Smorgon

Name Origin

An unambiguous version of the origin of the name does not exist. The Belarusian toponymist V. Zhuchkevich and the Russian geographer Pospelov E. M. believed that the name of the city comes from the nickname Smorga , which can go back to the Baltic smurgo - a slut, a hack worker , also an apprentice ^{[4] [5]} .

Among local historians , other versions are more popular ^[6] . According to one of them, the name of the city came from a combination of two words - a morgue (a unit of area equal to approximately 0.71 ha ) and goni (arable land). The first owners of the village Zenovichi allegedly endowed the peasants with land of no more than one morgue. Therefore, these areas began to be called “drive with the morgue,” that is, drive the size of a morgue. There is also a version according to which one of the Radziwills gifted plots of land the size of a morgue of beaters who distinguished themselves in a princely hunt. However, Smorgon passed into the possession of the Radziwills only in 1628 , and the name has been known since the beginning of the 16th century.

According to another popular version, the first inhabitants of the settlement drove turpentine from stumps uprooted during the development of plots - the so-called smar or smur. Hence the name of the profession of local residents - “smarogony” or “smurghon”.

There is a version according to which the name of the city comes from the name of a small river. In this case, the hydronym Smorgon is considered as consisting of two root bases: Smor- and- fire . The second part is explained when comparing with the Iranian words kan , khan , hon - “source”, “stream”. The first part of the name is associated with the ethnonym Chimera (Cimmerians) ^[7] .

As part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Commonwealth

The possession of the Zenovics (XV century - 1628)

The first written mention of Smorgon is connected with the name of Yuri Ivanovich Zenovich (about 1450 - after 1516 ). The collection of documents on the history of the Vilnius diocese contains the following text in Polish and Latin :

The grandson of Yuri Ivanovich, Yuri Nikolaevich Zenovich (circa 1510 - 1583 ), made Smorgon his main residence. During the years of the reformation, he converted to Calvinism , built a wooden Calvin Cathedral in Smorgon. According to his will, he was buried in a crypt at the cathedral. Under his son Krishtof Zenovich (about 1540 - 1614 ) in Smorgon in 1590 a paper mill was built on which paper was produced with a watermark in the form of the coat of arms of the Zenovich - “ Despot ”. In 1609, he received in Smorgon the King of Poland and the Grand Duke of Lithuania Sigismund III , who went with his army on a campaign to Moscow . In 1611 he completed the construction of a stone Calvin collection . But he opened a school at the Smorgon church and assembled a large library, which he bequeathed to "... always keep in one place, in Smorgon ... at the church . " The son of Christopher, Nikolai Boguslav Zenovich (? - 1621 ), converted to Catholicism . He died near Khotyn during the war between the Commonwealth and Turkey. His possessions went to the daughters Anna Sofya and Sofya, who transferred the Smorgon temple to the Catholics. When Zenovichi Smorgon was a small town , which adjoined the master's residence - Smorgon court. In 1622, in the town there were 109 yards , 4 shreds , paper, flour milling and sawmill water mills worked .

Possession of the Radziwills (1628-1805)

In 1628, Anna Sofya Zenovich married Albrecht Vladislav Radziwill ( 1589 - 1636 ) and Smorgon passed into the possession of this family for almost 170 years. Radziwills , unlike the previous owners, did not have their residence here and often rented this property out of their possession.

During the reign of the Radziwills, Smorgon suffered several enemy invasions. The war of 1654-1667 was especially destructive, when the population of the town was halved compared to 1622. In June 1655, the headquarters of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was located in Smorgon during his campaign against Vilna . During the Northern War , from February 11 to March 17, 1708, Charles XII placed his main apartment here and received the Polish king Stanislav Leshchinsky and the ambassadors of the Ukrainian hetman Mazepa in it .

After the death of Karol Stanislav Radziwill in 1790, the owner of Smorgon became his four-year-old nephew Dominic Geranim Radziwill . In 1805, the Board of Trustees over his property sold Smorgon for 65 thousand zlotys to Bohdan Oginsky .

