Belarusians, Lithuanians, and Poles in the Lands of Ober Ost (1915–1917)

Following the three partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the late eighteenth century, all modern Belarusian territories were incorporated into the Russian Empire. ¹ This situation remained unchanged until the First World War, when Vil’nia and Hrodna provinces, and the western parts of Minsk province were occupied by the German Empire and became a part of Ober Ost, ² while Viciebsk and Mahilioŭ provinces, and the eastern parts of Minsk province remained under tsarist rule. By looking at the redrawing of borders in the western parts of the Russian Empire during the First World War, this chapter focuses on Belarusian nation-building in the western Belarusian provinces under the German regime. Chronologically, it covers the period between 1915 and 1917, which represents the early phase of the occupation, when German policies proclaimed the principle of equal treatment for all Ober Ost nationalities, in contrast to a clearly Lithuanian-oriented policy that was in effect by early 1917.