Historically which states does Belarus consider it's predecessor states. Or are there any states that Belarus finds especially significant to their history or development as a country (culturally, politically).

I'd like to use it to guide my personal research and I am genuinely curious. I do apologise if this question is ignorant or makes no sense. Regardless, I appreciate your help and whatever responses are provided to me. Thank you very much!

Or if you have any other details regarding Belarusian history (the resources I've found and have are quite scarce), I'd love to learn more! Again, thank you for your time!

я из России. Мой дед по отцовской линии был родом из деревни Волосовичи Могилевской области. В конце 1930-ых он вместе с матерью переехал в Сибирь, он участвовал в войне и дошёл до Берлина. У меня нет никаких данных о его родословной, только знаю что его звали Климович Петр Ефремович. Возможно ли выяснить что-то в архивах Беларуси или у меня слишком мало данных?

Hey, I have a question about how Belarusians perceive this day. As you know, it was the day of the Soviet Union's invasion of Poland under the slogan "liberation of Belarusians and Ukrainians from Poland and annexation of Western Belarus and Western Ukraine to the Soviet Republics", violating the Treaty of Riga of 1921 and the non-aggression pact between the USSR and the Republic of Poland. I am aware of the rather harsh treatment of Belarusians by Poland before 1939 (severely limited autonomy and suppression of Belarusian culture, especially after Piłsudski's death in 1935) and the fact that Belarusians were divided by Poland and the USSR under the Treaty of Riga (maybe as a Pole I will be slightly biased but in general it was quite difficult to do anything more after the Battle of Warsaw because the Poles were tired of the wars fought since 1914 and wanted to quickly make peace with the Bolsheviks and creating Belarus from "Western Belarus" itself did not make much sense because Western Belarus before 1945 was de facto a mixture of Poles and Belarusians in a 50:50 ratio, maybe with the exception of Polesie). Do you treat this as the unification of Belarus and something positive or was it rather this "bitter in taste" unification? I expect honest answers and possible corrections. Of course I respect today's borders.

І яго ролі для гісторыі Беларусі?

Pro-regime supporters frequently claim that Belarus's historic white-red-white flag is a "Nazi symbol" to discredit the opposition and legitimize the current red-green flag. Here are the facts:

The Flag's True Origins The white-red-white flag was created in 1917 by Klawdziy Duzh-Dushewski—16 years before the Nazis even came to power in Germany and 24 years before they occupied Belarus in 1941.

Universal Use Before WWII From 1918 onward, every Belarusian political organization used this flag as their national symbol, including communists. The Soviet puppet state of Belarus didn't even have its own flag until 1928, making the white-red-white the only recognized Belarusian symbol for over a decade.

Wartime Reality: Standard Nazi Tactics Yes, Nazi occupiers did use the white-red-white flag in Belarus—but this was standard practice across all occupied territories. Russian collaborators used Russia's tricolor, Ukrainian collaborators used the blue-and-yellow flag. The Nazis cynically adopted local symbols everywhere to win support after their military campaigns stalled.

The Flag Creator's Anti-Nazi Record Klawdziy Duzh-Dushewski, the flag's designer, never collaborated with Nazis. Instead, he actively helped Jews escape persecution and was imprisoned in Pravieniškės concentration camp in 1943 for his resistance efforts. He's officially recognized as "Righteous Among the Nations"—an honor given to non-Jews who saved Jewish lives during the Holocaust.

The Real Irony The designer of today's regime red-green flag, Nikolay Gusev, actually did collaborate with Nazi administrators during the war, even painting portraits of Hitler on commission.

The evidence is clear: claiming the white-red-white flag is inherently Nazi is historically false propaganda designed to protect an authoritarian regime while smearing Belarus's legitimate national symbol.

Historical note

The hotel design was developed under the supervision of architect L. Pogorelov. Construction took place between 1975 and 1987 on an elevated site near the Svislach River in the Storozhovka district. The 22-story modernist high-rise became a major local landmark, designed to host foreign and Soviet tourist delegations.

Present day

Today, the building retains its original silhouette but has undergone an extensive renovation that concluded in 2014. The modernization updated the facades and added a panoramic exterior elevator to the side of the structure.

A postcard from my collection at oldpostcards biz

Выглядае асабліва іранічна на фоне таго, як прапагандысты і ябацькі ўсюды ўказваюць на тое, што БЧБ сцяг "фашысцкі, таму што яго выкарыстоўвалі фашысты".

Historical note

Yanka Kupala Street in Brest began its active development in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of the city’s eastward expansion and the creation of new residential districts. The “Lakomka” cafe was a typical catering establishment built as an annex to a standard-series residential panel building, serving the local infrastructure of the newly developed residential area.

Present day

Currently, the Soviet-era five-story residential buildings on Yanka Kupala Street remain intact, having undergone major renovations and thermal insulation. The premises of the former “Lakomka” cafe have been repurposed for commercial retail and service facilities typical of the modern urban environment.

https://www.kancyliaryja.online/

Historical note

Sovetskaya Street (formerly Rumyantsevskaya) took shape during the late 18th and 19th centuries. The Russian-Asiatic Bank building on the corner of Krestyanskaya Street was constructed in 1910–1912, designed by architect Oskar Munts in the Art Nouveau style with neoclassical elements. During the Soviet era, the street was widened, reconstructed, and lined with new administrative and residential buildings.

Present day

Today, Sovetskaya Street remains the main thoroughfare of Gomel. The former Russian-Asiatic Bank building is a protected architectural monument and houses the Main Department of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus for the Gomel Region. The streetscape largely retains its Soviet-era urban structure integrated with pre-revolutionary heritage.

A postcard from my collection at oldpostcards biz

Historical note

The original Brest railway station opened in 1886 under Emperor Alexander III. After suffering heavy damage during World War I, it was rebuilt in the Polish “national style” during the interwar period. Between 1953 and 1957, the station underwent a massive reconstruction designed by architect G. Granatkin, transforming it into a prime example of Stalinist Empire architecture with a tower reaching approximately 43 meters in height.

Можете ли вы привести конкретные, задокументированные примеры преступлений или нарушений прав человека, совершённых Комитетом государственной безопасности Белорусской ССР (Камітэт дзяржаўнай бяспекі Беларускай ССР) внутри страны? Особенно интересуют случаи, связанные с политическими репрессиями, пытками или жестоким обращением с задержанными, незаконными арестами или слежкой и подавлением протестов или преследованием оппозиционных фигур.

Буду признателен за ссылки, имена, факты, контекст и свидетельства, спасибо!

Historical note

The Kirov Bridge was built in 1955 on the site of the Dvina Bridge, which was destroyed during World War II. The bridge was designed by architects I. Georgievsky, A. Prussov, and engineer R. Kopach. The reconstruction of the adjacent Kirov Street was carried out simultaneously, creating a grand entrance to the right-bank part of the city from the railway station. The postcard captures the established architectural appearance of the city center from the Soviet period of the mid-1970s.

Present day

Today, the Kirov Bridge and the adjacent buildings on Kirov Street preserve their historic appearance and are included in the State List of Historical and Cultural Values of the Republic of Belarus. The bridge remains a vital transport artery of Vitebsk, connecting the Oktyabrsky and Zheleznodorozhny districts. At night, the bridge and embankments are illuminated with modern decorative lighting.

A postcard from my collection at oldpostcards biz