Republic of Central Lithuania

Coordinates: 54°30′N 25°45′E / 54.500°N 25.750°E / 54.500; 25.750
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about a former client state of Poland. For the geographical and historical region, see Vilnius Region.

Republic of Central Lithuania
Republika Litwy Środkowej (Polish)
1920–1922
Anthem: 
Yiddish
Religion
Demonym(s)Central Lithuanian
GovernmentRepublic
Commander-in-chief 
• 1920–1922
Lucjan Żeligowski
Chairperson 
• 1920–1921 (first)
Witold Abramowicz
• 1921–1922 (last)
Aleksander Meysztowicz
LegislatureSejm
Historical eraInterwar period
12 October 1920
24 March 1922
• Incorporation into Poland
18 April 1922
Area
• Total
13,490 km2 (5,210 sq mi)
Currency
Polish mark
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Lithuania
Poland
Poland
Today part of

54°30′N 25°45′E / 54.500°N 25.750°E / 54.500; 25.750 The Republic of Central Lithuania (Polish: Republika Litwy Środkowej, Lithuanian: Vidurio Lietuvos Respublika), commonly known as the Central Lithuania, and the Middle Lithuania (Polish: Litwa Środkowa, Lithuanian: Vidurinė Lietuva, Belarusian: Сярэдняя Літва, romanized: Siaredniaja Litva), was an unrecognized short-lived puppet state of Poland, that existed from 1920 to 1922.[1] It was founded on 12 October 1920, after successful Żeligowski's Mutiny, during which the volunteer 1st Lithuanian–Belarusian Division under command of general Lucjan Żeligowski seized the Vilnius Region that Lithuania made claims to.[2] It was incorporated into Poland on 18 April 1922.

The region centered around Vilnius, the historical capital of Lithuania, had majority-Polish population with Lithuanian population of only 2–3%.[3] Despite this, the Lithuanian authorities decided that the region should belong to the newly-established Lithuanian state and attempted to implement this idea using military force, ignoring the Foch Line and taking advantage of the fact that Poland was absorbed in the Polish–Soviet War. Lithuanians believed that for this reason Poland was temporarily unable to protect Polish population in disputed areas, but despite this, Lithuania failed to maintain control over the region. This and Lithuanian support for the Soviets in the war against Poland, led to the Polish–Lithuanian War, of which the Żeligowski Mutiny is also considered a part, and consequently to the establishment of the Republic of Central Lithuania.[3]

The republic had features of a state administration, but actually was an imitation of a sovereign state which repressed Lithuanian organizations, education, censored and suspended Lithuanian publications.[4] After a variety of delays, a disputed election took place on 8 January 1922, and the territory was annexed by Poland. Several years later the Polish leader Józef Piłsudski confirmed that he personally ordered Żeligowski to stage a mutiny.

The Polish–Lithuanian border in the

Polish ultimatum of 1938. In 1931 an international court in The Hague stated that the Polish seizure of the region had been a violation of international law, but there were no political repercussions.[7]

History

Main article:
Ethnic composition of Central Lithuania

Following the

Polonisation effort undertaken by the Polish patriotic leadership of the Vilnius educational district.[12][13] A similar effort was pursued during the 19th century Lithuanian National Revival, which sought to distance itself from both Polish and Russian influences.[14]

Piłsudski's bi-lingual Proclamation to the inhabitants of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania (April 1919).

Germans at 0.2%, Ukrainians at 0.1%, Tatars at 0.1%, and 'Others' at 0.1% as well.[17]

The German censuses of 1915, 1916 and 1917 of the Vilnius Region (published in 1919) however, reported strikingly different numbers.[18] In 1917 in the Vilnius city Poles were at 53.65%, Jews at 41.45%, Lithuanians at 2.1%, Belarusians at 0.44%, Russians at 1.59%, Germans at 0,63% and 'Other' at 0.14%.[19][20] According to the 1916 census, Poles constituted 89.8% of the inhabitants of Vilnius county (excluding the city) and Lithuanians only 4.3%.[21]

Censuses had encountered difficulties in the attempt to categorise their subjects. Ethnographers in the 1890s were often confronted with those who described themselves as both Lithuanians and Poles.[22] According to a German census analyst, "Objectively determining conditions of nationality comes up against the greatest difficulties."[23]

Aftermath of World War I

In the

aftermath of the First World War
, both Poland and Lithuania regained independence. The conflict between them soon arose as both Lithuania and Poland claimed Vilnius (known in Polish as Wilno) region.

