BELARUSIAN CENTRAL COUNCIL (RADA)

Belaˈrusian ˈCentral ˈCouncil (ˈRada) (BCC, BCR)

Subsidiary advisory body, central authority of the Belarusian administration in the invaded territory of Belarus during the Great Patriotic War.

Restructured from the so-called Belarusian Trust Council (Rada) under the General Commissariat of Belarus, it was formed by German Nazi invaders in December 1943 under the General Commissariat of Belarus in Minsk.

Having 13 branch departments, the BCC (BCR) included 14 people with R. K. Astrowski (president), M. V. Shkialionak (first vice-president), Ju. A. Sabaliewski (second vice-president), F. V. Kushaĺ (military affairs), S. S. Kandybovich (finance), A. T. Kalubovich (cultural affairs), P. Sviryd (legal and religious affairs), S. Kaliadka (forestry), S. Staśkievich (professional affairs), Ja. Skurat (schooling), P. Ja. Orsa (agriculture), N. A. Abramava and M. Ja. Gańko (youth policy) among them.

Formally, the Hitlerites turned the management of schooling, culture, social welfare, and Belarusian Home Defence (BHD, BKA) over to the BCC. However, at local levels, the relevant departments remained under the control of the German akruga (circuit) commissioners. In the akrugas, positions of deputy or departments of the BCC were organised (they were not formed in Barysaw, Gantsavichy, and Lida akrugas).

The invaders transferred to the control of the BCC the Belarusian People’s Self-Assistance, Belarusian Scientific Association, Union of Belarusian Youth, etc.

Members of the BCC helped the Nazis fight against the partisans and tried to form BHD military formations on the basis of the Belarusian population.

The BCC activity was actually ceased at the so-called Second All-Belarusian Congress of 1944 (June 27, 1944, Minsk).

Due to the liberation of Belarus at the end of June — July 1944 by the Red Army, the BCC moved to German territory where it continued its activities until the complete defeat of the Nazis in the spring of 1945. The BCC followers were operating in the USA and Great Britain until the mid‑1990s.