Map of the Belarusian Village of Borysov

Of the three places called Dymki in the Słownik Geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i Innych Krajów Słowiańskich (Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland and other Slavonic Countries), the third is located in the Borysów Powiat, now located in Belarus .  Although the village of Dymki does not appear on the 1834 Map of Minsk Gubernia, Dymki was adjacent to Borysov, and Borysov is clearly shown on this map .  The Słownik Geograficzny entry for Dymki was translated in a previous post.

Map of the Borysov Area - 1834

Map of the Borysov Area – 1834

SOURCE: 1834 Map of Minsk Gubernia. Online http://www.jewishgen.org/belarus/1834_minsk_gubernia_map.htm; downloaded 07 Feb 2011.

A search on Wikipedia reveals that Napoleon’s army lost about 36,000 men when trying to cross the Berezina River, confirming that this is the site of the former village of Dymki .  The third Słownik Geograficzny entry for Dymki states that “In the year 1812 on the last day of November, this place was witness to a terrible battle at the time of the retreat of the French .  It was turned to ashes.”

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

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