Demographically, the main groups inhabiting Vilnius were Poles and Jews, with Lithuanians constituting a small fraction of the total population (2.0%–2.6%, according to the Russian census of 1897 and the German census of 1916).[16][18] The Lithuanians nonetheless believed that their historical claim to Vilnius (former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania) had precedence and refused to recognize any Polish claims to the city and the surrounding area.[24]

While Poland under Józef Piłsudski attempted to create a Polish-led federation in the area that would include a number of ethnically non-Polish territories (

Vilnius region. Two early 20th-century censuses indicated that Lithuanian speakers, whose language in the second half of the 19th century was suppressed by the Russian policies and had unfavourable conditions within the Catholic church, became a minority in the region. Based on this, Lithuanian authorities argued that the majority of inhabitants living there, even if they at the time did not speak Lithuanian, were thus Polonized (or Russified) Lithuanians.[25][26]

Further complicating the situation, there were two Polish factions with quite different views on creation of the modern state in Poland. One party, led by

Międzymorze federation:[27]

  • Lithuania of Kaunas with Lithuanian language
  • Lithuania of Vilnius or Central Lithuania with Polish language
  • Lithuania of Minsk with Belarusian language

Eventually, Piłsudski's plan failed; it was opposed both by the Lithuanian government and by the Dmowski's faction in Poland. Stanisław Grabski, representative of Dmowski's faction, was in charge of the Treaty of Riga negotiations with the Soviet Union, in which they rejected the Soviet offer of territories needed for the Minsk canton (Dmowski preferred Poland that would be smaller, but with higher percentage of ethnic Poles).[27] The inclusion of territories predominant with non-Poles would have weakened support for Dmowski.[27]

Polish–Lithuanian War

Map indicating the Polish population living in Central Lithuania c. 1920. Includes both areas that had Polish majority as well as those with the minority.
Main articles: Polish–Lithuanian War and Żeligowski's Mutiny

At the end of World War I, the area of the former

Polish Army. 1920 saw the Vilnius region occupied by the Red Army for the second time. However, when the Red Army was defeated in the Battle of Warsaw
, the Soviets, knowing that they wouldn't be able to hold Vilnius, decided to hand it over to Lithuania. By making such a move, the Soviets hoped to intensify the Polish-Lithuanian dispute over the region.

The regular Polish–Lithuanian War broke out on 26 August 1920, when the Polish Army clashed with Lithuanian troops occupying Suwałki region during the Polish autumn offensive following the Battle of Warsaw. The League of Nations intervened and arranged negotiations in Suwałki. The League negotiated a cease-fire, signed on 7 October 7, placing the city of Vilnius in Lithuania.[29] The Suwałki Agreement was to have taken effect at 12:00 on 10 October.

Lithuanian postage stamps with overprints of Central Lithuania (Środkowa Litwa), made in 1920

The Lithuanian authorities entered Vilnius in late August 1920. The

Jerzy J. Lerski, it was a "puppet state" which the Lithuanian Republic refused to recognize.[32][33]

The seat of Lithuanian government moved to Lithuania's second-largest city, Kaunas. Armed clashes between Kaunas and Central Lithuania continued for a few weeks, but neither side could gain a significant advantage. Due to the mediation efforts of the League of Nations, a new ceasefire was signed on November 21 and a truce six days later.[34]

Founding of the Republic of Central Lithuania

On 12 October 1920, Żeligowski announced the creation of a

Vytis. Its coat of arms was a mixture of Polish, Lithuanian and Vilnian symbols and resembled the Coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.[citation needed
]

Extensive diplomatic negotiations continued behind the scenes. Lithuania proposed creating a

Lithuanian culture, as during the Commonwealth times many of the Lithuanian nobility was Polonized
.

