The Interwar Years in Western Belarus

World War I took place between 1914 and 1918, while the Bielski children were growing up.  Much of Western Belarus came under German domination during the war years.   At the same time the Russian Revolution was taking place, which transformed the former Russian Empire into the Soviet Union.  The antisemitic feelings that had been present in the Russian Empire did not disappear during the Soviet era, despite that some of the leading revolutionaries had Jewish backgrounds. 

The Soviet Union embraced the ideals of Communism, which opposed capitalistic activities and stressed state ownership of all businesses and agricultural enterprises.  Those engaged in capitalism, such as shopkeepers, were viewed as enemies of the state.  Communism began to have a greater impact on the population of Belarus in the late 1930s. 

After World War I, Western Belarus was restored to Polish domination.  The Poles were typically a wealthy land-owning class, while Belarusians made up most of the working class.  Jews lived in the cities or large towns, including Novogrudok and Lida.

Thoughout the 1920s and 1930a, Jews enjoyed a vibrant cultural and religious life in Lida and Novogrudok.  In these cities, many Jewish families valued secular and religious education.  Adult educational opportunities abounded with extensive librariesin Yiddish, Hebrew, Polish and German.  Lida became an economic hub when two railroads were buidt that connected it to Warsaw and Vilna.  In many cases, Jews operated the factories, and were also shopkeepers, craftsmen and businessmen.

In Novogrudok, the majority of Jewish professionals lived around the marketplace, close to their businesses.  The city had several synagogues that were mainly located in Synagogue Square by the marketplace.  Each trade had its own synagogue.  Although Belarus was under Polish control, there was sufficient religious freedom to encourage a varietuy of Zionist activities. 

The Bielski brothers had greater exposure to educated and wealthy people as well as life in the city and some wealth in the years after World War I.  Tuvia, after serving two years in the Polish army, returned to Stankevich.  With the help of a matchmaker, he married Rifka, the daughter of a wealthy shopowner in Subotniki.  He served as manager of the shop and enjoyed the activities of a gentleman.  His brother, Asael, took over as manager of the family's mill.  Zus, an outgoing man who was very popular with women, met and married Cila Borowski from Novogrudok in 1939.