Orsha, Belarus: A Historic City On The Dnieper River

Orsha is a city in the Vitebsk Region of eastern Belarus. It is situated on the fork of the Dnieper and Arshytsa rivers and has a population of around 100,000 people. Orsha has a long history, dating back to at least 1067, and has been an important trade centre and transportation hub for centuries. The city is known for its railway junction, connecting Moscow to Warsaw and St. Petersburg to Odessa, as well as its linen, clothing, machine-building, and food-processing industries.

Orsha's history as a trade route focus

Orsha, Belarus, is a city in the Vitebsk Region in the east of the country. It is situated on the fork of the Dnieper River and the Arshytsa River. With a population of over 100,000, Orsha is one of the oldest towns in Belarus, first mentioned in 1067 as Rsha. The town was named after the river, which was originally also called Rsha, derived from the Baltic root '*rus'*, meaning 'slowly flowing'.

Due to its strategic location, Orsha has always been a major focus of trade routes. It became an important transportation centre after the construction of a Dnieper River port. The arrival of railway lines in the second half of the 19th century further contributed to the city's growth and status as a trade route focus. The following railway lines were built during this period:

• 1871: Moscow–Minsk–Brest
• 1902: Zhlobin–Mogilev–Vitebsk

Today, Orsha remains a significant railway node, with lines connecting it to other Belarusian cities and routes linking Moscow and St. Petersburg to Western Europe.

In addition to its role as a trade route focus, Orsha has a rich history. It became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1320, and the Orsha castle was built between 1398 and 1407. The city was the site of the famous Battle of Orsha in 1514 between the allied forces of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland against the Muscovite army. Orsha was also a notable religious centre from the 16th to 18th centuries, with a diverse population of Orthodox, Protestant, and Catholic faiths.

The Battle of Orsha

Orsha is a city in the Vitebsk Region of eastern Belarus. It is situated on the fork of the Dnieper and Arshytsa Rivers and is an important railway junction. The town was first mentioned in 1067 as Rsha, making it one of the oldest towns in Belarus.

On 8 September 1514, the famous Battle of Orsha took place between the allied forces of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland, and the army of the Grand Duchy of Moscow. The battle was part of a long series of Muscovite-Lithuanian Wars, with Muscovite rulers striving to gather all the former Kievan Rus' lands under their rule. The Lithuanian-Polish army, under the command of Lithuanian Grand Hetman Konstanty Ostrogski, was outnumbered by the Muscovite army, which was led by Konyushy Ivan Chelyadnin and Kniaz Mikhail Bulgakov-Golitsa. According to some sources, the Muscovite army consisted of 80,000 soldiers, while the Lithuanian-Polish forces had under 30,000 men. However, the Lithuanian-Polish army was mostly made up of well-trained cavalry.

On the night of 7 September, the Lithuanian-Polish army prepared for battle. Hetman Konstantyn Ostrogski placed most of his 16,0000 horses from the Grand Duchy in the centre, while most of the Polish infantry and auxiliary troops manned the flanks. The Bohemian and Silesian infantry were deployed in the centre of the line, in front of the reserves.

On the morning of 8 September, Ivan Chelyadnin gave the order to attack. The Muscovite forces attempted to outflank the Lithuanians and Poles by attacking their flanks, but the initial attack failed. The Muscovites then withdrew, but Chelyadnin remained confident that his superior numbers would give him the victory. However, this confidence may have led to a lack of coordination between the different sectors of the Muscovite army. The Lithuanian and Polish light horse and Tartars attacked the centre of the Muscovite lines, attempting to split them. At a crucial moment, the Polish cavalry retreated, and the Muscovites pursued with all their cavalry reserves. Suddenly, the Lithuanian and Polish cavalry turned to the sides, and the Muscovite cavalry found themselves confronted by artillery concealed in the forest. Lithuanian forces appeared from both sides and surrounded the Muscovites. Ivan Chelyadnin sounded a retreat, and the Muscovite forces were pursued by the army of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania for five kilometres.

The Muscovite defeat is often attributed to the failure of Ivan Chelyadnin and Mikhail Golitsa to coordinate their operations effectively. According to various accounts, between 30,000 and 40,000 Muscovites were killed, and 3,000 were taken captive, including several commanders. The Lithuanian-Polish forces seized the Muscovite camp and all 300 cannons. The victory at Orsha is commemorated in Lithuania and Ukraine, and it is regarded by some Belarusians as a symbol of national revival.

Orsha's Jewish history

Orsha, Belarus, is a city in the Vitebsk Region of eastern Belarus. It is one of the oldest towns in the country, first mentioned in 1067 as Rsha. The town was named after the river on which it is situated, which was originally also named Rsha, probably derived from a Baltic root meaning 'slowly flowing'.

Orsha has a long Jewish history. The town is mentioned in Russian chronicles from the 11th century, and in 1579, Isaac Yakubovich, a Jew from Brest, farmed the customs duties of Orsha, Moghilef, and other places. In 1643, Isaiah Nahumowicz of Orsha was mentioned among the tax lessees of Lithuania. In the same year, Nikolai Kishka, assistant treasurer of the grand duchy of Lithuania, entrusted the collection of taxes to Shaye Nakhimovich of Orsha, among others.

