I tried to start writing this post couple of times and every time I ended up looking at the blinking cursor and unable to collect my thoughts. Sometimes pictures can tell the story better than words and this is why we simply put here WWII military photos made by German soldiers in Belarus during the WWII. Full credit goes to tol.blogs.org and Belarusian photo-community photo_polygon. Many thanks for sharing it.

Not long ago we wrote about a documentary movie ‘Lessons of Belarusian Language”. Back then, it was unavailable to viewers; however, thanks to comments from our readers we are happy to write that this movie is available on line! below is a recap of a blog and the movie itself.

Radio Svaboda reports that First Polish TV channel in conjunction with Everest movie Production Company recently finished working on a documentary movie “Lessons of Belarusian Language. Youth against Lukashenka”. It was directed by Miroslav Dembinsky and it was already premiered in Riga and Vilnius. The movie tells about now closed Belarusian Humanitarian Lyceum and its students who actively participated in the “Denim Revolution” during the presidential elections that took place in Belarus last March.

Mr. Dembinsky says that while events that took place in March play a significant role in the movie another goal of filmmakers was to show Belarus in the dramatic moment from a perspective of youth. The director hopes that this movie will show how students were getting prepared for such decisive moment for their country, how they were attempting to spread the word and wake up Belarusian masses prior to the Presidential elections.

Mr. Dembinsky also said that at this moment the studio already made deals with TV companies of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Croatia to show the movie. It also plans to offer this movie to 74 largest TV channels in Europe and the United States of America. In the near future, Mr. Dembinsky is planning to make another movie about Belarusian Rock.

In the previuos post I wrote about “Chyrvonym pa Belamu” music group. Now I also would like to mention another of my favorites: J-Mors. I was introduced to J-Mors couple years ago and since that time I became a huge fan of this rock band from Belarus. There is something different about these guys: lirics, vocal, music…While there are many Belarusian groups playing excellent music, J-Mors well positioned itself in a soft-rock nische where it seems to thrive and grow its fan base.

At the time, my only complain was about the language: they seemed to lean towards songs in Russian language. And while there is nothing terribly wrong with it, their songs in Belarussian sounded as good if not better.

So in November 2007 the band released “Adlehlasc” (“Distance”), their first album to feature only Belarusian-language songs! Apart from 11 tracks it includes the 15 minute concept video “Adlehlasc” documenting a road trip of Belarus, taken by the band in autumn 2007. Have a good road trip!

You can check J-mors web site for updates, info on albums, free downloads and other freebies.

Quiet honestly, I like “What If…” discussions. A week ago, I was talking with friend of mine about an impact of Allied Forces on the outcome of the WWII. Inevitably for such topic, we came to “What if” scenarios with one major question: What if the United States did not enter the WWII?

I can’t really describe all intensity that surrounded our discussion. And maybe precisely because of it, when we were done arguing, I decided to see what opinions and scenarios exist on the Web. And here are some “What if” versions in regard to our question.

Version 1

Germany fought AGAINST the Soviet Union.

America fought FOR the Soviet Union.

Yet most people here seem to think that IF the USA had kept out of the war, then the Soviet Union would have conquered even MORE TERRITORY than it did WITH US aid?

The USSR had manpower and a huge armory. They did NOT have enough trucks, medicine or even BOOTS until the USA sent them MASSIVE quantities.

Without US aid, the UK would have LOST the U-Boat war. (American naval might and esp. naval AIR POWER defeated U-boats.) The UK would have starved and been forced to make peace; ironically, Hitler NEVER wanted to destroy the British Empire. He hoped for it as a natural ally!)

Without the two front wars, time would have turned IN FAVOR of Germany. No western front means holding out longer in the east. That means the new u-boats and jets (ALREADY EXISTING in spring 1945) could have been produced in sufficient quantity to turn the tide in the east.

Version 2

A lot of this depends on if Japan attacked the US in the Pacific, if not then I doubt there would have any war in the Pacific other than Japan trying to expand ‘slightly’ into Asia.

Eagle and Bob, I suspect you are missing the point that the Russians effectively won the European WW2, it doesn’t actually matter what you think about boots and ambulances, the Russian steamroller relies on millions of Russian men, their logistic support is to throw them some potatoes, they broke the back of the Germans on the eastern front before the US joined the war, yes the aid that was supplied was good, but try reading ‘Stalingrad’ the US supplies were nothing more than a novelty to most of the Soviets.

The Nazi’s were also hamstrung because much of their air force was wiped out in the Battle of Britain, the idea that Britain would have been taken by the Germans is wrong, the Germans gave up in 1940, and committed themselves to the east in late 1940. The British had air superiority over the Channel, and the Germans had no amphibious capability.

