Begoml or Biahoml (, ) is a town in the Dokshitsy District of Vitebsk Region, Belarus, located on Highway М3 (Belarus) from Minsk to the north, from Vitebsk to the south and from Dokshitsy to the east. As of January 1, 2008 Begoml's population was 3,059. History The first written records of Begoml date to 1582 and identify it as a village on an estate belonging to the Bishop of Vil'nya at Vaucha in the Minsk povet (administrative region) of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. By 1861, it had become the central volost (county) of Borisovsky Uyezd. The main town of the volost by 1886, it then comprised a village of 43 households, a church, a school, and a hospital. In 1924 it became the centre of Begoml District and on September 27, 1938 it was designated an urban settlement. Since 1960, Begoml has been part of Dokshitsy. During the German-Soviet War Begoml and the surrounding district were occupied by the Wehrmacht. On July 2 1941, at about 12:00 midday, a vanguard of 39 tanks of the 3rd Panzer Group drove straight into the township. A Soviet partisan movement then formed and began to counterattack. This included nine partisan brigades working with other separate groups. Guerilla operations to clear German forces from the area continued until the arrival of the Red Army on 1 July 1944. During the war, Begomlian guerrillas operated from a pre-war airfield. This fell into disuse after the conflict and the land was subsequently used to build apartments. Today, the neighborhood is still called "The Airdrome" . The history of Begoml has inspired poets and writers. On June 29, 2009, by decree of the Belarusian President, Begoml, along with 21 other localities in the Republic of Belarus, was awarded a pennant "For courage and resilience during the years of the Great Patriotic War". Heraldry In 2008, proposals to design a coat of arms for Begoml were submitted for approval with the eventual winning entry created by author M.M.Elinskaja and painter V.A.Ljahor. Economy and industry Various products are manufactured at facilities in Begoml by a number of companies while a distillery was constructed here in the 1870s. According to the "Plan of reorganization of the republican unitary enterprises into the open joint stock companies for the period of 2011-2013" approved by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus (No. 348 dated 21.03.2011), Begoml's state owned