Belarusian Independence Party
Encyclopedia
The Belarusian Independence Party was a Belarus
ian separatist military organization during the Second World War.
(according to a different version, in Minsk
in 1942). The initiator of its creation was padre Vincent Hadleŭski
. The organization united predominantly young people.
Formally the BNP introduced itself as a patriotic undercover organization fighting for the independence of Belarus
, but as a matter of fact its leadership cooperated with the German Abwehr
from the very beginning.
The BNP started its practical activity in June 1944 by creating several undercover guerrilla troops in Belarus to fight against the approaching Red Army
. (according to other sources, the training of such groups has been organized with the help of Abwehr in autumn 1943, especially actively in winter and spring of 1944).
As its political programme the BNP proposed to use the "inevitable conflict" between the USSR and its Western Allies after the victory over Germany
in the Second World War to gain independence for Belarus
.
After evacuation in 1944, the Foreign Sector of the BNP was created in Germany, led by Dzmitry Kasmovič.
, the pro-German government of Belarus, and its leader Radasłaŭ Astroŭski for taking a loyal position towards the Nazis. In early 1945 the BNP stopped all cooperation with the BCR.
The BNP especially criticized the badly organized evacuation and practical liquidation of the Biełaruskaja Krajovaja Abarona, the military of the BCR, and Astroŭski's inefficient attempts to create a Belarusian army in Germany.
Several guerrilla units of the BNP continued its activities in Soviet-occupied Belarus in 1945-1946 but were soon liquidated by the Soviets.
. The organization underwent many internal conflicts and a split in two parts in 1948-1949. In 1954 the BNP recognized the Belarusian Central Rada as "the only legitimate and representative centre".
Leadership:
In 1942-1943 the BNP had its branches in the regions of Bryansk
and Smalensk as well.
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
ian separatist military organization during the Second World War.
Creation
The BNP was probably created in 1939—1940 in VilniusVilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
(according to a different version, in Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
in 1942). The initiator of its creation was padre Vincent Hadleŭski
Vincent Hadleuski
Vincent Hadleŭski was a Belarusian Roman Catholic priest, publicist and politician.Born in the village Shchury near Vaukavysk, he graduated from a Catholic seminary in Vilna and the Catholic academy in St.Petersburg...
. The organization united predominantly young people.
Formally the BNP introduced itself as a patriotic undercover organization fighting for the independence of Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
, but as a matter of fact its leadership cooperated with the German Abwehr
Abwehr
The Abwehr was a German military intelligence organisation from 1921 to 1944. The term Abwehr was used as a concession to Allied demands that Germany's post-World War I intelligence activities be for "defensive" purposes only...
from the very beginning.
The BNP started its practical activity in June 1944 by creating several undercover guerrilla troops in Belarus to fight against the approaching Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
. (according to other sources, the training of such groups has been organized with the help of Abwehr in autumn 1943, especially actively in winter and spring of 1944).
As its political programme the BNP proposed to use the "inevitable conflict" between the USSR and its Western Allies after the victory over Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in the Second World War to gain independence for Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
.
After evacuation in 1944, the Foreign Sector of the BNP was created in Germany, led by Dzmitry Kasmovič.
Relations with the Belarusian Central Rada
In 1944 the leaders of the BNP heavily criticized the Belarusian Central RadaBelarusian Central Rada
The Belarusian Central Rada was nominally the government of Belarus from 1943–44. It was a collaborationist government established by Nazi Germany within the occupation and colonial administration of Reichskommissariat Ostland.- Timeline :...
, the pro-German government of Belarus, and its leader Radasłaŭ Astroŭski for taking a loyal position towards the Nazis. In early 1945 the BNP stopped all cooperation with the BCR.
The BNP especially criticized the badly organized evacuation and practical liquidation of the Biełaruskaja Krajovaja Abarona, the military of the BCR, and Astroŭski's inefficient attempts to create a Belarusian army in Germany.
Several guerrilla units of the BNP continued its activities in Soviet-occupied Belarus in 1945-1946 but were soon liquidated by the Soviets.
Activity after the war
After the war the BNP acted among Belarusian refugees in Western EuropeWestern Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
. The organization underwent many internal conflicts and a split in two parts in 1948-1949. In 1954 the BNP recognized the Belarusian Central Rada as "the only legitimate and representative centre".
Structure
The organization hat a Central Committee and five regional committees.Leadership:
- Usievalad Rodzka (Central Committee)
- Michał Vituška (member of the CC)
- Dzmitry Kasmovič (member of the CC)
- Jullan Sakovič (MinskMinsk- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
District Committee) - Francišak AlachnovičFrancišak AlachnovičFrancišak Alachnovič was a Belarusian writer, journalist and Gulag survivor.Alachnovič was a well-known theatrical writer, director and journalist in West Belarus...
(VilniusVilniusVilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
District Committee) - and others.
In 1942-1943 the BNP had its branches in the regions of Bryansk
Bryansk
Bryansk is a city and the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Moscow. Population: -History:The first written mention of Bryansk was in 1146, in the Hypatian Codex, as Debryansk...
and Smalensk as well.
Publishing activity
Under the Nazi occupation of Belarus the BNP published a formally illegal bulletin Biuleten BNP ("Бюлетэнь БНП", The BNP Bulletin), after the war - the bulletin Praca i Vola ("Праца і Воля", Labour and Freedom, two issues published in 1949).Sources
- (Туронак) Jerzy Turonek, Bialorus pod okupacja niemiecka. "WERS", Warszawa—Wroclaw, 1989. 186 s.
- (Ёрш) Сяргей Ёрш, Вяртаньне БНП. Асобы і дакумэнты Беларускай Незалежніцкай Партыі. — Менск-Слонім: БГАКЦ, 1998. — 186 с. — (Архіў Найноўшае Гісторыі). ISBN 985-6012-62-7.
- С. Ёрш, С. Горбік, Беларускі супраціў. Львоў, 2006.
- Д. Касмовіч, Успаміны пра Беларускую Незалежніцкую Партыю (БНП)