The question of sea power and U-boats is an interesting one, the US contribution was vital, but even if it hadn’t been there the Brits and Canadians were already developing Radar based air escort systems by the time the US really got into it, but yes it would have had a draining effect on the UK.

However the Russians would have carried on to the Atlantic, maybe by 1946, but they would have got there. The British Empire would fight back in Africa (as it did) and maybe a vast army would be raised in India, but it wouldn’t have anywhere to go. The danger is that the Soviets own continental Europe and Northern Asia, Maybe they would turn their sights on the UK and another war breaks out, the UK would soon lose to a mighty Russia….

Maybe Russia turns its sights to the Middle East or Asia.

But would the US have developed nukes if there was no war…unlikely, the Brits might have got there first, maybe the Russians would have got it? They made a big point of capturing nuclear labs in Germany.

Undoubtedly the Germans would have been defeated, the US, more than anything though, contributed to pinning back the communists, and providing future security for Western Europe.

Version 3

I think if the United States had not gotten involved, Russia does not necessarily steamroll Europe.

Part of the reason for the Soviet Union’s success against the Nazis was that much of Germany’s resources were also directed to the West, to prevent a second front in Europe. Without American Intervention I think the Germans and Russians would have eventually come to peace terms after millions had died…. neither being able to totally destroy the other. I think it would have also ended with some territorial gains for the Nazis.(Estonia, Lithuania ect.) (Perhaps, including Belarus since Hitler planned to group it together with Baltic States. WW)

Britain would also be forced to sign a separate peace with Germany. I don’t think Britain would have lost any territory to them in the peace treaty, but they would have to recognize Germany as master of Europe proper.

Japan would have had mastery of the Pacific, and would have eventually conquered all of China.

Version 4

Barbarossa was failed in summer 1941, because Hitler planned to destroy Red army before September 1941. First UK/USA aid was send 12 august 1941, army received it in September. According Barbaroosa it already should be destroyed! So, without allies help war in Russia would be harder, but victorious for CCCP. May be in 1947 Berlin would be taken by Red Army.
There are 4 main features that could give Russia advantages superiority:
1.Climat and supplies: as was said, Germans planned to defeat Russia before winter and was not ready to -30C chills. And it is very difficult to supply 6 million army.
2.Popular front: especially partisans. 300000 fighters participated in centralized partisan armies, 700000 participated in resistance movement in occupied lands of USSR. European resistance and industrial sabotage.
3. Resource deficit. In 1942 Germans was confronted with lack of resources. Before invasion they received it buying in USSR: Caucasus oil, Siberian gas, Ural metals.
4. Growing experience of soviet generals. Do you know that first Stalin’s order of the war was order not to shoot? He thought that this is provocation. Then, when army should prepare defense positions he ordered to attack. In 1942, after victory under Moscow, he decided that now Red Army is stronger than Germans and ordered to attack again by all farces and recapture Kharkov – result: Southern front is broken and Red Army is retreating to Stalingrad and Northern Caucasus. In the second part of war (1943-45) soviet generals didn’t make mistakes like that.

These are just some theories and I am curious what do you think about it. Indeed, what if the United States never entered the WWII?

Here we go again! After dealing with Da Vinci Code by banning it from local movie theaters, Belarusian authorities found another victim-V for Vendetta. Perhaps, they took comics seriously or maybe it is paranoia responsible for it. In either case, V for Vendetta won’t be shown in Belarus, period. Apparently, an uncompromising vision of the future did not sit well with some people…

Not long ago, we posted an article about ‘V for Vendetta”. And while writing it there was a joke: “just imagine, what will authorities think watching somebody kicking butt (wearing black uniforms) and crushing totalitarian regime that in some ways resembles Belarus 2006?”

Today, we got a crystal clear answer…The Government IS afraid of its people.

A little bit of a “blast from the Belarus’ past…” Picked it up from newspaper archives…

Minsk. White Russia. August 17 (Delayed.)—After many months of terrorization under Bolshevist rule Minsk is beginning to resume normal life again. Groups are conversing on street corners and in doorways of houses breathing the atmosphere of relief and in every section of the population whether Jewish or Polish shopkeeper or Russian peasants and workmen one finds the same deep inexpressible thankfulness at deliverance from a government which, while pretending to give freedom and equal rights to all, actually exercised a tyranny far greater than anything known under the czars.