In 1649, a charter of privileges was granted by King Jan II Casimir to the Jews, and Orsha was numbered among the large communities in the country. In 1765, 368 Jews in Orsha paid poll tax. By 1847, the Jewish population had grown to 1,662, and by 1897, there were 7,383 Jews in Orsha, comprising 56% of the total population. Most of the town's artisans were Jewish, and there were four Jewish schools, a talmud torah, and many ḥadarim.

In October 1905, over 30 Jews in Orsha were killed in a pogrom. In 1910, the Jewish population of Orsha was 9,842, but the community began to decline under the Soviet regime. By 1926, there were 6,780 Jews in Orsha (30% of the total population), and in 1939, the Jewish population was 7,992 (21.3%). During the Soviet interwar period, two Jewish elementary schools existed, but they were closed by the authorities in the mid-1930s.

When Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, many Jews from Orsha and the western Soviet Union managed to escape by train to other parts of the Soviet Union. However, those who remained in Orsha suffered a terrible fate. The Germans occupied the town on July 16, 1941, and established two ghettos with about 2,000 people in each. On November 26, 1941, all the Jews of Orsha, including those from the surrounding areas, were murdered in the Jewish cemetery. By the spring of 1942, all the Jews of Orsha had been killed.

Orsha's role in World War II

Orsha is a city in the Vitebsk Region of Belarus. It is situated on the fork of the Dnieper River and Arshytsa River. The city was first mentioned in 1067 as Rsha, making it one of the oldest towns in Belarus.

During World War II, Orsha played a significant role in the conflict between Soviet and German forces. The city was occupied by German forces on 16 July 1941, and several concentration camps were established, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 19,000 people. Many Jews managed to escape to the east, but for those who remained, the situation was dire. A Judenrat was appointed by the Germans to collect tribute, and in September 1941, two ghettos were formed, each holding around 2,000 people. On 26 November 1941, approximately 5,000 Jews from Orsha and the surrounding areas were murdered in the Jewish cemetery.

In the autumn of 1943, the Orsha offensives took place, consisting of a series of battles fought between the Red Army and the Wehrmacht. Orsha's significance as a major road junction made it a crucial strategic objective for both sides. The German 4th Army, as part of Army Group Centre, took defensive positions near the city. Despite their defensive success, the Germans eventually retreated to the Panther-Wotan line, pursued by Soviet forces. The Red Army launched a heavy attack on both sides of the Minsk-Moscow highway, targeting Orsha's road junction. However, German infantry repelled the Soviet attack, inflicting heavy casualties.

The battles in and around Orsha during World War II resulted in significant loss of life and contributed to the overall strategic dynamics of the Eastern Front. The city's liberation from German occupation and the eventual defeat of the Wehrmacht in the region were important milestones in the war's progression.

Orsha's tourist attractions

Orsha, Belarus is a city in the Vitebsk Region, to the east of the country, that sits at the fork of the Dnieper and Arshytsa rivers. It is easily accessible by train, with frequent services from Minsk, Mogilev, and Vitebsk. The best months to visit Orsha are May through September, with the peak tourist season falling in May.

• Castle Hill: Located in the centre of the city, near the confluence of the Orshitsa and Dnieper rivers, Castle Hill is the site of a former stone five-tower castle. While most of the castle has been lost to time, the site features a memorial commemorating the founding of Orsha in 1067, as well as a slab that mentions the castle.
• Memorial Complex Katyusha: Located on the bank of the Dnieper River, this memorial commemorates a legendary event from World War II, when a battery of multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) Katyusha fired its first combat barrage near the village of Pishchalovo, close to Orsha, on July 14, 1941. The memorial features a model of the MLRS Katyusha, assembled from original parts, and eight-metre concrete mortars.
• Ethnographic Museum Mlyn: Housed in a former watermill built in 1902, this museum showcases the daily life and history of previous generations of Orsha residents. The watermill itself is an architectural monument of the early 20th century.
• Children's Park Skazochnaya Strana: A popular attraction for families with children, featuring rides and cute figures of fairy tale characters.
• Jesuit College: Dating back to the early 19th century, the college has a rich history, having hosted Napoleon, Stendhal, and a hospital in 1812, before becoming a prison. Today, it houses the Vladimir Korotkevich Library, an art gallery, and the House of Crafts.
• Vladimir Korotkevich Museum: Dedicated to one of Belarus's most beloved writers, this museum displays personal belongings, documents, photos, and recreates part of Vladimir Korotkevich's study. Visitors can also hear recordings of his voice and watch films based on his screenplays.
• Museum of Konstantin Zaslonov: Showcasing the life of Belarusian partisans during World War II, this museum features exhibits such as weapons, equipment for underground printing presses, samples of combat leaflets, and everyday items. Visitors can also read letters from partisan fighters and learn about the impact of the war on Belarusians.
• Monasteries: As the "city of monasteries," Orsha boasts several Orthodox and Catholic monasteries, including the 17th-century Kutein Monastery, the Holy Dormition Convent, the Trinitarian Monastery, and the Franciscan Monastery. These monasteries feature beautiful architecture, historic artefacts, and religious art.

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