Polesie Voivodeship (Polish: województwo poleskie, Belarusian: Палескае вайводзтва) was an administrative unit of interwar Poland (1918-1939). It ceased to exist in September of 1939, following German and Soviet aggression on Poland (see: Polish September Campaign). Soviet redirects here. ... Combatants Poland Germany Soviet Union Slovakia Commanders Edward Rydz-ÅšmigÅ‚y Fedor von Bock (Army Group North) Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group South) Ferdinand ÄŒatloÅ¡ (Field Army Bernolak) Strength 39 divisions 16 brigades 4,300 guns 880 tanks 400 aircraft Total: 1,000,000[1] 56 German divisions, 33+ Soviet...

Population

Its capital, biggest and most important city was Brzesc nad Bugiem (now: Brest in Belarus). It consisted of 10 powiats (counties), 17 towns and 113 villages. In 1921 it was inhabited by 879 417 people, and its population density (20.8 persons per sq. km.) was the lowest in interwar Poland. Majority of population (42%) was Belarusian, especially in the countryside. Poles, scattered everywhere, made around 25%, Ukrainians (mainly in the south-east) - about 17% and Jews (mainly in towns) - around 10%. Also, there were smaller communities of Russians, and some members of the population insisted on calling them the “locals”. For a city in France, see Brest, France. ... Powiat is the Polish name for county, a second-level unit of the administrative division and local government in Poland. ... Originally, a county was the land under the jurisdiction of a count (in Great Britain, an earl, though the original earldoms covered larger areas) by reason of that office. ...

Location and area

Voivodeship’s area was 42 280 square kilometers and it was the biggest in interwar Poland. It was located in eastern part of the country, bordering Soviet Union to the east, Lublin Voivodeship and Bialystok Voivodeship 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 rose due to snow's melting. Lublin Voivodeship Coat of Arms Potockis Palace in MiÄ™dzyrzec Podlaski Old chapel Krzna river Lublin Voivodeship (Polish: województwo lubelskie) is an administrative region, or voivodeship, of eastern Poland. ... . Nowogródek Voivodeship (Polish: , Belarusian: ) was an unit of administrative division of Grand Duchy of Lithuania (from 1569 - Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth) and Poland between 15th century and 1795 and then between 1919 and 1939, with the capital in the town of Navahrudak. ... Volhynian Voivodeship (Polish: Wojewodztwo Wolynskie) was an administrative unit of interwar Poland (1918-1939) as well as of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. ... Polesie is one of the largest European swampy areas, located in the South-Western part of the Eastern-European Lowland, mainly within the territories of Belarus, Ukraine and partly also within Poland and Russia. ... The name Pripyat, also spelled Prypyat, Prypyat, Prypyat, Prypiat, Pripiat, Prypyat, Prypyat, Prypyat, Pripet, etc. ...

Cities and counties

Brzesc, voivodeship’s capital was the biggest city, however its population was not impressive - only about 35 000 (as for 1939). Other important centers in the voivodeship were: Pinsk (pop. 25 000), Kobryn (pop. 10 000) Pruzana (pop. 6 500) and Sarny (pop. 6 000). Pinsk (Belarusian: , Russian: ), a town in Belarus, in the Polesia region, travesed by the river Prypiać, at the confluence of the Strumen and Pina rivers. ... Kobryn (Belarusian: Ко́брынь, Ко́брын; Polish: KobryÅ„; Russian: Ко́брин) is a city in the Brest voblast of Belarus and the center of the Kobryn District. ... Sarny (Сарни in Ukrainian, meaning deer, pl. ...

Counties of Poleskie Voivodeship:

• Brześć county (area 4845 sq. km.),
• Drohiczyn county (area 2362 sq. km.),
• Kamień Koszyrski county (area 3224 sq. km.),
• Kobryn county (area 3801 sq. km.),
• Kossow county (area 3578 sq. km.),
• Luniniec county (area 5615 sq. km.),
• Pińsk county (area 5459 sq. km.),
• Pruzana county (area 2595 sq. km.),
• Sarny county (area 5478 sq. km.). In 1930, this county was moved to Volhynian Voivodeship,
• Stolin county (area 5352 sq. km.).

Volhynian Voivodeship (Polish: Wojewodztwo Wolynskie) was an administrative unit of interwar Poland (1918-1939) as well as of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. ...

Railroads and industry

In general opinion, interwar Poland was unoficially divided into two parts - Poland “A” (better developed) and Poland “B” (less developed). However, Poleskie 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), Luniniec, Zabinka and Sarny. Interesting is the fact that in late 1930s Polish government constructed a modern, paved road which connected Pinsk and Drohiczyn. Great part of population was illiterate, in spite of efforts of Polish government, schools were few and far between. Drohiczyn is a town in north-eastern Poland. ...

September 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. Now, most of former Poleskie Voivodeship belongs to Belarus (together with Brzesc and Pinsk), only southern part belongs to Ukraine (with Sarny). Molotov signs the German-Soviet non-aggression pact. ... Soviet redirects here. ... Polish Army (Polish Wojsko Polskie) is the name applied to the military forces of Poland. ... State motto (Ukrainian): Пролетарі всіх країн, єднайтеся! (Translated: Workers of the world, unite!) Official language None. ... language None. ...

See also

• West Belarus