Personal liberties were destroyed
It must be admitted that in outward appearances the town and its population do not make a bad impression. Food certainly exists, though the operation of the Bolshevist system or rather its breakdown has resulted in perfectly impossible prices. But these facts admitted, there is nothing else to be said in favor of a regime that destroyed all personal liberty and made the humblest person feel that neither life nor property were either safe.
“To the dogs, death.” These words spoken by a woman as she kicked the dead body of a secretary of the soviet, as it still lay in the streets where he had been shot by Polish soldiers, express the bitter hatred of the people for Bolshevism. The Jewess who was president of the local “extraordinary tribunal for combating the counter revolution” and who signed the death warrants of the miserable persons who were executed almost daily was literally torn to pieces by the mob as she was being taken through the streets. A single word of criticism of the government was sufficient cause for arrest as a counterrevolutionary. When once the victim was arrested, his fate was unknown. Number of such persons is being released from Minsk prison. Over three hundred were deported to Bobrisk and Smolensk: certainly hundreds perished….

Peasants are rich

…Manufacturing and Industry have broken down, mainly, I believe, from a lack of transport: coal and other raw materials are unobtainable. There is plenty of forest land round Minsk, yet the price of wood was twelve thousand rubles. Other current prices are pound bread, 38 rubles; meat, 75 rubles; butter, 200 rubles.
…There has been one issue of bread on bread cards to the citizens since last Easter. On that occasion they received half a pound per head. Citizens of the third and fourth categories received none.
…Yet people have been coming here from Petrograd and Moscow in the hope of finding food for Minsk, which is regarded as the land of plenty.
…People were also drawn to Minsk by the hopes of its delivery by the Poles.

Propaganda
…Propaganda was the strong point with the Bolshevists. The town was placarded with posters, representing the destruction of capital by labor. Bolshevists soldiers shown threatening with a bayonet a fat gentleman in a waistcoat cowering behind cases of war munitions; in another the Russian people are shown floating to safety through a raging sea on a book labeled Karl Marx. Lectures were given daily in the square on the iniquities of capitalism; a special information bureau provided a prolific supply of news about revolutionary strikes in England, the downfall of Kolchak’s army and pogroms by the poles in Vilna.

In preparing for evacuation the soviet published a proclamation declaring that they would meet the white terror- that is, the advance of the Polish army, the red terror. In fulfillment of the threat the mass executions referred to above took place, and on leaving they carried off a large number of hostages, many of whom were women whose husbands and sons are fighting in the Polish army…

Not long ago, belarus. blogsome.com published an article titled “Almost an Open Letter To Hollywood Producers”. In one instance, an author writes:

“But revolution or, say, democratization could be somewhat profitable, if some guy like Steven Spielberg decided to make a movie about it. Let us face the facts – we are interesting. We are an odd one out in Europe, and a lot of fascinating events happen in our country, just you need to pay a little bit more attention to them. This is a nation either beloved or forsaken by God. Maybe it is a test, or I don’t know what, but hey, we’ve been occupied by hegemons for centuries, millions of our nationals were killed in most major wars on the continent. We are torn between two civilizations, two geopolitical choices, and God knows where on earth we as a nation will end up in a century.
We are interesting. And by producing a film about us and our struggle, you would not only help us raise our social awareness, form our dusty national identity, resurrect our self-questioning, and maybe help our democratization, but you would also secure a investment that would pay back and even be quite profitable. Of course, you need to make it big, like you can, like you always do. Yeah, right, we need that big Hollywood star portray a Belarusian freedom fighter, and another big one playing a hateful dictator. This would be a smash hit. I can feel it. Can you?”

Yes, I can feel it. It could have been a great wake up call for some layers of Belarusian society. After posting two simple photo-clips about Belarus on this web site, the few friends of mine noted that these clips were highly motivational. And here, we are talking about home-made clips!
I agree with the author about a need for “big Hollywood star portray a Belarusian freedom fighter, and another big one playing a hateful dictator.” In matter of fact, we might not need a Hollywood star, but someone who can truly feel it…

And while we are waiting a response from Hollywood, I will mention a movie that sort of falls into a category of “Freedom fighter versus hateful dictator”. Enter V for Vendetta.

“Claims on White Russia…” This is a title of a letter sent to The New York Times and published by the paper on July 4, 1920. By reading it, the very first questions should be: who pretends on it? to whom it belongs? Moreover, these questions bundled together with the title present you with a line of thinking.

It is a popular line of thinking that dominated agendas of big powers that strived to grab White Russia. It is the line of thinking that persistently neglected history and facts. It is the line of thinking that almost erased a nation with a glorious past and distinctive cultural heritage.
Here is how an author of this letter justifies such line of thinking.

