The rapid offensive of the German Empire, which began on February 18, 1918, forced the regional executive committees and the SNC of the Western region and the front on the night of February 19, 1918 to evacuate from Minsk to Smolensk. This contributed to the resumption of the open activities of the Executive Committee of the Council of the All-Belarusian Congress and the release from Bolshevik captivity of the Central Belarusian Military Council (CBMC). The Executive Committee of the Council of the All-Belarusian Congress issued Order No. 1 of February 19, which stated that it had taken power into its own hands. The new commander of Minsk, appointed by the Executive Committee, Kastus Ezavitau, issued an order that the German army should see calm civilians who did not want a war. Martial law was imposed under paragraph 2 of the order. At the same time, the Polish Military Organization (PMO) became active in Minsk.