on the results of territorial problem solving. Leaders of Viciebsk, Homel and Smalensk provinces were against returning of Eastern Belarusian territories into the BSSR. They denied the fact that the population of the provinces was Belarusian and agitated workers and peasants against the Belarusan culture and language. There wasn't broad discussing of the territorial question. Most of the population of Viciebsk, Homel and Smalensk provinces excepted the decision of returning into the BSSR coldly.

Returning of Eastern Belarusian territories into the BSSR in 1924 and 1926 in spite of contradictions and defects of the process had a great political, economic, social importance. It contributed to consolidation of the Belarusian nation, created favorable conditions for development of Belarusian language and culture.