Towards the end of the reign of the Radziwills, Smorgon continued to be a small town built up with wooden houses, with two churches , a church and a synagogue . In 1788, there were 224 yards, 30 shops, 22 barn , 4 taverns in it . Worked 3 water mills, a brick factory, 2 distilleries . With one of the taverns, the first tannery appeared. Bids were held twice a week in Smorgon, and large fairs were held three times a year.

As part of the Russian Empire

War of 1812

In the summer of 1812, the 2nd Cavalry Corps under the command of General F.K. Korf , who was part of the First Army, lodged in Smorgon. As the French approached the town, he moved to the Drissa camp . The 3rd cavalry corps of P.P. Palen and the 6th infantry corps of D.I. Dokhturov also acted in the Smorgon district. Here they crossed over Vilya, destroying bridges both in the city itself and in its environs.

When the French army retreated to Smorgon on December 5, Napoleon arrived at noon. Summoning Armand de Kolencur , he dictated his last order in the army, which outlined the plan for the emperor's departure. Then Napoleon held a meeting with his generals, at which he announced his decision to leave the army and go to Paris. The command of the army was transferred to Marshal Murat . Around 10 pm, Napoleon left Smorgon in a carriage ^[8] . A day after the departure of Napoleon, on December 7, the vanguard of the Chichagov army approached the city under the command of Major General Chaplits . The French, seeing the Cossacks , fled. About 3,000 people were captured and 25 guns were captured. From December 9 to 11, Kutuzov’s headquarters was placed in Smorgon, waiting for news of the capture of Vilna .

Pshedetsky possessions (first half of the 19th century)

Shortly before the war, the place passed into the possession of Count Karol Pshedetsky ( 1782 - 1832 ). In 1812 he was elected Marshal of the Zavileysky Povet. In the war of 1812 he supported Napoleon, commanded the 18th Nesvizh Regiment of Lancers . In 1816 he retired and lived in Smorgon, engaged in farming. He kept a herd of pedigree cattle , bred pedigree horses , built a riding arena for their dressage, and set up production of carriages called the “Berliners”. During the uprising of 1830-1831, the count was elected military commander of the Oshmyany district. In Smorgon, he formed a horse and foot rebel detachments, which operated in the areas of Oshmyan, Vileyka and Sventyan . After the defeat of the uprising, Pshedetsky was interned in Prussia . For participation in the uprising, all the property of Count Pshedetsky was seized - Smorgon began to be leased. For some time it was rented by the brother of the previous owner - Konstantin Pshedetsky.

In the mid-1830s, the town already had eleven streets, 335 courtyards, 46 shops and 43 barn. 3 distilleries, 2 brick factories, a brewery, several tanneries worked. There were flour milling, sawmill enterprises. In Smorgon there was a church, a church, a synagogue. Children were taught in three schools. In 1843, the Smorgon village school for 58 students was opened. In 1842, Smorgon became state property.

Smorgon during the First World War and the Civil War

From September 1915 to February 1918, a line of the Russian-German front passed through Smorgon. As a result of positional battles, the 16,000th city turned into ruins. After an 810-day defense, it almost ceased to exist. Newspapers of that time called it the "dead city."

The first gas-balloon attack of the Russian army was carried out in the Smorgon area on September 5-6, 1916. In memory of the battles near Smorgon, composer Herman Blume wrote The Smorgon March. Formed in Russia in 1917, the Women's Death Battalions took part in hostilities only once - in July 1917, near the village of Krevo , near Smorgon, the "First Women's Military Death Command of Maria Bochkareva " steadily repulsed the attacks of the Germans who went on the counterattack.

In the battles near Smorgon took part: the future Marshal of the Soviet Union and the Minister of Defense of the USSR, machine gunner of the 256th Elisavetgrad regiment Rodion Malinovsky , volunteer Valentin Kataev, future Marshal of the Soviet Union Boris Shaposhnikov , commander of the 14th company of the 6th Finland Rifle Regiment lieutenant Vladimir (famous Soviet military theorist), warrant officer Heinrich Eikhe (commanding the troops of the Minsk region in 1921-1922), head of the headquarters of the 64th Infantry Division in 1915, Colonel Mikhail Drozdovsky and captain Ale Xander Kutepov (in the future, well-known generals of the white movement), Alexandra Tolstaya (daughter of Leo Tolstoy), staff captain of the 16th Mingrel Grenadier Regiment Mikhail Zoshchenko (world famous satirist). Tens of thousands of soldiers and officers gave their lives in defense of their homeland, hundreds of unknown and 847 Smorgon heroes became known in those battles as St. George cavaliers.

