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Vilnius region refers to territory of Lithuania which was under Polish control in the interwar period. Major cities of Vilnius region are Vilnius, Gardinas and Lyda. The region was first controlled by Lithuania, then taken by troops of general Lucjan Zeligowski. Because capital of Lithuania Vilnius was located in the region, Lithuania moved its capital to Kaunas, which was declared a temporary capital. Polish version however states that the invasion to Vilnius region wasn't an occupation, because in the city of Vilnius Poles made a majority. However, Lithuanians tends to deny this version because in parts of Vilnius region Lithuanians were making up a majority, while in other parts Belarusians were a majority, and in some cities and towns - Jews; so Poles were making up only about 60% population. Therefore Lithuanians say that Lithuania had more rights to the territory and to the establishment of multiethnic zone rather than Poles because territory was historically Lithuanian (both politically and ethnically) and Vilnius was a historical capital of Lithuania, and it never belonged to Poland. At first, Poles tried to set up a state Central Lithuania, which was arguably (again, Polish and Lithuanian vesions differ here) semi-independent in that multiethnic territory (it did not encompassed whole Vilnius region however, but just some parts of it). Then however the territory was fully attached to Poland, mostly as part of newly created Wilno voivodship, other parts were in Nowogrodek Voivodship and Bialystok Voivodship. Lithuania didn't take away the claim on territory however. In Vilnius region, Lithuanians were discriminated, Lithuanian schools were being closed down. Percentage of Lithuanian population was decreasing, especially in Polish-dominated areas. Jews also faced discrimination, same as elsewhere in Poland: for example, the amount of Jews who could enter Vilnius university (named Stefan Batory university then) was limited and they were sitting in specially designated places. Because, although Jews back then didn't have good rights anywhere in Eastern Europe, in Lithuania they had better rights, some Poles were afraid that if a referendum would be done Jews would vote against being part of Poland. However, referendum was done, and it was voted for being part of Poland. However, because it was done under Polish administration, its results can be disputed, and as well the electoral boundary, according to which elections to 1922 Vilnius parliament were organised, was not drawn to encompass Vilnius region, but instead it encompassed some territories which weren't part of Vilnius region nor claimed by Lithuania, but excluded non-Polish inhabitated areas, which were part of Vilnius region. Lithuania therefore didn't recognised these elections or the referendum and continued to claim Vilnius as its capital, seeking foreign countries support on this. In 1927 however the situation of war was removed in Lithuania. In 1938, when whole Europe was looking at events related to Nazi Germany, Poland used the time to give ultimatum to Lithuania, which required to renew diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Poland, and this way de facto recognise Vilnius region as part of Poland. Otherwise the war would be between two countries. Understanding that Lithuania would most likely loose such war, it accepted ultimatum, which led to quiet protests in Lithuania. In 1939 Germany offered Lithuania to strike against Poland together, president of Lithuania Antanas Smetona at the time however didn't believed that Adolf Hitler would win the war, and he opposed nazism, so he decided against that, although with the help of Germany and Polish forces having to fight on two fronts Lithuania would have most likely been able to retake Vilnius region. By the time Lithuania was in German sphere of influence according to Ribbentrop-Molotov pact, however later it was exchanged with Russia for Eastern Poland. In 1939 Soviets gave proposal to Lithuania to give 1/5th of Vilnius region, including city of Vilnius itself, to Lithuania in exchange for stationing Soviet troops in Lithuania. Lithuanians at first didn't want to accept this, but later Russians said that troops would enter Lithuania anyways, so Lithuania accepted the deal. 1/5th of Vilnius region was ceded, despite of the fact that Soviet Union always recognised whole Vilnius region as part of Lithuania previously. Eventually Lithuania was annexed by Russia, then some more territories were attached to newly formed Lithuanian SSR, during German occupation even more were added, however not whole Vilnius region, and Lithuania wasnt independent then. Today most of Vilnius region is part of Belarus (see Eastern Vilnius region), while the part ceded back to Lithuania remains part of Lithuania (see Western Vilnius region).

Also see:

• Occupied territories of Baltic States

• Lithuania