Later, more … [38] The Soviets continued to push for Kaunas. America and Western Europe moved on to reconstruct a peaceful … [44] The regiment disbanded. From April 1919, the Lithuanian war went parallel with the Polish–Soviet War. [60], Poland did not recognize Lithuania as its Chief of State Józef Piłsudski wanted a union with Lithuania in hopes of reviving the old Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (see Międzymorze federation). [63] The first brigade, stationed in Ukmergė, was called the Vilkmergė Group and included a battalion of Saxon Volunteers. [67] The Soviets had larger forces: Lithuanians had two infantry regiments and five separate battalions; the Soviets had six regiments and one separate battalion. For example, Panevėžys was required to pay 1,000,000, Utena – 200,000, villagers – 10 rubles. [32], The Lithuanian army's chain of command was reformed. [44] There were no units of regular Lithuanian army in Samogitia except for partisans in Skuodas, rallied by Povilas Plechavičius and his brother Aleksandras, and in Joniškėlis. Soldiers received first uniforms. Instead, the Soviets planned a coup to overthrow the Lithuanian government and establish a Soviet republic. Soviet troops (about 18,000 to 20,000 men ) approached the Lithuanian territory on December 12, 1918. [56] The northern group, formed on the basis on the 2nd Riflemen Regiment and led by Juozas Butkus, was to attack from Kaišiadorys along Žasliai–Vievis line. [26] The Soviet propagated internationalism and atheism in a country of staunch Catholics and determined nationalists. Soviet troops (about 18,000[29]–20,000 men[30]) approached the Lithuanian territory on December 12, 1918. [81] They also had fortifications built during World War I about 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Daugavpils. Kapsukas and his government arrived in Vilnius from Daugavpils on January 7. To prevent fights between retreating Germans and the Red Army, the Soviets and Germans signed a treaty on January 18. On February 8, during the course of a reconnaissance mission, Povilas Lukšys became the first Lithuanian soldier to die in the war. For half a century the Soviet Union kept this war a secret. [88] The Lithuanians claimed the territory, taken by their soldiers, for themselves despite Latvian protests. Soviet Union (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; U.S.S.R.), former northern Eurasian empire (1917/22–1991) stretching from the Baltic and Black seas to the Pacific Ocean and, in its final years, consisting of 15 Soviet Socialist Republics. When mediation by the League of Nations failed to change the situation, Lithuania and Poland were suspended in the state of "no war, no peace" until the Polish ultimatum of 1938. [32] However, Lithuanian advance continued, and on June 10 Lithuanian forces reached the territory controlled by Latvian partisans (Green Guard) and supplied them with munitions. [19] He decided to mount an offensive in northeastern Lithuania. They renounced Russian claims to Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland. [37] Lithuanians retreated, were reinforced by new Lithuanian and Saxon Volunteers, attacked again, and took Jieznas on February 13. [19] The 18th Regiment fought alongside Lithuanians; the 19th Regiment guarded Kaunas area and did not participate in battle; the 20th Regiment was stationed in Hrodna and then in Kėdainiai; the separate battalion joined the Bermontians. [59], Polish advances against the Soviets necessitated changes in Lithuanian strategy. [51] As a reward for its successful operations, the volunteer regiment was given a name on March 22: the Separate Panevėžys Battalion (Lithuanian language: Panevėžio atskirasis batalionas In addition to the Vilnius Region, the nearby Suwałki Region was also disputed. [31] Three divisions were employed: Pskov Division (later renamed as the Lithuanian Division), International Division (later renamed as the 2nd Latvian Riflemen Division; included 39th, 41st, 47th, and 60th Regiments), and 17th Division (later renamed as Western Division; included 5th Vilnius Regiment). The volunteers were paid 30 marks per month plus 5 marks per day and had to sign up for three months. [9] They nationalized commercial institutions and large estates. On May 30, Joniškėlis' partisans broke through the Soviet lines and took Rokiškis in Soviet rear;[67] Bolshevik forces, afraid that they could be encircled, left Kupiškis on the night of May 30–31, and Lithuania secured that city on June 1. [12] Sleževičius government adopted new policy on land reform, which could be summarized in a slogan "land for those who cultivate it. Between December 31, 1918 and January 1, 1919, the German garrison withdrew from Vilnius and passed authority over the city to a local Polish committee, against the pleas of the Lithuanian administration. [69] On June 12, the Soviets counterattacked