General elections in Central Lithuania were decreed to take place on 9 January, and the regulations governing this election were to be issued prior to 28 November 1920. However, due to the League of Nations mediation, and the Lithuanian boycott of the voting, the elections were postponed.[40]

Mediation

Selected demarcation lines during the struggle for central Lithuania.

Peace talks were held under the auspice of the

plebiscite on the future of Central Lithuania. As a compromise, the so-called "Hymans' plan" was proposed (named after Paul Hymans). The plan consisted of 15 points, among them were:[41]
Polish military celebrates the incorporation of Vilnius Region in Poland, 1922.

The talks came to a halt when Poland demanded that a delegation from Central Lithuania (boycotted by Lithuania) be invited to Brussels.[41] On the other hand, Lithuanians demanded that the troops in Central Lithuania be relocated behind the line drawn by the 7 October 1920 cease-fire agreement,[citation needed] while Hymans' proposal left Vilnius in Polish hands, which was unacceptable to Lithuania.[41]

A new plan was presented to the governments of Lithuania and Poland in September 1921. It was basically a modification of "Hymans' plan", with the difference that the

Neman River) was to be incorporated into Lithuania. However, both Poland and Lithuania openly criticized this revised plan and finally this turn of talks came to a halt as well.[43]

Resolution

Ribbon of the Cross of Merit of the Army of Central Lithuania.

After the talks in Brussels failed, the tensions in the area grew. The most important issue was the huge army Central Lithuania fielded (27,000).

the elections (8 January 1922).[45] There was a significant electioneering propaganda campaign as Poles tried to win the support of other ethnic groups present in the area. The Polish government was also accused of various strong-arm policies (like the closing of Lithuanian newspapers[2] or election violations like not asking for a valid document from a voter).[46][full citation needed] The elections were boycotted by Lithuanians, most of the Jews and some Belarusians. Poles were the only major ethnic group out of which the majority of people voted.[40]

The elections were not recognized by Lithuania. Polish factions, which gained control over the parliament (Sejm) of the Republic (the Sejm of Central Lithuania), on February 20 passed the request of incorporation into Poland.[47] The request was accepted by the Polish Sejm on 22 March 1922.[citation needed]

All of the Republic's territory was eventually incorporated into the newly formed

interwar period.[citation needed
]

Aftermath

Alfred Erich Senn noted that if Poland had not prevailed in the Polish–Soviet War, Lithuania would have been invaded by the Soviets, and would never have experienced two decades of independence.[48] Despite the Soviet–Lithuanian Peace Treaty of 1920, Lithuania was very close to being invaded by the Soviets in summer 1920 and being forcibly incorporated into that state, and only the Polish victory derailed this plan.[48][49][50][51]

After the

Lithuanian SSR. Since the restoration of Lithuanian independence in 1991, the city's status as Lithuania's capital has been internationally recognized.[citation needed
]

