Nowogródek Voivodeship
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Nowogródek Voivodeship (Polish: województwo nowogródzkie, Belarusian: Навагрудзкае вайводзтва) 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. It ceased to exist in September of 1939, following German and Soviet aggression on Poland (see: Invasion of Poland).
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[edit] Population
In the years 1919-1939 it consisted of 8 powiats (counties), 8 towns and only 89 villages. In 1921 was inhabited by 800 761 people, and the population density was only 35.3 persons per sq. km. Around 54% of population was Polish, 38% - Belarusians, Jews (mainly in towns) - made around 7%.
[edit] Location and area
Voivodeship’s area was 22 692 square kilometers. It was located in north-eastern part of the country, bordering Soviet Union to the east, Bialystok Voivodeship to the west, Polesie Voivodeship to the south and Wilno Voivodeship to the north. Landscape was flat, forested, with the Niemen as main river.
[edit] Cities and counties
The historical town of Nowogrodek was the smallest of all voivodeship’s capitals in Poland, with population of almost 10 000 (as for 1939). Area’s biggest town was a key railroad junction of Baranowicze, which was in the 1930s quickly growing, reaching the population of almost 30 000. Other important centers of the voivodeship were: Lida (pop. 15 000), Slonim (pop. 12 000), and Nieswiez (pop. 8 000).
Counties:
- Baranowicze county (area 3497 sq. km.),
- Lida county (area 6038 sq. km.),
- Nieswiez county (area 1984 sq. km.),
- Nowogrodek county (area 2787 sq. km.),
- Slonim county (area 3118 sq. km.),
- Stolpce county (area 1723 sq. km.),
- Szczuczyn county (area 2000 sq. km.),
- Wolozyn county (area 3545 sq. km.),
[edit] Railroads and industry
Nowogrodek Voivodeship was located in the so-called Poland “B”, which meant that it was underdeveloped, with non-existing industry and it should be more accurate to call it Poland “C”. Large part of population was poor, with high level of illiteracy and low level of agricultural production. Railroad network was scarce, with only two junctions - at Baranowicze and Lida. Nowogrodek itself was not located on any main rail connections, it was reacheable only by slow, narrow-gauge track.
[edit] 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, occupying Voivodeship’s area with ease.
After the Polish Defensive War of 1939 the area was occupied by the Soviet Union, and then (after 1941) by Germany. After the World War II the area was annexed by the Soviet union and divided between Lithuanian SSR and Byelorussian SSR.
Voivodes: Mikołaj Krzysztof Sapieha (1618-1638), Aleksander Słuszka (1638-1643), Tomasz Sapieha (I 1643-IV 1646)
