Republic of Central Lithuania 358352 move=:edit= 225193697 2008-07-12T11:30:32Z Soman 67221 /* Aftermath */ reword {{Refimprove|date=December 2007}} :''"Central Lithuania" redirects here. This is an article about a former state. For the geographical and historical region, see [[Vilnius Region]].'' {{Infobox Former Country |native_name = ''Vidurio Lietuvos Respublika''<small> ([[Lithuanian Language|lt]])</small><br/>''Republika Litwy Środkowej''<small> ([[Polish Language|pl]])</small> |conventional_long_name = Republic of Central Lithuania |common_name = Central Lithuania |continent = Europe |country = Lithuania |era = Interwar period |year_start = 1920 |year_end = 1922 |date_start = October 12 |date_end = March 24 |event_start = Żeligowski's Mutiny |event_end = Election in Central Lithuania |p1 = Lithuania |flag_p1= Flag of Lithuania 1918-1940.svg |p2 = Poland |flag_p2 = Flag of Poland.svg |s1 = Second Polish Republic |flag_s1= Flag of Poland.svg |image_flag = Flag of Central Lithuania.svg |image_coat = |image_map = Rzeczpospolita_Central_Lithuania.png |image_map_caption = Territory of the Republic of Central Lithuania (green) |national_anthem = |capital = Vilna (Wilno, Vilnius) |government_type = Republic |leader1 = Lucjan Żeligowski }} The '''Republic of Central Lithuania''' or '''Middle Lithuania''' ({{lang-lt|Vidurio Lietuvos Respublika}}, {{lang-pl|Republika Litwy Środkowej}}, {{lang-be|Рэспубліка Сярэдняе Літвы / ''Respublika Siaredniaje Litvy''}}), or simply '''Central Lithuania''' ({{lang-lt|Vidurio Lietuva'' or ''Vidurinė Lietuva}}, {{lang-pl|Litwa Środkowa}}, {{lang-be|Сярэдняя Літва / ''Siaredniaja Litva''}}), was a short-lived political entity which did not gain international recognition. It was created in 1920 following [[Żeligowski's Mutiny|the staged rebellion]] of soldiers of the [[1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Infantry Division]] of the [[Polish Army]], supported by the Polish air force, cavalry and artillery.<ref name=cepenas>{{lt icon}} {{cite book |last=Čepėnas |first=Pranas | authorlink =Pranas Čepėnas | title=Naujųjų laikų Lietuvos istorija, vol. II | year=1986 | publisher=Dr. Griniaus fondas | location=Chicago | isbn= 5-899570121}}</ref> Centered around the historical capital of the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]], [[Vilna]] ({{lang-lt|Vilnius}}, {{lang-pl|Wilno}}), for eighteen months the entity served as a [[buffer state]] between [[Poland]], upon which it depended, and Lithuania, which claimed the area.<ref name="von Rauch">{{cite book | first=Georg von |last=Rauch |authorlink=Georg von Rauch | editor=Gerald Onn | title =The Baltic States: Years of Independence - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, 1917-40 | year =1974 | pages =100-102 | chapter =The Early Stages of Independence | chapterurl= http://books.google.com/books?id=emBIdi4LPz8C&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101&sig=SuiAqB2S7xpCFGxBIBfJ_hzbmGA |publisher =C. Hurst & Co| isbn=0-903983-00-1 }}</ref> After a variety of delays, [[Election in the Republic of Central Lithuania|a disputed election]] took place on [[January 8]] [[1922]], and the territory was annexed to Poland. The Polish-Lithuanian borders in the [[interwar]] period, while recognized by the [[Conference of Ambassadors]] of the [[Entente]]<ref name="conference">{{cite book | first=Eric |last=Phipps |authorlink=Eric Phipps |coauthors= [[Romano Avezzana]], [[Raymond Poincaré]], [[Maurycy Zamoyski]], M. Matsuda | title =Decision taken by the conference of ambassadors regarding the eastern frontiers of Poland | year =1923| publisher =[[League of Nations]] | url =http://www.forost.ungarisches-institut.de/pdf/19230315-1.pdf | format =pdf | accessdate =2008-03-11 }}</ref><ref name="LoN">{{cite book | title =League of Nations, Treaty Series | year =1923 | pages =261-265 | publisher =League of Nations | volume = 15 }}</ref> and the [[League of Nations]],<ref name="Miniotaite">{{cite paper |last=Miniotaitė |first=Gražina |title=The Security Policy of Lithuania and the 'Integration Dilemma' |publisher=NATO Academic Forum| date=1999 |url=http://www.nato.int/acad/fellow/97-99/miniotaite.pdf |pages=21|format=pdf |accessdate=2008-03-14 }}</ref> were not recognized by the [[Republic of Lithuania]].