See also

References

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  4. ^ Nanevič, Beata (2004). "Imitavusi valstybę: "Vidurio Lietuvos" (1920-1922) vidaus politika". Darbai ir dienos (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  5. Maurycy Zamoyski; M. Matsuda (1923). Decision taken by the conference of ambassadors regarding the eastern frontiers of Poland (PDF). League of Nations
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  6. ^ League of Nations, Treaty Series. Vol. 15. League of Nations. 1923. pp. 261–265.
  7. ^ a b Miniotaitė, Gražina (1999). "The Security Policy of Lithuania and the 'Integration Dilemma'" (PDF). NATO Academic Forum: 21. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  8. ^ The Vilna problem. London: Lithuanian Information Bureau. 1922. pp. 24–25.
  9. ^ (in Italian)Claudio Madonia, Fra l'orso russo e l'aquila prussiana, Clueb Edizioni, 2013, 978-88-49-13800-9, p.82.
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  13. ^ Yla, Stasys (Summer 1981). "The Clash of Nationalities at the University of Vilnius". Lituanus. 1 (27).
  14. ^ Schmalstieg, William R. (Winter 1989). "The Lithuanian Language and Nation Through the Ages: Outline of a History of Lithuanian in its Social Context". Lituanus. 4 (34).
  15. ^ Ajnenkiel, Andrzej (1986). From peoples assembly to May coup: overview of political history of Poland 1918-1926 [Od rządów ludowych do przewrotu majowego: zarys dziejów politycznych Polski 1918-1926]. Wiedza Powszechna. According to falsified data of the Russian census of 1897, the Poles constituted 886,000 of the region's inhabitants, but the numbers have to be at least doubled.
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  17. ^ "The first census of the Russian Empire in 1897" [Первая всеобщая перепись населения Российской Империи 1897 г. Распределение населения по родному языку и регионам]. Демоскоп Weekly (in Russian). 331–332, 28 апреля - 18 мая 2008. Институт демографии Высшей школы экономики. 2008. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008.
  18. ^ a b Brensztejn, Michał Eustachy (1919). Spisy ludności m. Wilna za okupacji niemieckiej od. 1 listopada 1915 r. (in Polish). Warsaw: Biblioteka Delegacji Rad Polskich Litwy i Białej Rusi.
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    . Spis z grudnia 1919 r. jest bardzo dokładny; operuje danymi z poszczególnych gmin, wykazując ogólną liczbę mieszkańców, a następnie w rozbiciu na poszczególne narodowości — w liczbach bezwzględnych i w ujęciu procentowym. Z wielkiej ilości danych przytoczyć możemy tylko najważniejsze, najbardziej charakterystyczne liczby. W samym więc mieście Wilnie na 129 tysięcy mieszkańców spis wykazuje 72 tysiące Polaków, czyli 56,2% ogółu ludności (Żydów — 47 tysięcy, to znaczy 36,1%, Litwinów — 3 tysiące, to jest 2,3%). Jeszcze wyższy odsetek Polaków stwierdzono w powiecie wileńskim. Na 184 tysiące mieszkańców zapisano tam 161 tysięcy Polaków.
  20. ^ Brensztejn, Michał (1874-1938) (1919). Spisy ludności miasta Wilna za okupacji niemieckiej od d. 1 listopada 1915 r. Warszawska Drukarnia Wydawnicza.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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  33. ^ Royal Institute of International Affairs, Vol. 36, No. 3 (1960), pg. 354.
  34. ISBN 83-05-12769-9
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    , pg. 10
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    , pg. 194
  40. ^
    ISBN 978-08-10-87536-4
    , pg. 78: “The elections of the Central Lithuania (...) were boycotted by much of the non-Polish population”.
  41. ^
    ISBN 83-915029-0-2. Archived from the original
    on 16 July 2011.
  42. ^ Lapradelle, Albert Geouffre de; André Nicolayévitch Mandelstam; Louis Le Fur (1929). The Vilna Question. London: Hazell, Watson & Viney, ld. pp. 15–18.
  43. ISBN 978-17-60-46061-7
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  48. ^ a b Senn, Alfred Erich (September 1962). "The Formation of the Lithuanian Foreign Office, 1918–1921". Slavic Review (21 ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 500–507. A Bolshevik victory over the Poles would have certainly meant a move by the Lithuanian communists, backed by the Red Army, to overthrow the Lithuanian nationalist government... Kaunas, in effect, paid for its independence with the loss of Vilna.
  49. ^ Erich, Senn Alfred (1992). Lietuvos valstybės atkūrimas 1918-1920 (in Lithuanian). p. 163. If the Poles didn't stop the Soviet attack, Lithuania would fell to the Soviets... Polish victory costs the Lithuanians the city of Wilno, but saved Lithuania itself.
  50. miracle at Vistula
    .
  51. ^ Rudokas, Jonas (25 August 2005). "Józef Piłsudski - wróg niepodległości Litwy czy jej wybawca?". pogon.lt (in Polish). Veidas. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2020.

External links

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