Records in Other Countries - Central & Eastern Europe: Countries, Provinces and Regions

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Definitions

Gubernia: Province of the Russian Empire. There were 60 gubernias in 1914, including 15 in the Pale of Settlement and 10 in the Kingdom of Poland. Each gubernia was divided into several uyezds (districts).

Pale of Settlement (Russian: Cherta osedlosti) The 15 gubernias on the western edge of the Russian Empire to which Jewish residence was restricted between 1794 and 1917.

Oblast: An administrative and territorial division is some republics of the Soviet Union

Bessarabia
Region bordered by the Black Sea, Dniester, Danube and Prut rivers. It was in the Ottoman Empire until 1812 and a Russian gubernia after 1873 in the Pale.

In Russian Empire 1812-56, 1878-1918
Part of Romania 1856-78, 1918-40
In USSR (Moldavian SSR) 1940-91
Today, mostly in Moldova (southernmost part in Ukraine)
Chief city: Kishinev (Rom. Chisinau)

Bohemia (Ger. Bóhem, Czech. Cechy)
It was a province of Austrian Empire until the First World War and a province of Czechoslovakia between 1918 and 1992. Today, Bohemia is in the westernmost Czech Republic and the chief city is Prague (Cz. Praha).

Bukovina (Ger. Buchenland)
Bukovina is a region in the foothills of the eastern Carpathian mountains. It was ruled by Ottoman Turks until 1769, when occupied by Russia. Taken by Austria in 1775, it formed part of Galicia until 1849, when it became a separate province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until the end of the First World War.

It was a province of Romania between 1917-1944. After the Second World War, the northern area became part of the USSR and the southern area a part of Romania. Today it is in north-eastern Romania and southwestern Ukraine and the chief city is Chernivtsi (Ger. Czernowitz, Rus. Chernovtsy, Rom. Cernauti).

Chernigov (Ukr. Chernihiv)
It was a Russian gubernia between 1796 and 1917 in the Pale of Settlement. Today it is in northern Ukraine.

Congress Poland (see Kingdom of Poland)

Courland (Ger. Kurland, Latv. Kurzeme)
A Russian gubernia between 1795 and 1917 and in the Pale until 1829. It was outside of the Pale between 1829 and 1917 and in Latvia between 1918 and 1940. Courland was part of the USSR until 1989 and today is in southern Latvia. The capital is Mitava (Ger. Mitau, Latv. Jelgava).

Crimea (Rus. Krym)
A peninsula and oblast in southeast Ukraine in the southern part of the Taurida gubernia. The capital is Simferopol.

Czechoslovakia
The nation formed in 1918 from parts of Austro-Hungary (Czech-speaking Bohemia and Moravia from Austria, and Slovak-speaking northern counties of Hungary). It split into Slovakia and Czech Republic in 1991.

Dobruja
A region on the Black Sea, south of the Danube. Today it is in SE Romania and NE Bulgaria.

Ekaterinoslav
A Russian gubernia between 1802 and 1917 in the Pale. Today it is in eastern Ukraine (Dnipropetrovsk).

Estland (Est. Eesti)
A Russian gubernia between 1795 and 1917, and outside of the Pale. It was in Estonia between 1918 and 1940 and in the USSR until 1989. Today it is in northern Estonia. The capital is Tallinn (Rus. Revel, Ger. Reval).

Galicia (Ger. Galizien)
Galicia was a province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1772 until 1917 and belonged to Poland between the two world wars in the Polish inter-war provinces of KrakóLwów, Tarnopol and Stanislawów;The latter three became part of the Ukrainian SSR in 1945. Today Galicia is in south-eastern Poland and western Ukraine.

Grodno (Belr. Hrodna)
Grodno was a Russian gubernia between 1802 and 1917 in the Pale. It was in Poland between the two world wars in parts of Polish inter-war provinces of Wilno, Nowogrów, Polesie and Bialystok. The eastern two-thirds became part of the Belorussian SSR in 1939; the Bialystok area remained in Poland. Today it is in western Belarus and some of north-eastern Poland.