<ref name="Vilna_problem">{{cite book | title=The Vilna problem |publisher=Lithuanian Information Bureau| location=London |year=1922| page=24-25}}</ref> In 1931 an international court in the [[Hague]] issued the determination that the Polish seizure and ongoing control of the city was a violation of international law.<ref name="Miniotaite"/> ==Legal status== Most historians agree that the state relied on Polish support. Some historians refer to the Republic of Central Lithuania as a ''state'' without qualification,<ref>For example: Timothy Snyder, ''The Reconstruction of Nations: Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, 1569-1999'', p.64; Jeffrey Shandler, ''Awakening Lives: Autobiographies of Jewish Youth in Poland Before the Holocaust'', p.xlvii; Adam Kantautas, Filomena Kantautas, ''A Lithuanian Bibliography: A Check-list of Books and Articles'', p.307; Lola Romanucci-Ross, Takeyuki Tsuda, ''Ethnic Identity: Problems And Prospects for the Twenty-first Century'', p.75''</ref> while others characterize it with terms such as ''[[puppet state]]'',<ref name=Jerzy>{{cite book |authorlink=Jerzy J. Lerski |first=Jerzy J. |last=Lerski |coauthors=Piotr Wróbel, Richard J. Kozicki |title= Historical Dictionary of Poland 966-1945 |year=1996 |publisher=Greenwood Press |isbn=0-313-26007-9 |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=FPxhOu_n1VYC&pg=PA309&ei=AGtYR8T6JJK4igGDjqDJBg&sig=TlR2E4T3dzWCpXvWfFbi6nfhhq0 |pages=309}} </ref><ref>Royal Institute of International Affairs. International Affairs.Vol.36, No. 3, 1960 p.354</ref> ''puppet Republic'',<ref>{{cite book| first=Walter |last=Kolarz |title=Myths and Realities in Eastern Europe |year= 1946 |publisher=Lindsay Drummond |location=London |pages=109}}</ref> ''so-called state'',<ref>Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America.The Polish Review.1956, p.67</ref> ''artificial creation'',<ref>{{cite book | last=Eidintas | first=Alfonsas | coauthors=Vytautas Žalys, Alfred Erich Senn | editor=Ed. Edvardas Tuskenis | title=Lithuania in European Politics: The Years of the First Republic, 1918-1940 | edition=Paperback | year=1999 | month=September | publisher=St. Martin's Press | location=New York | isbn=0-312-22458-3 | pages=40}}</ref> or as a ''sham'' state.<ref>{{lt icon}} {{cite web| first=Arūnas |last=Vyšniauskas |url= http://www.genocid.lt/centras/lt/272/a/ |title=Pirmoji sovietinė okupacija ir genocidas Lietuvoje 1940–1941 m. |publisher=The Genocide and Resistance Research Center of Lithuania |accessdate=2007-12-16}} </ref> ==History== ===Ethnic and national background=== {{main|Ethnic composition of Central Lithuania}} Following the [[partitions of Poland]], most of the lands that formerly constituted the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] were annexed by the [[Russian Empire]]. The Imperial government increasingly pursued a policy of [[Russification]] of the newly-acquired lands, which escalated after the failed [[January Uprising]] of 1864. The discrimination against local inhabitants included restrictions and outright bans on the usage of the [[Polish language|Polish]], [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] (see [[Lithuanian press ban]]), [[Belorussian language|Belorussian]], and [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]] (see [[Valuyev circular]]) languages.<ref name="Roshwald24">{{cite book| first=Aviel |last=Roshwald |title= Ethnic Nationalism and the Fall of Empires: Central Europe, Russia and the Middle East, 1914-1923 |publisher= Routledge |year= 2001| isbn=0415178932 |pages=24 |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=ef0wXYsJATwC&pg=PA24&as_brr=3&ei=3IpYR-OwLZK4igG90NiKCA&sig=mRTP_GiX_LTj2ap1MKd2uEUVTE0 }}</ref><ref name="Geifman116">{{cite book| first=Anna |last=Geifman |title=Russia Under the Last Tsar: Opposition and Subversion, 1894-1917 |publisher= Blackwell Publishing |year= 1999 |isbn=1557869952 |pages= 116 |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=HBg7tQ7BGY0C&pg=PA116&as_brr=3&ei=LIpYR9PSIoboiQHj6ajICA&sig=yHaaJ4jL_4t2glCTTULoeDSUSRE }}</ref> These measures, however, had limited effects on the [[Polonization]] effort undertaken by the Polish patriotic leadership of the Vilnius educational district.