The events of that time can be found in a number of books on military and historical subjects. For example: Vladimir Liguta “Confrontation with Smorgon”, Cherkashin N. “Grenadier of a sad image” (about Mikhail Zoshchenko), episodes in the books of Valentin Kataev, Konstantin Paustovsky, etc. Several documentary films of domestic and foreign directors were shot about that terrible time. .

The French Slavic professor Jules Legra (1866-1939), who arrived in the Russian Empire in February 1916 on the instructions of the military propaganda service department at the second department of the general staff of the French Ministry of Defense, left a description of Smorgon at the time in his memoirs: “The small town of Smorgon is destroyed: churches in ruins; wooden houses on fire, down to the ground. The first line of Russian trenches almost coincides with the northeastern border of the city; they are equipped with strong dugouts covered with large timber, alternating with sandbags. The trenches are clean and they maintain an exemplary order. With the exception of sentries, everyone is sleeping at this early hour. The enemy is awake, there is no doubt, for he pursues us with his bullets ” ^[9] .

From March to November 1918, the Smorgon region was occupied by the Germans. After the departure of the Kaiser forces, the legions of Pilsudski entered Smorgon.

In the summer of 1920, units of the Jan Fabritsius brigade entered Smorgon, who later received the second Order of the Red Banner “for distinction in breaking through the defense of the White Poles near Smorgon on July 14, 1920.” Subsequently, one of the city streets and secondary school No. 2 were named after him. year, the western lands of Belarus and Ukraine under the Riga Treaty were transferred to Poland .

After World War I , the Great October Socialist Revolution, and the Civil War, Smorgon eked out a miserable existence. According to the 1921 census, 154 people lived in the city.

World War II

In accordance with the Molotov-Ribbentrop Secret Pact , the territory of the Republic of Poland was subject to partition between Germany and the USSR . Most of Vilnius, together with the city of Vilna , was supposed to move to Lithuania .

September 1, 1939 the Second World War began . On September 17, 1939, units of the Red Army crossed the Soviet-Polish border. Smorgon was occupied by servicemen of the 27th Omsk twice Red Banner Rifle Division . The war correspondent Nikolai Vasilievich Krasnopolsky (1898-1964) shared his impressions in a book in Belarusian “Aveynaya Glory”: “This campaign was a real triumphal march of the regiments of the division. He walked through Lepel, Dokshitsy, Kobylnik, Smorgon ... The population of villages and villages went out to meet fighters with autumn flowers, the women were treated to milk, apples, and they brought bread and salt on embroidered towels. Spontaneous rallies flashed in cities. ”

Post-war period

The German invaders brought heavy losses to the city and the district - the city was destroyed more than half. Quick efforts were required to restore the native land. September 9, 1944 Smorgonshchina became part of the Molodechno region . Life was gradually updated. The timber mill, district industrial complex, and bakery were restored and commissioned. Smorgon hospital was restored on the site of the modern building "Health Pharmacy". The Smorgon Children's Library (Shkolny Lane) was organized in 1950 in the house of the wholesale trader Leibman. In 1953, a cinema began operating in the city park. The predecessor of the modern Smorgon Dairy Products factory can be considered the creamery, which was located in the building of the old synagogue (existed from the 1940s until 1972 next to the Belarusbank building). Great importance was given to the cultural services of the population. Already in 1944, the district House of Culture began to operate (today - the Youth Center from the Church of St. Michael the Archangel). In 1947, the district hospital began to operate.

However, the recovery of collective farms and collectivization between similar farms went smoothly. Most residents did not want to unite in collective farms. Therefore, in 1944, the collective farm “Chirvony Partyzan” ^[10] named after V. I. Lenin was organized. Today it is the Shutovichi-agro farm.

