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Military records in Belarus play a crucial role in documenting the military service history of individuals and maintaining the country's defense infrastructure. Belarus, like many other countries, maintains comprehensive records of its citizens' military service, including enlistment, training, deployments, promotions, and any awards or commendations received during their service.
The military records system in Belarus is overseen by the Ministry of Defense, which is responsible for managing and maintaining the country's military personnel database. This database contains information on all individuals who have served or are currently serving in the Belarusian Armed Forces, as well as other branches of the military, such as the Border Guard and Internal Troops. In Belarus, military service is mandatory for all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 27. Upon reaching the age of 18, male citizens are required to register for military service and undergo medical examinations to determine their fitness for service. Those deemed fit for military duty are then drafted into the armed forces for a period of one year, although this can be extended in certain circumstances.
During their military service, individuals are issued military identification cards, which contain personal information such as name, date of birth, and service number. These identification cards serve as proof of military service and are often required for access to certain benefits and services, such as healthcare and employment opportunities. In addition to maintaining records of active-duty military personnel, the Belarusian Ministry of Defense also keeps records of veterans who have completed their service. These records may include information on the individual's rank, unit assignments, and any decorations or medals awarded for valor or meritorious service.
Overall, military records in Belarus are essential for ensuring the readiness and effectiveness of the country's armed forces. By accurately documenting the service history of its military personnel, Belarus can better manage its defense resources and honor the sacrifices made by those who have served their country.
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History of military records in BelarusHistory of military records in Belarus
The history of military records in Belarus can be traced back to the establishment of military institutions within the region, which has evolved significantly over time alongside changes in political regimes and technological advancements.
During the medieval period, the territory of present-day Belarus was part of various medieval states such as Kievan Rus', the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and later the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Military service during this time was often organized on a feudal basis, with feudal lords (boyars) responsible for mustering and maintaining armed forces to protect their lands and serve their overlords.
According to the "Statute on Military Obligations" adopted in the Russian Empire in 1874, family lists served as the basis for compiling draft lists for individuals subject to conscription. For urban populations, these lists were compiled by urban administrations (separately for Christian and Jewish communities), while for peasants, they were compiled by volost administrations. The surviving lists are dated 1874, 1883, 1894, 1904, and 1914. All of the mentioned documents have survived selectively. In some regions, there are no direct genealogical sources preserved at all. It may happen that for a Catholic parish of a particular locality, metric books have been preserved for nearly two hundred years, while for the parish of the same locality, there are no documents whatsoever.
To confirm the military service of your ancestors during the existence of the Russian Empire (participation in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, World War I, etc.), it is necessary to contact the Russian State Military-Historical Archive.
With the formation of the Russian Empire in the 18th century, Belarus became part of the empire's administrative structure, and military organization became more centralized. Military records during this period were primarily kept by the imperial administration and included information on conscription, troop movements, and military campaigns.
The 20th century brought significant changes to Belarus and its military records system. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the subsequent establishment of the Soviet Union, Belarus became a part of the Soviet Socialist Republics. The Soviet government implemented a comprehensive system of military conscription and established military commissariats (voenkomaty) to oversee military recruitment and service.
During World War II, Belarus suffered greatly from the German invasion and occupation. The war resulted in massive casualties and displacement of the population, and military records played a crucial role in documenting the service and sacrifices of Belarusian soldiers and civilians.
After the war, Belarus became a part of the Soviet Union once again and continued to maintain a centralized system of military records under Soviet control. Military service remained mandatory for young men, and military records were used to track the service history of individuals and manage the country's defense forces.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Belarus became an independent country, and its military records system underwent significant changes. The Belarusian Ministry of Defense became responsible for managing military records and overseeing military service, and new laws and regulations were introduced to adapt the system to the country's new status as an independent state.
How to search military records in BelarusHow to search military records in Belarus
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In the Republic of Belarus, there are two state institutions that preserve documents of genealogical significance from the 19th to the 20th centuries and conduct genealogical research: the National Historical Archive of Belarus and the National Historical Archive of Belarus in Grodno. Even if your ancestors lived in the territory of modern-day Belarus for centuries, you should be prepared for the possibility that the requested information may be found in various archives of different states.
The National Historical Archive of Belarus preserves documents from the territory of the Minsk, Vitebsk, and Mogilev provinces up to 1917 (as well as selectively metric books from the Vileyka and Disna districts of the Vilnius province from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries). The National Historical Archive of Belarus in Grodno holds documents from the territory of the Grodno province up to 1917 (including those from the Brest, Kobrin, and Pruzhany districts). The administrative boundaries of the gubernias of the Russian Empire and the modern regions of the Republic of Belarus significantly differ.
Additionally, a significant collection of documents related to the territory of the Vilnius province (including the territory of modern Braslav, Vileyka, Volozhin, Voronovo, Glubokoe, Ivye, Lida, Mior, Molodechno, Myadel, Postavy, Ostrovets, Oshmiany, Smorgon, and Sharkovshchina districts) is stored in the State Historical Archive of Lithuania (Lietuvos valstybės istorijos archyvas).
Furthermore, a significant collection of genealogical documents pertaining to Belarusian lands (for example, metric books from the 18th century from territories that became part of the Vileyka, Lida, Minsk, Oshmiany, Pinsk, Pruzhany, Rechitsa, Slonim, Slutsk counties of the Vilnius, Grodno, and Minsk gubernias at the end of the aforementioned century) is stored in the Russian State Historical Archive . This archive also holds the Department of Heraldry of the Senate fund, containing documents on the history of all noble families of the Russian Empire. [1]
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Explore more about Military records in BelarusExplore more about Military records in Belarus
- Soviet Union, Soldier Memorials, 1915-1950 record collection on MyHeritage
- Ask the Expert -- Military Records on MyHeritage webinar on the MyHeritage Knowledge Base
- Military Records: Search by Name on MyHeritage on the MyHeritage Knowledge Base
- Services. Archives of Belarus
References
- ↑ Генеалогия. Национальный исторический архив Беларуси