I bought a war relic from an antique shop in Poland. It is a box made by a German soldier. It is just a cardboard box with woven straw on the outside, decorative straw weave edging, and a straw lid. The lid says MINSK 1944 in small woven letters.
The inside of the box had been lined with a Minsk newspaper. The bottom of the box has writing also, but is not a newspaper.
I found a Belarusian translator, and here is what she came up with:
There is only a small jagged strip of newspaper still on the inside, but this is what she was able to get from it:
"Minsk"
"... Stalin", maybe "for Stalin"
" ...(adj.) political (noun)...
...Soviet (?) people's/national...
...will present (?)...
...to you freedom and independence...
enter (?) the Soviet Union..."
"...humble friend! (?)
... (neither?) political, nor military...
(adj.?) bloodshed at the front...
...(noun) and hunger in...
... truth, also increases ...
... exploiters and oppressors (?)...
... nothing/something to eat."
"... the USA received from Stalin...
...will be more noticeable (?)...
...! And everyone has at least...
... are screaming the London (something/someone?)
... for/on a daily ... "
The bottom has a diagonal "stamp" looking text that says
"The Belarusian people will help to destroy Bolshevism".
The rest of the text on the bottom reads:
"Despite the War, Soviet social services are developing…
After establishing Belarusian Central Council on December 21, 1943…
the Gauleiter announced the new social
order in Belarus. It came into force on February 1. It’s important to
note that the work has been done in 2 years, despite
the war, while the Soviets needed 20 years for that. The (Minsk)
authorities have been using social benefits for their own
profit, and those benefits existed only on paper.
German social support significantly improves working
conditions. The workers will be receiving
50% of their salary during sick leave. We grant disability pensions…
In case a worker dies, the financial aid for burial will be at
least 300 rubles. In Soviet Union, social support was
used by the Jews for their own advantage. The German Government will (exclude?)
them from the social services system. Everything is being done only for the
Belarusian workers. Because they are working for the common victory with Germany."
Thats it
I thought it was quite incredible, so I wanted to share.