Dzyarzhynsk

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Dzyarzhynsk or Dzerzhinsk (Belarusian: Дзяржы́нск, Dziaržynsk, Russian: Дзержинск), in the Stoubcy district of Belarus, is a city with an ancient history.

The city was once the capital of the short-lived Dzierzynszczyzna Polish Autonomous District and fell under German occupation during World War II and was liberated by the Soviet Red Army in 1944.

The highest point of Belarus, Dziaržynskaja Hara, is several kilometers from Dziaržynsk.

[edit] City name

It was known as Kojdanava townlet of Vilna guberniya of the Russian Empire. In May, 1932 it was granted the status of city and renamed Kojdanaŭ (Belarusian: Койданаў). In June of that year it was renamed again as Dziaržynsk.

Felix Dzerzhinsky was born in Dziaržynava estate not far from the city, and that was one of the reasons the Communist authorities renamed the city, calling it Dziaržynsk.

Nowadays in Belarus, the name Kojdanava (Belarusian: Койданава) is becoming popular again, but the official name remains unchanged, as Dzerzhinsky, the founder of Cheka, is still considered a national hero in Belarus.