Before the beginning of the 1950s, the restoration processes in the Smorgon region were almost completed, the wounds inflicted by the war were healed, and the development of the economy and culture became more and more gradual and systematic.

The city of Smorgon is located in the north-west of Belarus within the Narochano-Vileika plain , two kilometers south-west of the river Viliya . The relief is slightly wavy, crossed by river valleys, the prevailing heights are 140-160 m.

The average January temperature is −6.8 ° C, July +17.6 ° C. Precipitation averages 650 mm per year. The growing season is 190 days. In the summer, winds of southwest and south directions prevail , in winter - northwest and north.

Two small rivers flow through the city:

• Oxna, left tributary of the Viliya river, length 20 km, catchment area 104 km²
• Gervyatka, the left tributary of the Oksna River, length 13 km, catchment area 40 km²

На реках сооружено несколько прудов использующихся в рекреационных целях, а также для регулирования паводков .

Население Сморгони в 2015 году составило 37 321 человек, что поставило город на 5 место по населению в области и 27 место в Белоруссии ^[11] . В 2019 году население составило 37527 человек.

Microdistricts

В городе 8 микрорайонов: Вилейский, Восточный, Железнодорожный, Западный, Молодежный, Светлянский, Северный, Центральный. Самый крупный из них — Вилейский .

До Второй мировой войны значительное количество населения Сморгони составляли евреи (на конец XIX века евреи составляли 76 % популяции местечка). Во время Первой мировой войны многие евреи были сосланы или выехали в Россию. После окончания войны многие начали возвращаться назад в город. В 1942 году большинство еврейского населения было вывезено в гетто и уничтожено. Еврейское кладбище города было разрушено спустя около 30 лет в связи с ростом города.

В Сморгони родился один из величайших поэтов языка идиш — Абрам Суцкевер . Воспоминания о еврейской Сморгони были сложены в книгу памяти местечка.

Industry

В середине 1970-х годов в Сморгони положено начало строительству Сморгонского завода оптического станкостроения (ОАО «СЗОС»), который в перспективе должен был стать гигантом советского станкостроения, но распад Советского Союза не дал осуществиться этим планам. Теперь СЗОС, некогда крупнейший завод Белоруссии (имевший также важное военное стратегическое значение), работает только на 30 % своей мощности.

В 2009 году статус предприятия изменён с «Республиканского Унитарного Предприятия» на «Открытое Акционерное Общество». 100 % акций принадлежит государству.

Smorgon Aggregate Plant (RUE “SAZ”) - was founded on June 27, 1986 by the Order of the Minister of Tractor and Agricultural Engineering . It is part of the Minsk Tractor Plant production association of the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Belarus.

Initially, the plant was intended for the production of complex components and assemblies of the Belarus brand, namely: variable-speed gearboxes with gear shifting on the go, front driving and non-driving axles, complete hydraulic unit housings, automatic parts and normals, hot and cold landing parts, with their achievement release up to 120 thousand sets per year. However, due to the lack of funding sources, construction and installation work was stopped in 1993. At the aggregate plant, 96.9 thousand m² of space was commissioned, which amounted to 33% of the project.

In addition to the production of spare parts and attachments for tractors "Belarus", the company organized the assembly of mini-equipment for household farming ^[14] .

Branch number 7 "Smorgonsilikatobeton" OJSC "Krasnoselskstroymaterialy" - It originates from November 15, 1962, when brick was produced for the construction industry of the republic. Then new production facilities were founded and the range of products expanded. 1987-1993 - 100% development of production facilities for the production of small blocks, silicate brick and reinforced concrete. 1994-1996 - a decline in production (for all types of products). 1997 - expansion of the assortment of small-piece products. By the order of consumers, the production of twelve standard sizes of blocks was started, and the release of a partition from cellular concrete was ensured. The production of small blocks 400 mm thick, with a density of D 500, made it possible to solve the problem of building multi-storey buildings using small-piece products from cellular concrete. The result of the work carried out is an increase in production facilities, the establishment of production capacity in 1997 amounted to 86.2%. [2] Smorgonsilikatobeton OJSC was established by order of the Ministry of State Property Management and Privatization of the Republic of Belarus dated 15.12.1999 No. 230 by transforming the Smorgonsilikatobeton rental enterprise in accordance with the legislation on joint-stock companies.