Kalisz (Kalish)
It was a gubernia of Russian Poland between 1867 and 1917. Today it is in west-central Poland.

Kherson
It was a Russian gubernia between 1803 and 1917 in the Pale. Today it is in south-central Ukraine. The chief city is Odessa.

Kielce (Keltz)
It was a gubernia of Russian Poland between 1867 and 1917. Today it is in south-central Poland.

Kiev (Kyyiv)
It was a Russian gubernia in the Pale . Today it is in central Ukraine.

Kingdom of Poland (Pol. Królestwo Polskie)
Congress Poland 'Russian Poland' (Pol. Królestwo Kongresowe, Kongresówka). The kingdom of Poland was a part of Poland occupied by the Russian Empire between 1815 and 1918. The 10 gubernias (1867-1917) were:

Suwalki
Lomza
Plock
Warszawa
Siedlce
Lublin
Radom
Kielce
Piotrók
Kalisz
Today, they are all in east-central Poland (except northern Suwalki, which is in SW Lithuania).

Kovno
Kovno was a Russian gubernia between 1842 and 1917 in the Pale, and was formed from the Vilna gubernia in 1842. Kovno was part of independent Lithuania between 1920 and 1940 and belonged to Lithuanian SSR between 1944 and 1991. Today it is in northern Lithuania and the chief city is Kaunas.

Livonia (Livland)
Livonia was a Russian gubernia between 1795 and 1917 and was outside the Pale. Today, it is in northern Latvia, southern Estonia and the capital is Riga.

Lomza
Lomza was a gubernia of Russian Poland between 1867 and 1917. Today it is in north-eastern Poland.

Lublin
Lublin was a gubernia of Russian Poland between 1844 and 1917. Today it is in south-eastern Poland.

Mámaros (Maramures)
Mamaros was a province of Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1917. Today it is in northwest Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine.

Memel (Lith. Klaipeda)
Memel was the most north-eastern area of East Prussia on the Baltic coast, which became part of Lithuania in 1923.

Minsk
Minsk was a Russian gubernia between 1795 and 1917 in the Pale. Today it is in south-central Belarus.

Mogilev (Belr. Mahilyow)
Russian gubernia, 1802-1917, in Pale. Today, eastern Belarus.

Moldavia
A former principality under Turkish domination, which included Bessarabia and Bukovina, Moldavia and Wallachia merged to form Romania in 1859. It was a republic of USSR between 1924 and 1991. Today it is in north-eastern Romania and Moldova and the chief city is Kishinev (Rom. Chisinau).

Moravia (Ger. Mäen, Czech. Morava)
Moravia was a province of the Austrian Empire until the Second World War and was in central Czechoslovakia between 1918 and 1992. Today, it is in the eastern Czech Republic and the chief city is Brno (Ger. Bróhem)

Piotrków Petrokov)
It was a gubernia of Russian Poland between 1867 and 1917. Today it is in south-central Poland.

Plock (Plotsk)
It was a gubernia of Russian Poland between 1844 and 1917. Today it is in north-central Poland.

Podolia (Podolsk)
It was a Russian gubernia between 1796 and 1917 in the Pale. Today it is in southwestern Ukraine and the capital is Kamenetz-Podolsk (Ukr. Kamyanets-Podilskyy).

Polesie
Polesie was a large region of southern Belarus, including parts of Minsk, Grodno, Mogilev, Kiev and Volhynia gubernias. It was a province of Poland between the wars (centre: Pinsk).

Poltava
It was a Russian gubernia between 1802 and 1917 in the Pale. Today it is in eastern Ukraine.

Pomerania (Ger. Pommern, Pol. Pomorze)
It was a province of Prussia since 1815 on the Baltic Sea. It was formerly in Germany but since the Second World War it is mostly in northwest Poland. The principal city is Gdansk (Ger. Danzig).

