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Revision as of 00:24, 3 December 2003 by Halibutt (talk | contribs) (some more data)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)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. Despite the agreements, Lithuania seized southern Suwalki region as well. When the polish army reached Lithuanian lines (August 26, 1920), a local war was started and lasted for several days until the Lithuanians were pushed back.
This made the compromise even harder to achieve and the newly-established state of Lithuania declined any negotiations on the status of the Vilnius area, claimed it its' capital city and denied any polish influence over it whatsoever. A cease-fire agreemen was signed on November 7 1920, but it did not solve the issue. 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.
General Zeligowski entered the city on November 8 1920, almost unopposed.
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.