The proclamation of Belarusian independence on March 25, 1918, and the rival establishment of the Soviet Belarusian state on January 1, 1919, created two distinct and mutually exclusive national myths, which continue to define contemporary Belarusian society. This book examines the processes that resulted in this dual resolution in the context of World War I and the subsequent Russian Revolutions.

Based on original archival material, Lizaveta Kasmach scrutinizes the development of competing concepts of Belarusian nationhood in the context of rivaling national aspirations and imperial policies. The analysis convincingly demonstrates the divisions within the nationalist movement, both politically between the moderates and socialists, and geographically between German-occupied territory with Vilna as a center versus Russian-controlled territory around Minsk. Besides the case study of Belarusian nation-building efforts, the book is a contribution to the study of the First World War in East Central Europe, approaching the war and its aftermath as a mobilizational moment in the region.

About the Author
Lizaveta Kasmach holds a PhD in History from the University of Alberta in Canada. Her areas of specialisation include Belarusian history of the 20th century, Soviet and post-Soviet history, and nationalism. She holds an MA degree in History and Politics from the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Germany and a BA degree in Translation Studies from the Minsk State Linguistic University.

Reviews
"A comprehensive examination of the origins of Belarusian nation- and state-building during the First World War, contrasting how Belarusians living in the German-occupied part of the Russian empire (Ober Ost) conceived of their national identity with how those who lived in the empire itself did." https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00396338.2024.2309083 -- Angela Stent * Survival *
"Lizaveta Kasmach erforscht die Entwicklung belarusischer nationaler Prozesse in der Zeit des Ersten Weltkriegs." -- Natalija Zenger * Religion & Society in East and West *



Book Information
ISBN 9789633866337
Author Lizaveta Kasmach
Format Hardback
Page Count 288
Imprint Central European University Press
Publisher Central European University Press
Weight(grams) 558g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 17mm