Brest (Belarus)

Brest (Belarus), formerly Brest-Litovsk (Polish Brześć nad Bugiem), city in southwestern Belarus, capital of Brest Oblast, at the confluence of the Bug and Mukhavyets rivers. A major rail junction and trade center, the city has industries manufacturing food products, textiles, and metal goods. Founded in the early 11th century, Brest was conquered by the Lithuanians in 1319, and in 1569 it became the capital of the merged state of Poland and Lithuania. It was ceded to Russia in 1795. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed here in 1918 between the new Soviet government and the Central Powers. In 1921 the city became part of Poland, and in 1939, following the German invasion of Poland, it was taken by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). From 1941-1944, during World War II, Germany occupied Brest; from 1944 to 1991 the city was part of the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR). Population (2001 estimate) 291,400.