Belarusian Genealogy
Belarus Genealogy Introduction
Welcome to our extensive guide on Belarusian genealogy, designed to help you trace your Belarusian ancestry with ease. This page serves as a central hub for anyone interested in exploring their Belarusian roots, offering a comprehensive collection of Belarusian genealogy resources. Here, you’ll find valuable links to various tools and information, including detailed guides on accessing Belarusian military service records, engaging with Belarusian genealogy forums, and exploring databases on repressed individuals in Belarusian history.
In addition to these resources, we provide contact details for Belarusian archives, making it easier for you to obtain essential documents and records. Whether you’re seeking birth, marriage, death certificates, or more specialized records, our curated list will guide you to the right sources.
Our page also features links to relevant articles that delve into specific aspects of Belarus genealogy, offering insights and tips to enhance your research. From understanding the historical context of your ancestors’ lives to navigating the complexities of Belarusian naming conventions, these articles are invaluable resources for both beginners and seasoned genealogists.
We are committed to keeping this guide up-to-date with the latest information and newly discovered resources. New links and articles are added regularly, so we encourage you to check back often to stay informed about the latest developments in Belarusian genealogy.
Links
War records
| Name | Link | Description | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pamyat Naroda "Memory of the People" | pamyat-naroda.ru | The database contains information about Soviet soldiers in WW2, including awards, hospital and death records, mobilization records and more | WW2 |
| OBD Memorial | obd-memorial.ru | The database of Soviet soldiers who died or went missing during WW2 | WW2 |
| Podvig Naroda "The Feat of the People" | podvignaroda.ru/ | The database of documents about awards given to Soviet soldiers during and after WW2 | WW2 |
| Doroga Pamyati "The Road of the Memory" | 1418museum.ru/ | The database which contains information about Soviet soldiers in WW2 | WW2 |
| Bessmertniy Polk "Immortal Regiment" | moypolk.ru/ | A memory-based social movement with a website that contains profiles of Soviet soldiers, where you can add profile of a veteran or search for existing one. | WW2 |
| Memory of the Heroes of the WW1 | gwar.mil.ru/ | The section "Heroes of the War" allows searching for Russian soldiers who participated in WW1. Website also contains useful information about WW1, chronology of the battles and more. | WW1 |
| Cavalier | cavalier.rusarchives.ru/ | The database of Georgian Cavaliers (award) of the WW1 | WW1 |
| Numismat | numismat.ru | The database of Russian soldiers who received various awards in WW1 | WW1 |
| Russian Civil War (White Army) | swolkov.org/ | The database of people who participated in White Movement during Civil War in Russia | Civil War |
| Russian Civil War (Red Army) | https://t.ly/Z19Go | Losses of the Red Army in the Russian Civil War | Civil War |
| Russian Civil War (Red Army) | https://t.ly/VC2w2 | A list of participants in the Civil War who were awarded the Order of the Red Banner. Listed in four volumes of the collection | Civil War |
| Russian Civil War (Red Army) | https://t.ly/D5mZp | Monument to the fighters of the proletarian revolution who died in 1917–1921 | Civil War |
| OST-West | ost-west.memo.ru | Lists of individuals deported to work in Germany during WW2 | WW2 |
| Stalingrad | stalingrad.rusarchives.ru/ | The "Stalingrad" online project is a virtual exhibition featuring over 450 documents and multimedia that commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Soviet counteroffensive and the city's defense. | WW2 |
| STSG | ru.stsg.de | Databases with information about Soviet soldiers who died in captivity in Germany | WW2 |
| STSG | ru.stsg.de | Database of Soviet citizens/soldiers buried in Saxony | WW2 |
| RF Poisk | rf-poisk.ru/ | Books which list Soviet soldiers who died in WW2, with names identified through medallions, personal items, and archive research. | WW2 |
| Polk | www.polk.ru | The database includes information on missing persons, unawarded medals, and soldiers found by search teams, covering not only WWII but also conflicts in Afghanistan, the Caucasus, and other local conflicts | WW2, Afghanistan, Caucasus |
Repressed and executed
| Name | Link | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Openlist | ru.openlist.wiki | The most comprehensive database of victims of political repression in the USSR (1917–1991) |
| Memorial lists | lists.memo.ru | Victims of Political Terror in the USSR |
| Memorial base | base.memo.ru | Victims of Political Terror in the USSR |
| Bessmertny Barak "Immortal Barrack" | bessmertnybarak.ru | Victims of Political Terror in the USSR |
| Stalin lists | stalin.memo.ru | Stalin's Execution Lists |
| Returned Names | visz.nlr.ru | Victims of Political Terror in the USSR |
| Posledny Adres "Last address" | poslednyadres.ru | Search by Address of the Repressed |
| Chumakou | chumakou.com/projects/belarus1937/ | Belarus: Victims of Stalinist Repressions |
| Kobylaki | kobylaki.by/spisok/ | Database contains repressed residents of Orsha, Orsha District, and other areas of the BSSR |
Forums
| Name | Link | Description |
|---|---|---|
| VGD | vgd.ru | The largest Russian genealogy forum, covering information about all countries that were once part of the Russian Empire or the Soviet Union. |
| J-roots | j-roots.info | Jewish Russian genealogy forum, which covers information about all countries that were once part of the Russian Empire or Soviet Union. |
| Genoua | genoua.name/ | Ukrainian genealogy forum which has a section on Belarus genealogy. |
Records Online
| Name | Link | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Myheritage | myheritage.com | Family tree builder with various records. |
| Familysearch | familysearch.org | Millions of global records including naturalization, immigration, birth, death, and marriage records. |
| Ancestry | ancestry.com | Millions of global records including naturalization, immigration, birth, death, and marriage records. |
| Geni | geni.com | Family tree builder with connections to other trees. |
| Geneteka | geneteka.genealodzy.pl/index.php | Database of records from Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and some from Russia. |
| Genealogy Indexer | genealogyindexer.org | Indexed and scanned records from Eastern Europe. |
| Helper BY | helper.archonline.by | Index of villages and cities. |
| HRYC | hryc.by | Search in archives, books, and newspapers. |
| Radzima | radzima.net/ru | Places finder with identification of churches. |
| Imago BY | imago.by | Digital copies of important documents that tell the story of mysterious Belarus. |
| Archives BY | archives.gov.by/home/bez-sroka-davnosti | Books about war crimes of Germans during WWII. |
| Nobility BY | nobility.by/index2.shtml | Belarus nobility website. |
Cemeteries
| Name | Link | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Find a Grave | findagrave.com | Burial records |
| Billion Graves | billiongraves.com | Burial records |
Jewish Records
| Resource Name | Website | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Shtetlinks | shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Belarus.html | List of Shtetls across Belarus and Russia. |
| J-roots | forum.j-roots.info | Jewish Russian genealogy forum covering information about all countries that were once part of the Russian Empire or Soviet Union. |
| JewishGen | jewishgen.org | The largest Jewish records database, including information from Belarus. |
| Pruzh | pruzh.org | Jewish Pruzhany Research Project. |