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| ==Conflict== | ==Conflict== | ||
| Following the start of Polish-Soviet war, in 1919 was occupied by Red Army |
Following the start of ], in ] the territory was occupied by the ], but shortly afterwards the ] were pushed back by the Polish Army. ] saw the Central Lithuania occupied by the Red Army for the second time, although ] officially recognized sovereignity of Lithuanian Soviet Republic over the city. Probably ] was waiting for the capture of ], to occupy the remainder of Lithuania. However, when Red Army was defeated in the ], the Soviets made decision to hand over the city back to Lithuania. The newly-established state of Lithuania declined any negotiations on the status of the ] area and claimed it its' capital city. Polish commander ] ordered his subordinate general ] to defect with his '1st Lithuanian-Byelorussian Division' and capture the city, without declaring war on Lithuania. | ||
| ==Negotiations== | ==Negotiations== | ||
Revision as of 21:49, 2 December 2003
Central Lithuania was a pseudo independent state, created in 1920 by allegedly rebelious soldiers of Lithuanian-Belorussian division of Polish army.
Background
In aftermath of WWI, historical Grand Duchy of Lithuania was divided onto 3 parts. The easternmost part, with majority of orthodox, Bellorusians with minorities of Poles and Jews, was already called Belorussia. The western part, Roman Catholic and speaking baltic lithuanian language, with significant Polish minority, established its independence in February 1918. The central part, with capital Vilnius, populated mostly by Roman Catholics and speaking Polish and Bellorussian, was called Central Lithuania.
Conflict
Following the start of Polish-Soviet war, in 1919 the territory was occupied by the Red Army, but shortly afterwards the bolsheviks were pushed back by the Polish Army. 1920 saw the Central Lithuania occupied by the Red Army for the second time, although Russia officially recognized sovereignity of Lithuanian Soviet Republic over the city. Probably Lenin was waiting for the capture of Warsaw, to occupy the remainder of Lithuania. However, when Red Army was defeated in the Battle of Warsaw, the Soviets made decision to hand over the city back to Lithuania. The newly-established state of Lithuania declined any negotiations on the status of the Vilnius area and claimed it its' capital city. Polish commander Jozef Pilsudski ordered his subordinate general Lucjan Zeligowski to defect with his '1st Lithuanian-Byelorussian Division' and capture the city, without declaring war on Lithuania.
Negotiations
Officially the new country, called Central Lithuania, that inlcuded also some neighbouring Belorusian territories. There were extensive dyplomatic negotiatiations behind the scenes. Lithuania proposed to make confederation of baltic Western Lithuania, with Lithuanian as an official language and Central Lithuania with Polish. Poland added a condition, that the new state must be also federated with Poland. There were no approval from Lithuanian side for it.
Resolution
After 1922 election, Polish majority of 65% voted for annexation of the country to Poland, that was never officially recognised by Lithuania. After Soviet-Nazi pact 1939 Lithuania was given the Vilnius County.