On February 25, 1918 German troops captured Polotsk. In the first days of the occupation, all the organs of the new government were liquidated in the city and the district, and their representatives were evacuated. The adherents of the Provisional Government organized the Сity Duma, but soon it was dissolved by the German authorities.
A tough occupation regime was established in the city, a curfew was introduced. Almost all enterprises stopped working, schools and institutions were closed, unemployment reached 80%. German marks were introduced on an equal basis with rubles in monetary circulation.
After the news of the war in Germany, the occupation troops began to retreat from Polotsk, taking with them or destroying valuable property and vehicles. November 21, 1918 the Red Army entered Polotsk. Representatives of the district authorities returned from evacuation with them.