In 2013, Smorgonsilikatobeton OJSC was transformed into Branch No. 7 Smorgonsilikatobeton of Krasnoselskstroymaterialy OJSC.

Belpromservice group of companies of a private form of ownership. The main activity of the group is the production of a wide range of products from corrosion-resistant stainless steel: cookware.

Since 2011, the city has been operating a regional center for entrepreneurship support, Business Orientir LLC , which carries out activities in the field of providing accounting services to small businesses and individual entrepreneurs of the Smorgon, Oshmyany and Ostrovets districts of the Grodno region. The staff of the enterprise is highly qualified specialists (accountants, lawyer, business trainer) who help start-up entrepreneurs to start their own business, advise on foreign trade activities, accounting, taxation, other reporting, translate from foreign languages, etc.

Also in Smorgon there are such large enterprises as Smorgon Dairy Products , Smorgon Bread Factory , private enterprise HaLes , etc.

In 2012, the Austrian company Kronospan began construction of a large wood processing plant on the territory of the production site of Smorgon Aggregate Plant (RUE “SAZ”). In January 2013, the company began production of its first products - particleboard / laminated particleboard. Most of the company's products are exported, mainly to the Russian Federation.

Belagroterminal LLC Sodruzhestvo Group of Companies is a production and agrology terminal; in 2014, the first and second phases were launched. In 2018, Belagroterminal LLC completed the construction of an oil extraction plant.

Transport

The railway Minsk - Vilnius (section Molodechno - Gudogai ) passes through the city, and the Molodyozhny stopping station and Smorgon station are located within the city.

In Smorgon intersect republican roads :

• P63 Borisov - Vileyka - Oshmyany
• P95 Lyntupy - Svir - Smorgon - Krevo - Golshany
• P106 Molodechno - Smorgon; access to the city of Smorgon

Transportation of national economic cargo and passengers is carried out by the Automobile Park No. 17 Branch of Grodnooblavtotrans OJSC Bus lines depart from the Smorgon bus terminal on 33 suburban and 7 interurban routes ( Grodno , Svir, Komarovo , Molodechno, Minsk, Baranovichi ), and the Postavy - Grodno route passes . In the city itself there are 12 passenger bus routes: 9 - in regular traffic, 3 - in express .

The issues of road construction and road maintenance are carried out by “DRSU-134” KPSRSUP “Grodnoobldorstroy”, which maintains 545.3 km of roads, including 225.4 km with asphalt concrete pavement (according to data for 2000).

Education

As of September 1, 2008, the following educational institutions operated in the city:

• 8 institutions of preschool education (including children's sanatorium nursery-kindergarten and preschool center for child development), educational and pedagogical complex kindergarten - primary comprehensive school ;
• 7 secondary schools (including those with in-depth study of foreign languages, a musical and physical-health-improving bias), a gymnasium, a boarding school for orphans and children without parental care, a general evening evening school , an interschool educational and industrial complex ;
• Social and pedagogical center and the center of correctional developmental education and rehabilitation;
• Smorgon State Vocational and Technical School of Instrument Engineering No. 128 (training in the specialties: bricklayer , plasterer , mechanic for assembly, fitter, food seller , operator of machine tools with programmed control ).

Health

In 1939-1941, in the territory of the present Smorgon district, a district hospital with 50 beds, an outpatient clinic, five rural medical stations, 12 FAPs functioned ^{[ unknown term ]} , where five doctors and 32 paramedical personnel worked. In Smorgon, a health department was formed, headed by Sevastyanova Lyudmila Vasilievna.

In 1948, 88 people worked in the state central hospital; medical care was provided in 10 specialties. A year later, an infectious department was opened. Soon the hospital acquired an X-ray machine, an X-ray room is being equipped.

Since the mid-1970s, the city began to develop rapidly, and with it the network of healthcare facilities expanded: in 1976 a new dental clinic was opened, in 1984 the hospital’s modern building was admitted to the first patients, into which the surgical, therapeutic departments and the cardiology department were located , and since 1989 the intensive care unit. In 1990, a new building was built and commissioned, which housed the children's, neurological and emergency departments.

