Basking in the Baltics, Part II: Belarus: Vol. 2

Minsk

The day after we arrived in Minsk, we took in a walking tour of the center of town that lasted 2 hours. We learned a lot about Minsk - it's history and the its citizens. Here's what we learned:

Minsk (pop. ~ 2 million) is derived from an old river name, Měn. The Belarusian pronunciation sounds like Miensk and with Russian influence, became Minsk. Historians mark the founding of Minsk in 1067. Over the centuries, the area was controlled by Sweden, Poland, Russia (more than once) and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The borders changed in shape and size many times.

WWII brought German occupation in 1941. At the time, Minsk had a significant Jewish population (48%). On March 2, 1942, approximately 5,000 Jews were rounded up and shot. There is a memorial erected in the area of the Jewish ghetto where this happened and is called "The Pit". Today, the Jewish population in Minsk is less than 1%.

The city is one of the cleanest in all of Europe. Everyone that can work has a job, and many are out each day sweeping and cleaning. Although the economy in Belarus is not very robust, there are many venues for art and culture.

In 1944, Minsk was recaptured by Soviet troops after heavy fighting. Much of the town center was reduced to rubble. By years end, the population was down to only 50,000. Rather than engage in reconstruction, Stalin rebuilt Minsk with his preferred style of architecture of grand buildings, broad avenues and wide squares. Consequently, much of the original and traditional look of Minsk no longer exists - all replaced with modern structures. This is in contrast to many other Baltic countries who have tried to leave the "old look" intact.

In the center of Minsk, the river Свислочь (Svislach) meanders around and forms a bit of a lake. In the lake is a man-made island called the "Isle of Tears". On the island is a memorial to the 700 Belarusian troops who died in the 9-year conflict involving Soviet forces in Afghanistan (the "Forgotten War"). There is a chapel with statues of mothers, wives and sisters, all weeping and sorrowing at the loss of sons, husbands and brothers. The veterans of this war have not been treated well. This is still a sore spot for Belarusians, who did not want to be involved with the conflict.

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Monument at "The Pit"

Among these figures is a violinist, a pregnant woman and children - a representation of all walks of life that were killed here.

"To the shining memory to the bright days of 5,000 Jews who perished at the hands of sworn enemies of humanity, German-fascist butchers, March 2, 1942"