and Lithuanians were stopped. Davies, Norman (1998). Red Army captured one town after another: Zarasai and Švenčionys (Dec. 22), Utena (Dec. 23), Rokiškis (Dec. 27), Vilnius (Jan. 5), Ukmergė and Panevėžys (Jan. 9), Šiauliai (Jan. 15), Telšiai (Jan. [59] The first clashes between Polish and Lithuanian soldiers occurred on April 26 and May 8 near Vievis. Lithuanian Soviet War | Russell Jesse | ISBN: 9785509337710 | Kostenloser Versand für alle Bücher mit Versand und Verkauf duch Amazon. [77] When the Lithuanian government rejected the Polish proposal, Józef Piłsudski decided that further military action was not a solution. Its first commander Kazys Ladiga was ordered to push along the Utena–Zarasai line. ISSN, Articles with Lithuanian-language external links, Articles containing Lithuanian-language text, Articles with Polish-language external links, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic, partition of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (1918–1919), Lithuanian–Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, "Minima pirmoji Lietuvos nepriklausomybės kovų pergalė", http://www.mond.gov.lt/lt/naujienos_874/archyvas_930/ziniu_archyvas_2007_metai/ziniu_archyvas_2007_-_02/minima_pirmoji_lietuvos_nepriklausomybes_kovu_pergale.html?pbck=30, "Lietuvos laisvės kovos 1919-1923 metais", http://www.xxiamzius.lt/numeriai/2004/11/24/isving_01.html, "Laisvės kryžkelės. On February 9, Soviet 7th Riflemen Regiment (900 men) took over Jieznas, south of Kaunas. [5] The Bolshevik Western Army followed retreating German troops maintaining a distance of about 10–15 kilometres (6.2–9.3 mi) between the two armies. "National Communism and World Revolution: The Political Consequences of German Military Withdrawal from the Baltic Area in 1918–19". [10] The first laws regarding the army were not issued until November 23. [86] By August 31, on the southern shore of the Daugava, the Soviet held only Grīva, a suburb of Daugavpils. Kėdainiai was attacked by the 2nd Riflemen Regiment of the Lithuanian (former Pskov) Division (about 1,000 men). [36] On February 10, joint Lithuanian and German forces captured Šėta and forced the Red Army to retreat. [49], As the Soviet forces were stopped, Lithuanian army slowly began to prepare itself for an offensive. In October 1939, the three Baltic Republics were forced to sign “mutual assistance” treaties with the Soviet Union establishing Soviet bases in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with the stationing of large numbers of Soviet military forces in the three countries. On April 26, General Silvestras Žukauskas, who just recovered from typhus, was designated Chief of Staff. [32] However, the Soviets left Panevėžys without a fight two days later. [52] Demoralization campaign was successful: the Bolshevik forces stationed in Panevėžys and Kupiškis rebelled, and were quelled only by a Red Army Division from neighboring Latvia. About 5,000 of them were Lithuanians. [59] The first clashes between Polish and Lithuanian soldiers occurred on April 26 and May 8 near Vievis. Lithuania became part of the Russian Empire after the final partition of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795. Northern Lithuania (Samogitia) was overtaken by the Soviet International Division (about 3,000 men). [79][92] Despite the Soviet–Lithuanian Peace Treaty, Lithuania was very close to being invaded by the Soviets in summer 1920 and being forcibly incorporated into the Soviet state, and only the Polish victory derailed this plan. Lithuanian–Soviet War: Lithuania Saxon Volunteers Russian SFSR … The success of this operation lifted the Lithuanian army's morale and prevented the Red Army from encircling Kaunas from the north.[35]. The Panevėžys Group launched a drive towards Panevėžys on May 18 and secured the city the following day, but lost it to a Bolshevik counterattack, carried out on May 21. Instead Soviets planned a coup to overthrow Lithuanian government and establish a Soviet republic. The land was to be used for collective farming instead of being redistributed to small farmers. The regiment included Russian POWs, German deserters, and criminals. [56] Germans did not participate. [5] However, the Lithuanians were only allowed minimal autonomy and could not establish de facto independence. [54], The lull between Soviet attacks was used to strengthen and organize the army. On April 26, General Silvestras Žukauskas, who just recovered from typhus, was designated Chief of Staff. Joniškėlis' partisans continued to guard the front along the Mūša River. [48] They were later incorporated into regular Lithuanian military. In a video taken of the event, Tomas can be seen smashing the stone plaque with a sledgehammer. [93] During all this time, Soviet Russia was Lithuania's strongest ally against Poland. [39] Antanas Juozapavičius, the first Lithuanian officer to die in the wars, was