Jan Stankievič
Encyclopedia
Dr. Jan Stankievič (Ian Stankevich, , ; February 26, 1891 – August 16, 1976) was a Belarusian-American linguist, historian and philosopher.
Jan Stankievič was born in the village Arlianiaty near Ashmyany. During World War I
Stankievič served in the army of the Russian Empire
. In 1917–1918 he began to actively participate in activities of Belarusian national organizations.
Jan Stankievič graduated from the Vilnia Belarusian Gymnasium in 1921, the Charles University in Prague
in 1926, became Doctor of Slavonic philology and history. In 1928-1932 he worked as a Belarusian language
professor in the University of Warsaw
and in 1927–1940 - in the University of Vilnius.
In 1928–1930 Dr. Stankievič was member of the Polish Sejm
. As a politician, Stankievic advocated closer ties of Belarus and Poland
, for what he has been often criticized by other West Belarus
ian politicians. He also actively proposed the name of Great Lithuania for Belarus considering Litvin
traditions of Belarusian statehood and was an advocate of the Belarusian Latin alphabet
.
In 1940 Stankievič went to Warsaw
and joined the pro-German Belarusian Committee. He also established contacts with Polish antifascist resistance and created a pro-Polish Belarusian undercover group called the Belarusian Nationalist Party.
In fall 1941 Stankievič has moved to the German-occupied Minsk
, where he worked at the science department of the Belarusian Central Rada
. He was member of the Belarusian Self-Help and was among founders of a Belarusian Scientific Society.
In 1944 Jan Stankievič emigrated to Germany with retreating German military.
In 1949 he moved to the United States
where he continued his work. Jan Stankievič was an active member of the Belarusian diaspora.
The younger brother of Jan Stankievič, Adam
, was a notable Belarusian Roman Catholic priest and Christian Democratic politician killed by Bolsheviks.
Jan Stankievič was born in the village Arlianiaty near Ashmyany. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Stankievič served in the army of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
. In 1917–1918 he began to actively participate in activities of Belarusian national organizations.
Jan Stankievič graduated from the Vilnia Belarusian Gymnasium in 1921, the Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
in 1926, became Doctor of Slavonic philology and history. In 1928-1932 he worked as a Belarusian language
Belarusian language
The Belarusian language , sometimes referred to as White Russian or White Ruthenian, is the language of the Belarusian people...
professor in the University of Warsaw
University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
and in 1927–1940 - in the University of Vilnius.
In 1928–1930 Dr. Stankievič was member of the Polish Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
. As a politician, Stankievic advocated closer ties of Belarus and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, for what he has been often criticized by other West Belarus
West Belarus
West Belarus is the name used in reference to the territory of modern Belarus which belonged to the Second Polish Republic between 1919 and 1939. The area of West Belarus was annexed into the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic following staged elections soon after the Nazi-Soviet Invasion of...
ian politicians. He also actively proposed the name of Great Lithuania for Belarus considering Litvin
Litvin
Litvin literally means Lithuanian person in several Slavic languages. The term may also refer to:* Litvins, in historical context, Slavic people who identified themselves with the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania...
traditions of Belarusian statehood and was an advocate of the Belarusian Latin alphabet
Belarusian Latin alphabet
The Belarusian Latin alphabet or Łacinka is the common name of the several historical alphabets to render the Belarusian text in Latin script.-Use:...
.
In 1940 Stankievič went to Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
and joined the pro-German Belarusian Committee. He also established contacts with Polish antifascist resistance and created a pro-Polish Belarusian undercover group called the Belarusian Nationalist Party.
In fall 1941 Stankievič has moved to the German-occupied Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, where he worked at the science department of the Belarusian Central Rada
Belarusian Central Rada
The Belarusian Central Rada was nominally the government of Belarus from 1943–44. It was a collaborationist government established by Nazi Germany within the occupation and colonial administration of Reichskommissariat Ostland.- Timeline :...
. He was member of the Belarusian Self-Help and was among founders of a Belarusian Scientific Society.
In 1944 Jan Stankievič emigrated to Germany with retreating German military.
In 1949 he moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he continued his work. Jan Stankievič was an active member of the Belarusian diaspora.
The younger brother of Jan Stankievič, Adam
Adam Stankievič
Adam Stankievič was a Belarusian Roman Catholic priest, politician and writer. Stankievič was one of ideologists of the Belarusian Christian democratic movement in the early 20th century....
, was a notable Belarusian Roman Catholic priest and Christian Democratic politician killed by Bolsheviks.
Works
- «Крыўя-Беларусь у мінуласьці»
- «Курс гісторыі Крывіі-Беларусі»
- «Этнаграфічныя й гістарычныя тэрыторыі й граніцы Беларусі»
- «Повесьці й апавяданьні беларускіх (крывіцкіх) летапісцаў»
- «Беларускія плямёны»