Polesie Voivodeship

Polesie Voivodeship ( _pl. województwo poleskie, _be. Палескае вайводзтва) was an administrative unit of interwar Poland (1918-1939). It ceased to exist in September 1939, following German and Soviet aggression on Poland (see: Polish September Campaign).

Population

Its capital, biggest and most important city was Brześć nad Bugiem (now: Brest in Belarus). It consisted of 9 powiats (counties), 12 towns and only 97 villages. In 1921 it was inhabited by 879 417 people, and its population density (20.8 persons per km².) was the lowest in interwar Poland. In 1931 the number of population rose to 1 132 200 , and density - to 31 persons per km².

According to the 1931 census, majority of population (62.6%) insisted on calling themselves the “locals” (tutejsi). Poles, scattered everywhere, made around 15% (which meant that it was the least “Polish” of all Voivodeships), Ukrainians (mainly in the south-east) - about 5%, Belarusians - 6.6% and Jews (mainly in towns) - around 10%. Also, there were smaller communities of Russians. Illiterate was 48.4% of population, the largest number in Poland, well above national average of 23.1% (as for 1931).

Location and area

Initially, Voivodeship’s area was 42 149 km². However, in 1930 Sarny county was moved to the Volhynian Voivodeship, thus the area shrunk to 36 668 square kilometers. Even after this change, it still was the biggest Voivodeship of interwar Poland.

It was located in eastern part of the country, bordering Soviet Union to the east, Lublin Voivodeship and Białystok Voivodeship (1919-1939) to the west, Nowogródek Voivodeship to the north and Volhynian Voivodeship to the south. Most part of it was covered by the Polesie swamp - a flat, vast, sparsely inhabited area, with several rivers and streams. Access to some villages and hamlets was possible only by boats, especially in early spring, when waters of the Pripyat and other rivers (like the Pina, the Styr and the Horyn) rose due to snow's melting. In 1937 forested was 33.3% of the Voivodeship (average for the whole country was 22.2%). The biggest lake in Voivodeship's area was Lake Wygonowskie, located on the Ogiński Canal.

Cities and counties

Brzesc, voivodeship’s capital was the biggest city, however its population was not impressive - about 50 700 (according to the 1931 national census) and some 55 000 in mid-1939. Other important centers in the voivodeship were: Pińsk (in 1931 pop. 31 900), Dawidgródek (pop. 11 500), Kobryń (pop. 10 100) and Prużana (pop. 6 500).

Counties of Polesie Voivodeship:

* Brześć county (area 4625 km², pop. 216 200),

* Drohiczyn Poleski county (area 2351 km², pop. 97 000),

* Kamień Koszyrski county (area 3243 km², pop. 95 000),

* Kobryń county (area 3545 km², pop. 114 000),

* Kossów county (area 3562 km², pop. 83 700),

* Łuniniec county (area 5722 km², pop. 109 300),

* Pińsk county (area 5587 km², pop. 183 600),

* Prużana county (area 2644 km², pop. 108 600),

* Stolin county (area 5389 km², pop. 124 800).

Railroads and industry

In general opinion, interwar Poland was unofficially divided into two parts - Poland “A” (better developed) and Poland “B” (less developed). However, Polesie Voivodeship should be considered Poland “C”, as it was the most backwards area of the country. Industry was non-existent, agriculture was at the very low level, rail network - scarce with only few lines. Rail hubs were few: Brzesc (with 5 lines coming out of it), Łuniniec, Żabinka and Sarny. In 1937 total length of railroads within Voivodeship’s boundaries was 1 063 km., and rail density - 2.9 km. per 100 km² (smallest in the whole country). Interesting is the fact that in late 1930s Polish government constructed a modern, paved road which connected Pinsk and Drohiczyn Poleski.

Voivodes

*Walery Roman 14 March 1921 – 3 May 1922
*Stanisław Józef Downarowicz 18 May 1922 – 2 October 1924
*Kazimierz Młodzianowski 4 October 1924 – 5 May 1926
*Vacant 5 May 1926 - 14 July 1926
*Jan Krahelski 14 July 1926 – 8 September 1932 (acting to 23 December 1926)
*Wacław Kostek-Biernacki 8 September 1932 – 2 September 1939
*Jerzy Albin de Tramecourt 17 February 1937 – 7 September 1937 (acting for Kostek-Biernacki)

eptember 1939 and its aftermath

On September 17, 1939, following German aggression on Poland and Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Soviet forces invaded eastern Poland. As bulk of Polish Army was concentrated in the west, fighting Germans, the Soviets met with little resistance and their troops quickly moved westwards, until they reached Brzesc. Later, Voivodeship’s area was incorporated into Soviet Union and divided between Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (Polesia Voblast). Now, most of former Polesie Voivodeship belongs to Belarus (together with Brzesc and Pinsk), only southern part belongs to Ukraine (with Sarny).

ources

* Mały rocznik statystyczny 1939, Warszawa, Nakładem Głównego Urzędu Statystycznego Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej (Concise Statistical Year-Book of Poland, Warsaw 1939)

ee also

* Belarus’s current Brest Voblast