Alexander Huzhalouski. Glavlit of the Soviet Belarus and political control in 1943-1991

For the first time on the basis of wide circle of archival sources, memoirs and contemporary research works, the rebuilding and functioning of censoring system in the postwar Soviet Belarus is presented in the article. The author gives an opportunity to a reader to examine one of the sacred placed of the Soviet ideology — the Main Administration of Literary and Publishing Affairs abbreviated as ^lavlit. The latter term was in semiofficial use until the dissolution of the Soviet Union. All the intellectual production — books and periodicals, theatrical plays and musical pieces, archival and museum storages were subjected to total censorship in Soviet Belarus. Interpretation of the past in the form of scientific research or school textbooks was considered as one of the most important tool for educating the masses. Thus it drew special attention of the censors. After mass political purges of the 1930-s one of the most gloomy period in the history of the Belarusian history writing began. Some historians were imprisoned and killed, other went into creative decline or gave their support to Socialism. Only a few historians took up unequal quiet battle with censorship. Clio fell into the clutches of «real socialism».