killed during this battle. [19] The 18th Regiment fought alongside Lithuanians; the 19th Regiment guarded Kaunas area and did not participate in battle; the 20th Regiment was stationed in Hrodna and then in Kėdainiai; the separate battalion joined the Bermontians. [3] By the end of December 1918 Soviet forces reached Lithuanian borders. This led to further hostilities with Poland as it did not recognize the treaty. "Stosunki polsko-litewskie w latach 1918–1920". Lithuanians decided to take advantage of large Polish attacks against the Soviets in Hrodna area in order to test enemy strength and capture Vilnius. Instead, the Lithuanian government itself needed to be replaced by a party more willing to negotiate a compromise. By the end of January, German volunteers numbered 4,000. Between July 6 and 12, Lithuanians with some Latvian assistance attempted to drive out the Bolsheviks. [10] He trusted that German mercenaries would protect Lithuania until the upcoming Paris Peace Conference could establish peace. By May 3, the official headcount reached 440 officers and 10,729 privates. On May 30 Joniškėlis' partisans broke through the Soviet lines and took Rokiškis in Soviet rear;[67] Bolshevik forces, afraid that they will encircled, left Kupiškis on the night of May 30–31, and Lithuania secured that city on June 1. [6] That changed when Germany lost the war and signed the Compiègne Armistice on November 11, 1918. [54], The lull between Soviet attacks was used to strengthen and organize the army. The Lithuanian–Soviet War or Lithuanian–Bolshevik War (karas su bolševikais) was fought between newly independent Republic of Lithuania and the proto-Soviet Union (Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic and Lithuanian–Belorussian SSR) in the aftermath of World War I. The first objective was to take over Ukmergė. [33] Also Germans slowed down withdrawal of their troops after the Spartacist uprising was subdued on January 12. Direct negotiations between May 28 and June 11, 1919 collapsed as neither side was inclined to compromise. On December 29, he issued the first mass appeal in four languages calling for volunteers for the Lithuanian Army. [18] They were not very reliable as the German Revolution increased popularity of the Spartacist League and Soviet causes. [60], Poland did not recognize Lithuania, as its Chief of State Józef Piłsudski wanted a union with Lithuania in hopes to revive the old Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (see Międzymorze federation). On March 5, Lithuanians announced mobilization of men born 1887–1889. Lithuanians and Poles mounted a joint operation to take Giedraičiai on May 9. [57] The Lithuanian government in Kaunas saw the Polish presence in Vilnius as occupation. [6] That changed when Germany lost the war and signed the Compiègne Armistice on November 11, 1918. After the Second World War, a comprehensive Sovietisation of the Lithuanian society continued from the first occupation. [30] That accounted for about 2⁄3 of the Lithuanian territory. [31] Three divisions were employed: Pskov division (later renamed Lithuanian Division), International Division (later renamed 2nd Latvian Riflemen Division; included 39th, 41st, 47th, and 60th Regiments), and 17th Division (later renamed Western Division; included 5th Vilnius Regiment). [52] Demoralization campaign was successful: the Bolshevik forces stationed in Panevėžys and Kupiškis rebelled, and were quelled only by a Red Army division from neighboring Latvia. [30] About 5,000 of them were Lithuanians. ISBN, Kamuntavičius, Rūstis; Vaida Kamuntavičienė, Remigijus Civinskas, Kastytis Antanaitis (2001). [17] Recruitment continued in Germany, especially in Saxony. [26] Poland justified its actions not only as part of a military campaign against the Soviets but also as the right of self-determination of local Poles, who formed a significant minority in eastern Lithuania. Article 12 of the Compiègne Armistice required the Germans to protect Lithuania from possible Soviet attacks,[15] but Germany was also interested in maintaining its influence in the region and weakening Russia. [61] Lithuanians claimed Vilnius as their historical capital and opposed to any federation with Poland, desiring an independent national Lithuanian state. The offensive followed retreating German troops with intentions to establish Soviet republics in Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland and link up with the German Revolution. [30] About 5,000 of them were Lithuanians. The national freedom of these three small republics was taken away in 1940, when they were annexed by the Soviet Union under Stalin’s orders. The Lithuanian main forces could be redeployed elsewhere, including protection of the demarcation line with Poland and the planned attacks against the Bermontians in northern Lithuania. 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