The history of the district stretches far back into the depths of centuries. As historical sources testify, the settlement of the Verkhnedvinsk region began in the Mesolithic era. These territories were initially inhabited by Baltic, and in the Osvyazhye region, by Ugro-Finnic tribes, assimilated in our millennium by Slavs – Krivichi. This is evidenced by the names of many settlements, rivers, lakes, and tracts.
In the Middle Ages, these lands were part of the Principality of Polotsk and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and became the arena of numerous wars that brought destruction.
Here lay the advanced frontier of the struggle of Russian warriors against the Crusaders and other foreign invaders.
During the Patriotic War of 1812, the headquarters of the first Russian army under Barclay de Tolly was located near the town of Drissa, in a camp occupying an area of about 14 sq. Km. These events are reflected in L.N. Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace".
It was on the Verkhnedvinsk land that Napoleon's troops first felt the might and glory of Russian arms. General Kulnev, a worthy student of Suvorov and a hero of the 1812 war, fought bravely here and laid down his life.
The further history of the Verkhnedvinsk region is inextricably linked with the history of all of Belarus, and since 1917 – with the history of the Soviet state. The Verkhnedvinsk land went through the uprisings of 1831 and 1863, the revolutions of 1905 and 1917, leaving glorious names and monuments in history.
The Great Patriotic War in the Verkhnedvinsk region is a special chapter in history; the German occupation of the district lasted a courageous and tragic 1110 days and nights, all of which were filled with continuous struggle against the enemy. In the distant war years, 15,000 residents of the district fought in the ranks of the people's avengers, and more than 3,500 of our countrymen participated in military operations at the front. Immortal feats were accomplished by natives of the district, Heroes of the Soviet Union – I.K. Zakharov, I.a. Makeenok, I.M. Kobzun, M.M. Myadel, E.V. Lavrinovich, S.a. Zabogonsky, a.M. Burak, N.V. Troyan. P.M. Masherov began his military path in the Osvyazh-Rossonskaya partisan zone.
In the northernmost part of the district, at the junction of the borders of three now independent republics, formerly part of the Soviet Union – Latvia, Belarus, and Russia – stands the Mound of Friendship. It symbolizes the close international unity of Russians, Belarusians, and Latvians, cemented
The documents of the Institution "Zonal Archive in Polotsk" contain a report from the Drissa District Executive Committee to the Iii Drissa District Congress of Soviets, which took place from February 28 to March 2, 1926. The congress addressed issues of administrative and organizational work of the district executive committee, the financial and economic situation of the district, the work of the police and investigative bodies, industry and public utilities, the state of forestry, trade and cooperation, public education and healthcare, and touched upon land management and the state of agriculture.
It should be noted that there was no large-scale industry in the district. The existing enterprises included 3 water mills and 1 steam mill. All water mills were leased to private individuals, and the Drissa steam mill was leased to the flour-milling cooperative "Krasny Melnik". The district had 785 small artisans, who only in the town of Drissa united into a Council of Artisans and established a credit and savings bank.
The population had no additional income, except for minor earnings from the procurement of firewood for institutions, and in the Bigosovo and Rositsa rural Soviets – from the construction of the railway.
In the 1925/1926 academic year, 24 schools were operating, with 1050 boys and 491 girls enrolled, and 30 teachers were employed. A Jewish primary school opened in the town of Drissa, and a 7-year school functioned, with a large percentage of children from villages, therefore a dormitory for 50 people was organized at the school. An evening school for adults with 70 students (52 men and 18 women) was in operation. In January 1926, a kindergarten was opened, and Polish-Belarusian schools were opened in the villages of Zhiguli and Sarya.
In rural areas, schools enrolled from 40 to 50% of all school-aged children, and in the city – up to 70%. It was not possible to significantly increase the number of schools due to financial difficulties, as well as a shortage of teachers.
Courses for the eradication of illiteracy among the adult population were conducted. In the 1924/1925 academic year, 212 people were enrolled: 143 men and 69 women. In the 1925/1926 academic year, 17 additional points were opened at schools, and 4 separate points were organized. The classes at the courses were successful.
Among the cultural and educational institutions in the district, there was one People's House in the town of Drissa, a library, and 3 reading rooms in the villages of Zhovnino, Sarya, and Karkalets.
Regarding healthcare, the district suffered from a shortage of doctors, lacked infectious disease and psychiatric departments, and had weak public health education due to a lack of specialists and their heavy workload. The town of Drisa had one hospital with 15 beds and an outpatient clinic. The hospital employed 2 doctors, 1 paramedic, 1 midwife-paramedic, 1 nurse, and 3 orderlies. In the town of Rositsa, the rural population was served by an outpatient clinic staffed by a doctor, a paramedic, and a midwife. Notably, a doctor was recruited on a part-time basis in December 1925 from a border detachment.
The most common infectious diseases during that period were scabies (888 cases), influenza (378), measles (138), pulmonary tuberculosis (110), scarlet fever (32), and typhus (27).
One of the most significant issues in the district was land management, as land redistribution after the revolution occurred spontaneously. Peasants themselves seized landowners' property and divided it, leading to complex land relations.
As of January 1, 1925, land use in the district included agricultural artels, strip farming, settlements, farmsteads, land allotments (otruba), state-owned land, including rivers and lakes, and special-purpose lands such as railways.
In March-April 1925, there were 1106 households requiring an additional 3880 desiatinas of land.
A plan for land management work was developed for 1926, covering an area of 6784 desiatinas. In the Bigosovsky rural council, land management was planned along the Latvian and Polish borders in 19 settlements covering 5099 desiatinas. In the Rositsky and Sardyksky rural councils, it was planned in 3 settlements covering 768 and 621 desiatinas, respectively. In the Zhovninsky rural council, it was planned in 2 settlements covering 296 desiatinas.
Due to the lack of industry in the district, the population was primarily engaged in agriculture. However, as a result of World War I, the Civil War, and the occupation of the district by Germans and then Poles, cultivated areas decreased by 52% compared to the pre-war period. By 1926, these areas had significantly increased. A total of 23,716 desiatinas were under cultivation. Compared to 1924, the winter crop area increased by 19%, barley and oat fields by 30%, and technical crops by 120%.
These are just a few facts from archival sources. Careful study of the documents can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the situation in the Drissensky district in the mid-1920s.
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