Sport

In 1981, the Yunost fitness center was built, which became the main sports base in the area, with a games room (42 × 18 m) and a swimming pool. The pool includes a large bathtub (440 m³) and a small bathtub - 48 m³. In 2011, it was planned to be reconstructed and completely transformed into a water park, but by the end of 2015 the pool was never put into operation. Also in the pool building there is a weightlifting room, two wrestling halls, a hall for playing table tennis and billiards, and a gym.

The stadium FOK "Youth" (3500 seats) is licensed for international matches. The youth and youth national football teams of Belarus held several matches here, regularly holds matches of the championship of the Republic of Belarus in the first league football club Smorgon .

There are 3 children and youth sports schools in the city, in which 1,195 people study (September 1, 2008), of which 10 people are members of the national teams of the Republic of Belarus in various sports .

"Smorgon Specialized Children and Youth School of the Olympic Reserve" (SDUSHOR-1) was opened in 1961, in 2001 the school was given its current status ^{[ which one? ]} . Training sessions are held on the basis of the Youth Fitness Center. 3 sports are cultivated: basketball , judo , weightlifting.

“Smorgon Children and Youth Sports School for Football” (DYUSSH-2) - was established in 1999 on the basis of the football section of DYUSSH-1. Sports base: football field 102 × 66 m, two mini-football fields 48 × 30 m, game room of the Youth Sports Complex.

"Smorgon District Children and Youth Sports School of Trade Unions" (DYUSSH-3) - organized in 2005 on the basis of the athletics section SDYUSHOR-1. 651 students study in 18 educational groups and in 37 primary training groups in athletics.

Culture

In Smorgon there is a local history museum with 10.8 thousand units of museum items. In 2016, 11.3 thousand people visited the museum (according to this indicator, the museum takes 10th place in the Grodno region ) ^[15] .

Svetly Shlyakh is the oldest printed publication in the city. It began as "Sciag peramogі", the first issue was released on November 23, 1944. The publication is published in Belarusian and Russian. The founders are Smorgon District Executive Committee and Smorgon District Council of Deputies .

Novaya Gazeta Smorgoni, a private advertising and information publication, existed in 1996-2005 .

The city has several clubs and discos, a restaurant, various bars and cafes. Botanical Garden, House of Culture, exhibition hall, summer amphitheater.

Catholic church of St. Michael the Archangel in Smorgon - a defensive Catholic church, built in the Renaissance style. The walls of the church are from 1.8 to 3 meters in thickness. It was built in 1552-1553 as a wooden Calvinist cathedral with funds from the Brest-Lithuanian governor Krishtof Zenovich. In 1866, the church turned into a church. In 1921 - again to the church. In 1947, the temple was closed, after which during the communist system it was a shop, an exhibition hall and a museum. In 1990, was transferred to believers. Under the temple itself is a dungeon, which is the tomb of the Zenovich family. The tomb has not yet been explored, but the legends that there are underground passages to Vilnius and Krev from it have not been confirmed.

In 2003, to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the first mention of Smorgon in historical chronicles, the Church of St. Michael was subjected to external repairs, making it more attractive.

City guests can visit the Calvinist Cathedral of the 16th century; the building where A. Deryugo (a well-known musician throughout Belarus) and R. Lapitsky (a Belarusian patriot, who was shot dead in 1953 at the age of 22 years old), once studied. A memorial plaque is installed on the building. In the vicinity of Smorgon there are Oginsky estate , Krevsky castle , Bogushevich’s house and numerous places of military battles, a huge number of ancient temples and churches.

The state boarding school for orphans and children without parental care, closed in 2009, has a unique greenhouse. The Winter Garden collection has been replenished since November 1997, when the first plants were planted. The flora of Africa and America, the tropics, subtropics and the temperate zone is represented. Cacti, ferns, lemon and coffee trees. Area - 1000 square meters. In total there are more than 1100 plants of 245 species. Japanese courtyard made in strict tones of monolithic minimalism and with vegetation selected in the Japanese style. About 7 thousand people visit the conservatory "Winter Garden" annually ^[16] .

