Constructing Belarusian, Lithuanian, Polish and Jewish Memories: Visions of the Past in the 20th Century

Session Submission Type: Panel

Brief Description

This panel explores the construction of Belarusian, Lithuanian, Polish, and Jewish memories in the 20th century, focusing on how historical narratives have been shaped and utilized for political and social purposes. Dorota Michaluk examines how politicians of the Belarusian People's Republic referenced the heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to integrate a diverse society, reject accusations of lacking state tradition, and counterbalance Russian historical narratives. Šarūnas Liekis analyzes the "memory wars" surrounding World War II in Lithuania, particularly concerning Jewish resistance, highlighting the challenges of achieving a mutually tolerant attitude among ideological groups with conflicting interpretations of the past. Tomasz Błaszczak's paper discusses Władysław Wielhorski's efforts to teach the history of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in exile, focusing on his textbooks designed to counteract Russian-Soviet narratives on Eastern European history. Finally, Andrei Kazakevich delves into the image of Belarus and its neighbors (Lithuania, Latvia, Poland) in Soviet-era textbooks, contrasting the all-union and republican (Belarusian) perspectives to reveal how historical self-awareness was shaped within different contexts. The panel collectively sheds light on the complex interplay of history, memory, and identity in the region, revealing how the past is selectively remembered and reinterpreted to serve present-day needs and political agendas.

Sub Unit

• History: 1945-1990

Chair

• Rustis Kamuntavicius, Vytautas Magnus U (Lithuania)

Papers

• Memory Creators: References to the Heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania by the Politicians of the Belarusian People's Republic - Dorota Michaluk, Nicholas Copernicus U (Poland)

• The Second World War as a Reference Point for the 'Memory Wars': Jewish Resistance in WWII and the Memory Wars in Lithuania - Sarunas Liekis, Vytautas Magnus U / Vilnius U (Lithuania)

• Teaching the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in Exile: Władysław Wielhorski and His History Textbooks - Tomasz Blaszczak, Vytautas Magnus U (Lithuania)

• Narrative Divide: The Image of Belarus and its Neighbors in All-Union and Republican (Belarusian) Textbooks of the Soviet Era (1940-1980) - Andrei Kazakevich, European Humanities U (Lithuania)

Discussant

• Rustis Kamuntavicius, Vytautas Magnus U (Lithuania)