in June 1941, Prytytski escaped to the eastern part of Belarus still under the Soviet control. In June–August 1941 he led the defense preparations around Mahiliou and the creation of defense militia near Homel. In 1942 - 1944 Prytytski was Second Secretary of the Central Committee of the Belarusian branch of the Komsomol. In 1944 - 1945 he was head of a pro-Soviet Polish partisan command staff. For his command of Polish partisans, he was awarded one of his Orders of the Red Banner. After the end of the Second World War, Prytytski became one of the most successful Soviet statesman from the ranks of the former West Belarusian pro-Soviet activists. He served as the head of regional party branches in Hrodna, Baranavichy, Maladzyechna and Minsk Voblasts. During his work, he organized collectivization of local agriculture. In the first post-war years, Prytytski was close to being arrested under accusations of anti-Soviet espionage for Poland. In the 1960s, Prytytski has held senior posts in the Soviet Belarus. From 1962 to 1968 he was Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus and Deputy Head of the Government of Belarus. In 1968-1971 Prytytski was Head of Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus. Homage Vladimir Korsh-Sablin, a notable Belarusian Soviet director, filmed the movie "Red Leaves" (Belarusfilm, 1958) about Prytytski's underground experience in Western Belarus. There are streets named after Prytytski in Minsk, Hrodna, Maladziechna and Baranavichy (Vulica Prytyckaha). In Minsk, there two memorial plaques on the walls of the buildings where he lived. In 1978, the book "Life given to the people" was published, in which articles and speeches by Prytytski, documents and memoirs about him were placed. It was opened with the introductory article "The People's Hero" by Pyotr Masherov. External links Documents about Prytytski in the state archives of Belarus "Red Leaves" movie (in Russian) Sources 1913 births 1971 deaths People from Sokółka County People from Sokolsky Uyezd Communist Party of Western Belorussia politicians Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union members Members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Byelorussia Heads of state of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic Members of the Supreme Council of Belarus First convocation members of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union Second convocation members of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union Third convocation members of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union Fourth