Posen (Pol. Poznan)
Posen is a region now in western Poland. It was ruled by Prussia between 1793 and 1807, and from 1815 until the First World War. It was the Grand Duchy of Posen (1815-1850) and part of Prussia. It became the Polish province of Poznan after 1919.

Prussia (Ger. Preußen)
Prussia was a former kingdom (1701-1871) and the largest state in the German Empire (1871-1918). After the First World War parts of West Prussia ceded to Poland. After the Second World War the remainder of West Prussia ceded to Poland. East Prussia divided: the northern half went to the USSR (Kaliningrad oblast, now Russia) and the southern half to Poland.

Radom
Radom was a gubernia of Russian Poland, 1844-1917 and today is in south-central Poland.

Russian Poland (see Kingdom of Poland)

Ruthenia
A region south of the Carpathian mountains, Ruthenia was a part of Hungary before the Second World War and during 1939 to 1945. It was a province of Czechoslovakia between 1918 and 1938. It was in the USSR in 1945 but today is in the western Ukraine (Zakarpatska Oblast). Also, Ruthenia is another word for Ukraine.

Saxony (Ger. Sachsen)
Saxony is a former kingdom and is today a state in the east-central mountain region of Germany. Its principal cities are Leipzig and Dresden.

Siedlce (Shedlitz)
It was a gubernia of Russian Poland between 1867 and 1917 and today is in east-central Poland.

Silesia (Ger. Schlesien, Pol. Slask, Czech. Slezsko)
A region in the valley of the upper Oder bordering on the Sudeten mountains, Silesia was ruled by the Austrian Empire until 1742, when most of it was annexed by Prussia. After the Second World War it ceded to Poland. Today it is in south-western Poland and the northern Czech Republic (North Moravia). The principal city is Wroclaw (Ger. Breslau).

Suwalki (Suvalk)
Gubernia of Russian Poland, 1867-1917. After WWI northern half in Lithuania, southern in Poland. Today, north-eastern Poland, southwest Lithuania.

Taurida (Tavrida)
A Russian gubernia between 1802 and 1917 in the Pale. Today it is in Ukraine. The capital is Simferopol.

Transnistria
A region bounded by the Dniester and southern bug Rivers, Transnistria was part of Romania between 1941 and 1944. Today it is in south-western Ukraine.

Transylvania
A region bounded by Carpathians and Transylvanian Alps, Transylvania was under Austrian rule since 1765 and was a province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire between 1867 and 1918. It became part of Romania following the First World War. Today it is in western Romania and the chief city is Cluj (Ger. Klausenburg, Hung. Kolozsv.

Vilna
Vilna was a Russian gubernia between 1802 and 1917 in the Pale. It was the Polish province of Wilno between the wars (1919-39) and today is in Lithuania and north-west Belarus. The capital is Vilnius.

Vitebsk (Belr. Vitsyebsk, Pol. Witebsk)
Vitebsk was a Russian gubernia between 1802 and 1917 in the Pale of Settlement. Today it is in Latvia, north-eastern Belarus; some north-eastern parts are now in Russia.

Volhynia
Russian gubernia, until 1917, in Pale. Polish province of Wolyn between the wars. Today, northwestern Ukraine. Chief city: Zhitomer.

Wallachia (Valahia)
A region between Transylvanian Alps and the Danube, Wallachia was a former principality under Turkish domination. Wallachia and Moldavia merged to form Romania in 1859. Today it is in southern Romania and the chief city is Bucharest.

Warszawa (Warsaw)
Warszawa was a gubernia of Russian Poland between 1844 and 1917. Today it is in central Poland.

White Russia
Another name for Byelorussia or Belarus.

Zaglebie (Zaglebie Slasko-Dabrowskie, Zaglebie Górnoslaskie)
The industrial region of Zaglebie centred around Dabrowa Górnicza, southern Poland, northeast of Silesia. Major towns are:

Bedzin
Katowice
Sosnowiec
Zawiercie
It was a part of Congress Poland (southern Piotrków gubernia) before the First World War.