The emblem of the city ​​of Smorgon is an image on a silver field of a Spanish shield standing on a red lattice on the hind legs of a black bear, in the front legs of which the coat of arms of the Radziwills "Tubes" - on a blue field there are three black hunting horns connected in the center by mouthpieces . The emblem plot is based on the historical fact of the existence in Smorgon of a school for training bears, the so-called " Smorgon Academy ", founded in the 17th century by the Radziwills ^{[17] [18]} .

The flag of Smorgon is a rectangular panel with an aspect ratio of 1: 2. In the center there is a white strip corresponding to 1/7 of the width of the panel, followed by two paired stripes of blue and red, each 1/14 of the width on top, and a black strip of 1/7 of the width of the panel below. At the edges of the flag are white stripes corresponding to 2/7 of the width of the banner. The colors of the flag correspond to the colors of the coat of arms of the city. The author of the coat of arms and flag is M. M. Elinskaya, the artist A. V. Levchik ^[17] .

The coat of arms and flag were established by Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 590 of December 1, 2004.

The city’s anthem is considered to be the song “Smargonsky ўystisty” , lyrics by Marian Duksy , music by A. Lyakh.

•   Visaginas ( lit. Visaginas ), Lithuania ;
•   Alytus ( lit. Alytus ), Lithuania ;
•   Krasnoznamensk , Russia ;
•   Kologriv , Russia .

Smorgon is traditionally considered the birthplace of bagels, although there is no reliable confirmation of this. For the first time this fact was mentioned by William Pokhlebkin in his cookbooks : “... The homeland of bagels is the city of Smorgon in Belarus, where narrow flagella were first made from scalded (scalded) dough and baked from them (products from scalded dough) ...” ^[19] . It is assumed that initially the bagels were used as rations for students of the Bear Academy and their guide. In the 19th century, the Smorgon bagels became widely known in Belarus and beyond. Adam Kirkor wrote in his painting “Picturesque Russia”: “In Smorgon, Oshmyany district, and Vilna province, almost the whole bourgeois population is busy baking small bagels, or pretzels, which are very famous under the name Smorgon skewers. Each traveler will definitely buy several bundles of these bagels; in addition, they are also transported to other cities in Vilnius ” ^[20] . In the 30s of the XX century in Smorgon, there were about 60 bakers who were engaged in baking bagels. Smorgon bagels were a traditional treat at the fair for St. Casimir’s Day in Vilna ^[21] .

In 1867-1869, in St. Petersburg there was a secret terrorist organization using the name "Smorgon" or "Smorgon Academy", whose members were immigrants from Belarus and, in particular, Smorgon. Some historians believe that the “Smorgonians” were led by famous revolutionaries Pyotr Tkachev and Sergei Nechaev . Smorgon emerged as the successor to the terrorist organization Hell, which was liquidated after one of its members, Dmitry Karakozov , made an unsuccessful attempt on Alexander II . Также «Сморгонь» являлась подразделением польской националистической организации «Огул», которая ставила своей задачей восстановление Речи Посполитой в границах 1772 года . После ликвидации «Сморгони» её члены составили костяк ещё одной тайной организации — «Народная расправа» ^[22] .

• Гетто в Сморгони

• Памяць: Гісторыка-дакументальная хроніка Смаргонскага раёна / Рэд. кал.: Г. П. Пашкоў (гал. рэд.) і інш. — Мінск: БелЭн, 2004. — 640 с.
• Ковкель И. И., Мараш И. Я. Сморгонь: Историко-экономический очерк. — Минск: Беларусь, 1984. — 63 с. — (Города Белоруссии).
• Инвентари магнатских владений Белоруссии XVII — XVIII вв. Владение Сморгонь. — Минск: Наука и техника, 1977.

• Сморгонский райисполком. Official site. (рус.) (англ.)
• Фотографии на сайте Radzima.org (белор.) (рус.) (польск.) (англ.)
• Фотографии на сайте «Глобус Беларуси»
• Сморгонь в Электронной еврейской энциклопедии