The Belarusian National Republic (BNR) was a short-lived state that existed from March 1918 to January 1919. It was declared during the aftermath of World War I, as Belarus sought independence from the collapsing Russian Empire. The BNR aimed to establish a democratic government and promote Belarusian culture and language. The BNR was recognized by several countries but struggled to gain international support. It faced military challenges from both the Bolsheviks and Polish forces. Ultimately, the BNR was unable to maintain its sovereignty, leading to the incorporation of Belarus into the Soviet Union, which lasted until the early 1990s.