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Creators: Dr Saul Issroff

Gubernia: Province of the Russian Empire. There were 60 gubernias in 1914, including 15 in the Pale of Settlement and 10 in the Kingdom of Poland. Each gubernia was divided into several uyezds (districts).

Pale of Settlement (Russian: Cherta osedlosti) The 15 gubernias on the western edge of the Russian Empire to which Jewish residence was restricted between 1794 and 1917.

Oblast: An administrative and territorial division is some republics of the Soviet Union

Bessarabia

Region bordered by the Black Sea, Dniester, Danube and Prut rivers. It was in the Ottoman Empire until 1812 and a Russian gubernia after 1873 in the Pale.

In Russian Empire 1812-56, 1878-1918
Part of Romania 1856-78, 1918-40
In USSR (Moldavian SSR) 1940-91
Today, mostly in Moldova (southernmost part in Ukraine)
Chief city: Kishinev (Rom. Chisinau)

Bohemia (Ger. Bóhem, Czech. Cechy)

It was a province of Austrian Empire until the First World War and a province of Czechoslovakia between 1918 and 1992. Today, Bohemia is in the westernmost Czech Republic and the chief city is Prague (Cz. Praha).

Bukovina (Ger. Buchenland)

Bukovina is a region in the foothills of the eastern Carpathian mountains. It was ruled by Ottoman Turks until 1769, when occupied by Russia. Taken by Austria in 1775, it formed part of Galicia until 1849, when it became a separate province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until the end of the First World War.

It was a province of Romania between 1917-1944. After the Second World War, the northern area became part of the USSR and the southern area a part of Romania. Today it is in north-eastern Romania and southwestern Ukraine and the chief city is Chernivtsi (Ger. Czernowitz, Rus. Chernovtsy, Rom. Cernauti).

Chernigov (Ukr. Chernihiv)

It was a Russian gubernia between 1796 and 1917 in the Pale of Settlement. Today it is in northern Ukraine.

Congress Poland (see Kingdom of Poland)

Courland (Ger. Kurland, Latv. Kurzeme)

A Russian gubernia between 1795 and 1917 and in the Pale until 1829. It was outside of the Pale between 1829 and 1917 and in Latvia between 1918 and 1940. Courland was part of the USSR until 1989 and today is in southern Latvia. The capital is Mitava (Ger. Mitau, Latv. Jelgava).

Crimea (Rus. Krym)

A peninsula and oblast in southeast Ukraine in the southern part of the Taurida gubernia. The capital is Simferopol.

Czechoslovakia

The nation formed in 1918 from parts of Austro-Hungary (Czech-speaking Bohemia and Moravia from Austria, and Slovak-speaking northern counties of Hungary). It split into Slovakia and Czech Republic in 1991.

Dobruja

A region on the Black Sea, south of the Danube. Today it is in SE Romania and NE Bulgaria.

Ekaterinoslav

A Russian gubernia between 1802 and 1917 in the Pale. Today it is in eastern Ukraine (Dnipropetrovsk).

Estland (Est. Eesti)

A Russian gubernia between 1795 and 1917, and outside of the Pale. It was in Estonia between 1918 and 1940 and in the USSR until 1989. Today it is in northern Estonia. The capital is Tallinn (Rus. Revel, Ger. Reval).

Galicia (Ger. Galizien)

Galicia was a province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1772 until 1917 and belonged to Poland between the two world wars in the Polish inter-war provinces of KrakóLwów, Tarnopol and Stanislawów;The latter three became part of the Ukrainian SSR in 1945. Today Galicia is in south-eastern Poland and western Ukraine.

Grodno (Belr. Hrodna)

Grodno was a Russian gubernia between 1802 and 1917 in the Pale. It was in Poland between the two world wars in parts of Polish inter-war provinces of Wilno, Nowogrów, Polesie and Bialystok. The eastern two-thirds became part of the Belorussian SSR in 1939; the Bialystok area remained in Poland. Today it is in western Belarus and some of north-eastern Poland.