To the editor of the New York Times:
Several newspapers have published articles regarding the claims of Poland on a certain part of Russian territory.
The territory, which is known as White Russia, lies in the northwestern part of the great Russian Empire. The number of Poles in this territory, according to the well-known Polish author, E. Pitts?, in his “Polish Encyclopedia”, is estimated to be 8 per cent of the total population. The Russians who inhabited this territory have never separated themselves from the rest of the Russians, and, of course, would never agree to become Polish subjects. Their customs, religion, and, of course, nationality are unquestionably Russian. The difference, if any, in the Language are the same as between the southern and northern parts of the United States.
The territory belonged to Russia from the earliest times, and in the first of the partitions of Poland in the sixteenth century Russia only received back this, her own territory, which was previously lost due to the war terms. Therefore, this territory never belonged to Poland, notwithstanding the later’s claims to the contrary. It would be as reasonable to ask Russians in general if they wish to become Polish subjects as to hold ple…tes only among those in the north-western part of Russia…..

Dr. W. Sveshnikoff
Washington DC
June 22, 1920

Well, I could have jumped into a debate over many things expressed in the letter; however, these historical issues should be addressed separately since they deserve serious attention. Instead, I will suggest another title: Claims rejected: White Russia is an independent country.

Living in New York for short time I have already witnessed so many parades that probably, I could have written a reference titled “Annual parades held in NY”. For example, Puerto Rican, Irish, Turkish, and Chinese…All these parades have their unique history, backgrounds and purposes. Generally speaking, they are all aimed to show their cultural heritage and spirit on the streets of the “Melting Pot”. And I was really surprised to find out that there used to be a multinational parade held on the streets in America: The annual Captive Nations parade.
Here is how “Chicago Tribune” writes about it in an article “50 000 See Annual Captive Nations March in State Street” published on July 16, 1967.

Americans from captive nations carried flags of those nations down State street yesterday along with signs calling for freedom of their native lands. They were marching in the annual Captive Nations parade. American flags flew proudly at the head of each marching unit, and banners proclaimed support for United States service men in Viet Nam.

…Among the largest delegations in the parade of more than 10000 persons were those from Korea and Lithuania.
…In addition to Korea and Lithuania, the nations represented included Bulgaria, the Baltic States, Serbia, Slovakia, Estonia, Poland, Ukraine, Croatia, Bielarus, Albania, Latvia, Cossakia, Slovenia, Armenia, Georgia, Germany, Czechoslovakia and China.

Rep. Roman C. Pucinski (D. Ill), told more than 200 persons attending a luncheon in the Hilton hotel after the parade:

“God grant that spirit you demonstrated today would become infectious and spread throughout the country and throughout the whole world.”
“God created men to be free and no Communist is going to change that”

Earlier on, we attempted to show how many various interpretations exist regarding the Belarusian nationality . Anuszka mentioned in her comment:

“So, who was Mickiewicz?? Polish, Lithuanian, or Belarussian?”. Because he was born in Belarus, wrote poems in Polish, and his most famous poem begins with: “Lithuania, my homeland!”.

And indeed, so much confusion and it does not stop there. Historians are still engaged in an intense discourse whether Belarusians have the Baltic or Slavic roots. N.Vakar mentions in his book, “Belorussia: The Making of a Nation”:

“The Belorussians consider themselves the oldest and purest branch of the Slav family, tracing their origins to three ancient Slavic tribes: The Krivichi, Dregovichi and Radimichi…The question remains who these people were. Racial distinctions for that period are not clear. Herodotus refers to the Budini, a people dwelling in northern Scythia “in forests where there are large lakes”…

But what if there were some different civilizations on the territory of Belarus? Who could they be? In relation to these questions I stumbled across quiet unexpected article—“Remarkable discovery in Russia” published in “Gleason’s pictorial drawings – Room Companion” on September 24, 1853.

M.B. Larsky, the engineer, lately deceased, made a discovery of the greatest importance in White Russia—a discovery brought to light when his papers were examined after his decease. Being occupied in making a road in that province, he found it necessary to drain off the waters of a lake into another at a lower level, and in the course of the operation he discovered in a forest, several feet below the surface of the soil, a road paved in antique Roman or Mexican style, with traces of a stone bridge of peculiar construction. In Mr. Larsky’s opinion, 2000 or 3000 years must have elapsed before the face of the country has been transformed to such an extent as he observed, and if this supposition be well founded, the district must have been inhabited before the time of the Seythians (Scythians) by a more civilized nation. M. larsky’s discovery will doubtless not pass unnoticed, and may lead to important results.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any specific places mentioned but I don’t have any doubts that the place of discovery was somewhere in modern day Belarus. If someone has more information regarding it, please feel free to comment. It might be indeed “Remarkable discovery”…