Historically, Vitebsk was an independent city with several affiliations to local regions. At the time of the Volga German immigration, it was located in Poland. As part of the First Partitian of Poland in 1772, this region was annexed by Russia.
Names
Viciebsk, Viciebsk Voblast, Belarus
Vitebsk, Vitebsk Voblast, Belarus
Witebsk, Witebsk Woblast, Belarus
Wizebsk, Wizebsk Woblast, Belarus
Ві́цебск, Ві́цебская во́бласць, Беларусь
Surnames
Former City Hall of Vitebsk, built in 1775 (2005).
Source: Andron Holmoff via Wikipedia Commons.