Kalisz (Kalish)

It was a gubernia of Russian Poland between 1867 and 1917. Today it is in west-central Poland.

Kherson

It was a Russian gubernia between 1803 and 1917 in the Pale. Today it is in south-central Ukraine. The chief city is Odessa.

Kielce (Keltz)

It was a gubernia of Russian Poland between 1867 and 1917. Today it is in south-central Poland.

Kiev (Kyyiv)

It was a Russian gubernia in the Pale . Today it is in central Ukraine.

Kingdom of Poland (Pol. Królestwo Polskie)

Congress Poland 'Russian Poland' (Pol. Królestwo Kongresowe, Kongresówka). The kingdom of Poland was a part of Poland occupied by the Russian Empire between 1815 and 1918. The 10 gubernias (1867-1917) were:

Suwalki
Lomza
Plock
Warszawa
Siedlce
Lublin
Radom
Kielce
Piotrók
Kalisz

Today, they are all in east-central Poland (except northern Suwalki, which is in SW Lithuania).

Kovno

Kovno was a Russian gubernia between 1842 and 1917 in the Pale, and was formed from the Vilna gubernia in 1842. Kovno was part of independent Lithuania between 1920 and 1940 and belonged to Lithuanian SSR between 1944 and 1991. Today it is in northern Lithuania and the chief city is Kaunas.

Livonia (Livland)

Livonia was a Russian gubernia between 1795 and 1917 and was outside the Pale. Today, it is in northern Latvia, southern Estonia and the capital is Riga.

Lomza

Lomza was a gubernia of Russian Poland between 1867 and 1917. Today it is in north-eastern Poland.

Lublin

Lublin was a gubernia of Russian Poland between 1844 and 1917. Today it is in south-eastern Poland.

Mámaros (Maramures)

Mamaros was a province of Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1917. Today it is in northwest Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine.

Memel (Lith. Klaipeda)

Memel was the most north-eastern area of East Prussia on the Baltic coast, which became part of Lithuania in 1923.

Minsk

Minsk was a Russian gubernia between 1795 and 1917 in the Pale. Today it is in south-central Belarus.

Mogilev (Belr. Mahilyow)

Russian gubernia, 1802-1917, in Pale. Today, eastern Belarus.

Moldavia

A former principality under Turkish domination, which included Bessarabia and Bukovina, Moldavia and Wallachia merged to form Romania in 1859. It was a republic of USSR between 1924 and 1991. Today it is in north-eastern Romania and Moldova and the chief city is Kishinev (Rom. Chisinau).

Moravia (Ger. Mäen, Czech. Morava)

Moravia was a province of the Austrian Empire until the Second World War and was in central Czechoslovakia between 1918 and 1992. Today, it is in the eastern Czech Republic and the chief city is Brno (Ger. Bróhem)

Piotrków Petrokov)

It was a gubernia of Russian Poland between 1867 and 1917. Today it is in south-central Poland.

Plock (Plotsk)

It was a gubernia of Russian Poland between 1844 and 1917. Today it is in north-central Poland.

Podolia (Podolsk)

It was a Russian gubernia between 1796 and 1917 in the Pale. Today it is in southwestern Ukraine and the capital is Kamenetz-Podolsk (Ukr. Kamyanets-Podilskyy).

Polesie

Polesie was a large region of southern Belarus, including parts of Minsk, Grodno, Mogilev, Kiev and Volhynia gubernias. It was a province of Poland between the wars (centre: Pinsk).

Poltava

It was a Russian gubernia between 1802 and 1917 in the Pale. Today it is in eastern Ukraine.

Pomerania (Ger. Pommern, Pol. Pomorze)

It was a province of Prussia since 1815 on the Baltic Sea. It was formerly in Germany but since the Second World War it is mostly in northwest Poland. The principal city is Gdansk (Ger. Danzig).

