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Lavon Rydleŭski

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Liavon Rydleŭski
Лявон Рыдлеўскі
Born14 October 1903
Uljanavičy, Mogilev province of the Russian Empire (now Viciebsk Region of Belarus)
Died24 October 1953
London
Resting placeHampstead Cemetery, London

Lavon Rydleŭski (Belarusian: Лявон Рыдлеўскі; 14 October 1903 - 24 October 1953) was an active participant in the Belarusian independence movement and anti-Soviet resistance and a prominent member of the Belarusian diaspora.

Early life

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Rydleŭski was born in the village of Uljanavičy, Mogilev province of the Russian Empire (now Viciebsk Region of Belarus). In 1917-20 he studied in the Slucak gymnasium [be] and was a member of a cultural and educational group 'Fern Flower' (Belarusian: Папараць-кветка).

In 1923 he graduated from the Belarusian Gymnasium in Vilna and in 1929 a polytechnic institute in Poděbrady, Czechoslovakia.[1][2]

Participation in Belarusian independence movement

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Rydleŭski was one of the youngest combatants in the Slucak Uprising of 1920, an anti-Bolshevik pro-independence military campaign in central Belarus.[1][3] In 1921 he participated in anti-Soviet armed resistance in the Paleśsie region, southern Belarus.

In exile

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After his studies in Czechoslovakia, Rydleŭski moved to France where he founded and headed the Union of Belarusian Working Emigrants in France (Belarusian: Хаўрус беларускай працоўнай эміграцыі ў Францыі).[4]

During World War II, he obtained permission for Belarusians to serve in the French Foreign Legion and participated in the French Resistance.[4]

After the war he published a newspaper "Belarusian News" (Belarusian: Беларускія навіны)[1] and became a Vice-President of the Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic.[2] In 1948 he was elected the chair of the International Union of Belarusians in Exile (Belarusian: Сусьветнаe аб'яднаньнe беларускай эміграцыі).[1]

Death and memory

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The tombstone on Rydleŭski's grave in the Hampstead cemetery in London

Rydleŭski died on 24 October 1953[1] and is buried in the Hampstead cemetery in London.[5]

On 27 November 2010, an anniversary of the Słucak Uprising, the Association of Belarusians in Great Britain installed a new tombstone on his grave.[6] Rydleŭski's resting place has since been used by the Belarusian community as a meeting place for commemorative events.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Лявон Рыдлеўскі марыў пра Случчыну". zviazda.by (in Belarusian). 2019-06-28. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  2. ^ a b "Гардзіенка Наталля, Беларусы ў Вялікабрытаніі - Беларуская Інтэрнэт-Бібліятэка Kamunikat.org". Гардзіенка Наталля, Беларусы ў Вялікабрытаніі - Беларуская Інтэрнэт-Бібліятэка Kamunikat.org. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  3. ^ "Слуцкі збройны чын, дак. фільм". belsat.eu (in Belarusian). Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  4. ^ a b Каліноўскі, Валер (28 November 2019). "Француская гісторыя Лявона Рыдлеўскага, слуцкага паўстанца і партызана макí". Радыё Свабода (in Belarusian). Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  5. ^ "Сьвяткаваньне ў Лёндане 90-х угодкаў Слуцкага паўстаньня". belarusians.co.uk | Беларусы ў Вялікабрытаніі (in Belarusian). 2010-11-29. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  6. ^ Навумчык, Сяргей (27 November 2010). "У Лёндане аднавілі помнік на магіле Лявона Рыдлеўскага". Радыё Свабода (in Belarusian). Retrieved 2021-04-06.

Further reading

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