December of decades and centuries past comes to life

December of decades and centuries past comes to life

December 12th. In 1919, the remarkable Boris Gudimov was born — a war hero, a Doctor of Medical Sciences, a Professor and an academician who devoted 60 years of his life to surgery.

December 13th. In 1868, Iosif Yesman was born in Vileika. He was a scientist in the field of hydraulics who established and became the first Dean of Vladikavkaz Polytechnic Institute. He was involved in the development of the Baku-Batumi oil pipeline and other oil industry projects.

December 14th. In 1818, a Belarusian archaeologist, folklorist and ethnographer, Zorian Doleng-Khodakovsky (real name Chernotsky), was born. He was the first to receive permission from Vilno University to conduct an archaeological dig in Belarusian territory.

December 15th. In 1937, Yevgeny Zhdan was born in the village of Tareiki (Nesvizh District). He was an artist and a respected cultural figure. Among his pictorial works is the Chernobyl series, The Life of Belarusian Saints, The Life of Slavonic Enlightener-Humanists, The Song of My Homeland and The Spring landscapes.

December 16th. In 1959, an honoured USSR sportsman, a champion of the 24th Olympics and a world handball champion, Yuri Shevtsov, was born. At present he is head coach of the Belarusian team.

December 17th. In 1919, Nikolay Zebnitsky was born, a USSR Hero and a member of the Belarusian partisan movement during the Great Patriotic War.

December 18th. In 1924, a Belarusian scientist and mathematician, Yevgeny Ivanov, was born. He was a corresponding member of Belarus’ NAS, a Doctor of Physical-Mathematical Sciences and a Professor. Mr. Ivanov wrote over 100 scientific works, including two monographs and studies on the theory of wave diffraction.

December 12th. In 1796, Minsk became a government centre as Minsk’s jurisdiction was transformed into a governorate.

December 12th. In 1952, a decision was made by the USSR Council of Ministers to establish an aircraft repair station in Minsk; since 1962, this has been known as the Minsk Aircraft Repair Plant.

December 12th. In 1979, the Belarusian Folk Art Museum opened in Raubichi, near Minsk, becoming a branch of Belarus’ National Art Museum.

December 13th. In 1982, Mogilev’s Production Association of Silk Fabrics was fully put into operation.

December 13th. In 1982, Minsk’s city centre received the status of ‘a historical-cultural preservation area’ in line with the BSSR Council of Ministers’ decision. The city’s history is closely connected with its citadel.

December 13th. In 1998, a techno-park opened in Mogilev.

December 14th. In 1906, the Belarusian Minchuk Book-Publishing Society was founded in Minsk to publish and distribute Belarusian newspapers and books. Jointly with the Nasha Niva Publishing House, it released Orzeszkowa’s Gedali in Cyrillic and Latin, while preparing Kupala’s Zhaleika for printing. In 1907, it ceased operating due to lack of funds.

December 14th. In 1963, the town of Polotsky obtained the status of a city of regional importance, becoming Novopolotsk.

December 14th. In 2002, the last seam was welded on the Belarusian section of the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline, near Nesvizh.

December 15th. In 1924, the first issue of Belaruski Piyaner (Belarusian Pioneer) magazine was issued. From 1929-1941, it was named Iskry Ilyicha (Ilyich’s Sparks). The magazine was not published during the Great Patriotic War but, in 1945, was released under the Byarozka (The Birch) title.

December 15th. In 1982, construction of Baranovichi’s Poultry Factory Druzhba was completed.

December 16th. In 1388, the city of Molodechno was first mentioned in written sources. In the past, it belonged to the magnate families of Zaslavsky, Mstislavsky, Sangushko and Oginski. During the Great Patriotic War, the city was occupied and burnt down. 33,150 people were killed in Molodechno’s death camp. The city was liberated on July 5th, 1944.

December 17th. In 1924, Belarusian cinematography was officially ‘born’ as, on this day, the BSSR Council of People’s Commissars adopted a law ‘On Film Production in Belarus’. December 17th is the Day of Belarusian Cinema.

December 17th. In 1926, the second All-Union census was conducted. According to it, Belarus’ population was 4,983,000 people, including 130,838 living in Minsk.

December 17th. In 1968, a sanatorium-type school, a medicinal block and the first section of the Zubrenok pioneer camp opened on Lake Naroch in the district of Myadel.

December 17th. In 1978, Minsk hosted the 1st Republican Conference of the Belarusian Society of Friendship and Cultural Ties with Foreign States which adopted the organisation’s charter and modern name (it was founded in 1926 as the Society of Cultural Ties of Soviet Belorussiya with Foreign States and, from 1952-1958, was known as the Belarusian Society of Cultural Ties with Foreign States).

December 18th. In 1882, the first telephone lines were laid in the country connecting Gomel’s mansion of Duke Paskevich-Erivansky with his castle, factories and estates.

December 18th. In 1973, cosmonauts Klimuk and Lebedev began their nine day orbital space flight on the Soyuz-12 spacecraft. The team was commanded by Piotr Klimuk (who was born in the village of Komarovka in Brest). The cosmonaut was awarded the Soviet Union Hero title for the flight.

December 18th. In 1979, Minsk’s Yakub Kolas Printing Factory published its one-billionth book.