Posen (Pol. Poznan)

Posen is a region now in western Poland. It was ruled by Prussia between 1793 and 1807, and from 1815 until the First World War. It was the Grand Duchy of Posen (1815-1850) and part of Prussia. It became the Polish province of Poznan after 1919.

Prussia (Ger. Preußen)

Prussia was a former kingdom (1701-1871) and the largest state in the German Empire (1871-1918). After the First World War parts of West Prussia ceded to Poland. After the Second World War the remainder of West Prussia ceded to Poland. East Prussia divided: the northern half went to the USSR (Kaliningrad oblast, now Russia) and the southern half to Poland.

Radom

Radom was a gubernia of Russian Poland, 1844-1917 and today is in south-central Poland.

Russian Poland (see Kingdom of Poland)

Ruthenia

A region south of the Carpathian mountains, Ruthenia was a part of Hungary before the Second World War and during 1939 to 1945. It was a province of Czechoslovakia between 1918 and 1938. It was in the USSR in 1945 but today is in the western Ukraine (Zakarpatska Oblast). Also, Ruthenia is another word for Ukraine.

Saxony (Ger. Sachsen)

Saxony is a former kingdom and is today a state in the east-central mountain region of Germany. Its principal cities are Leipzig and Dresden.

Siedlce (Shedlitz)

It was a gubernia of Russian Poland between 1867 and 1917 and today is in east-central Poland.

Silesia (Ger. Schlesien, Pol. Slask, Czech. Slezsko)

A region in the valley of the upper Oder bordering on the Sudeten mountains, Silesia was ruled by the Austrian Empire until 1742, when most of it was annexed by Prussia. After the Second World War it ceded to Poland. Today it is in south-western Poland and the northern Czech Republic (North Moravia). The principal city is Wroclaw (Ger. Breslau).

Suwalki (Suvalk)

Gubernia of Russian Poland, 1867-1917. After WWI northern half in Lithuania, southern in Poland. Today, north-eastern Poland, southwest Lithuania.

Taurida (Tavrida)

A Russian gubernia between 1802 and 1917 in the Pale. Today it is in Ukraine. The capital is Simferopol.

Transnistria

A region bounded by the Dniester and southern bug Rivers, Transnistria was part of Romania between 1941 and 1944. Today it is in south-western Ukraine.

Transylvania

A region bounded by Carpathians and Transylvanian Alps, Transylvania was under Austrian rule since 1765 and was a province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire between 1867 and 1918. It became part of Romania following the First World War. Today it is in western Romania and the chief city is Cluj (Ger. Klausenburg, Hung. Kolozsv.

Vilna

Vilna was a Russian gubernia between 1802 and 1917 in the Pale. It was the Polish province of Wilno between the wars (1919-39) and today is in Lithuania and north-west Belarus. The capital is Vilnius.

Vitebsk (Belr. Vitsyebsk, Pol. Witebsk)

Vitebsk was a Russian gubernia between 1802 and 1917 in the Pale of Settlement. Today it is in Latvia, north-eastern Belarus; some north-eastern parts are now in Russia.

Volhynia

Russian gubernia, until 1917, in Pale. Polish province of Wolyn between the wars. Today, northwestern Ukraine. Chief city: Zhitomer.

Wallachia (Valahia)

A region between Transylvanian Alps and the Danube, Wallachia was a former principality under Turkish domination. Wallachia and Moldavia merged to form Romania in 1859. Today it is in southern Romania and the chief city is Bucharest.

Warszawa (Warsaw)

Warszawa was a gubernia of Russian Poland between 1844 and 1917. Today it is in central Poland.

White Russia

Another name for Byelorussia or Belarus.

Zaglebie (Zaglebie Slasko-Dabrowskie, Zaglebie Górnoslaskie)

The industrial region of Zaglebie centred around Dabrowa Górnicza, southern Poland, northeast of Silesia. Major towns are:

It was a part of Congress Poland (southern Piotrków gubernia) before the First World War.


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