<ref name=Venc>{{cite journal| authorlink=Tomas Venclova |first=Tomas |last=Venclova |url=http://www.lituanus.org/1981_2/81_2_01.htm |title=Four Centuries of Enlightenment. A Historic View of the University of Vilnius, 1579-1979 |journal=Lituanus |volume=1 |issue=27 |date= Summer 1981}}</ref><ref name=Yla>{{cite journal |first= Stasys |last=Yla |url= http://www.lituanus.org/1981_2/81_2_03.htm |title=The Clash of Nationalities at the University of Vilnius |journal=Lituanus |volume=1 |issue=27 |date= Summer 1981}}</ref> A similar effort was pursued during the 19th century [[Lithuanian National Revival]], which sought to distance itself from both Polish and Russian influences.<ref>{{cite journal| url= http://www.lituanus.org/1989/89_4_06.htm |title=The Lithuanian Language and Nation Through the Ages: Outline of a History of Lithuanian in its Social Context |first=William R. |last=Schmalstieg |journal= Lituanus | date=Winter 1989| volume=4 |issue=34}}</ref> [[Image:Centrallithuania1920stamps.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Stamp of Central Lithuania (1920) displaying the state coat-of-arms and a Lithuanian stamp overprinted with the arms of Central Lithuania and a new name: "Central Lithuania Postage"]] [[Image:MWP Pilsudski odezwa.JPG|thumb|right|[[Józef Piłsudski|Piłsudski's]] bi-lingual [[Proclamation to the inhabitants of the former Grand-Duchy of Lithuania|''Appeal to the citizens of former Grand Duchy of Lithuania'']] of April 1919]] [[Ethnic composition of Central Lithuania|The ethnic composition of the area]] has long been disputed, since [[census]]es from that time and place are often considered unreliable. According to the first census of the Russian Empire in 1897, the population of the [[Vilna Governorate]] was distributed as follows:<ref name="Łossowski11">{{pl icon}} {{cite book |authorlink=Piotr Łossowski| fistPiotr |last=Łossowski | title=Konflikt polsko-litewski 1918-1920| location= Warsaw |publisher=Książka i Wiedza |year=1995 |isbn= 8305127699 |pages=11}}</ref><ref name="Demoskop">{{ru icon}} [http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus_lan_97.php?reg=32]</ref> *[[Russians]] — 4.9% *[[Ukrainians]] — 0.1% *[[Belarusians]] — 56.1% (including Roman Catholics) *[[Poles]] — 8.2% *[[Lithuanians]] — 17.6% *[[ethnic German|Germans]] — 0.2% *[[Jew]]s — 12.7% *[[Tatars]] — 0.1% *Others — 0.1% The 1916 German census of the [[Vilnius Region]], however, reported strikingly different numbers.<ref name="Brensztejn">{{pl icon}} {{cite book|first= Michał Eustachy |last= Brensztejn|year=1919 |title=Spisy ludności m. Wilna za okupacji niemieckiej od. 1 listopada 1915 r. |publisher=Biblioteka Delegacji Rad Polskich Litwy i Białej Rusi |location=Warsaw}}</ref> * Poles — 58.0% * Lithuanians — 18.5% * Jews — 14.7% * Belarusians — 6.4% * Russians — 1.2% * Other — 1.2% Both censuses had encountered difficulties in the attempt to categorize their subjects. [[Ethnography|Ethnographers]] in the 1890s were often confronted with those who described themselves as both Lithuanians and Poles.<ref>{{cite book |last=Davies |first=Norman |title=God's Playground |year=1982 |url=[http://books.google.com/books?id=_pJOhUSTBl4C&pg=PA69&dq=russian+census+1897+identity&lr=lang_en%7Clang_lt&num=100&as_brr=3&sig=EywOYCIKpDWooyexDcC4fbIRmU4] |pages=69}}</ref> According to a German census analyst, "Objectively determining conditions of nationality comes up against the greatest difficulties."<ref>{{cite book |last=Liulevicius |first=Vejas Gabrielas |title=War Land on the Eastern Front |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=tlrez-ylNUkC&pg=PA34&dq=tutejszy&lr=lang_en%7Clang_lt&num=100&sig=-_IKNxZwVQsTNXP2TP5EmVVynqY |pages=34}}</ref> ===Aftermath of WWI=== ====Policies==== 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, Vilnius was divided near evenly between Poles and Jews, with ethnic Lithuanians constituting a mere fraction of the total population (about 2-3% of the population, according to Russian 1897<ref name="Łossowski11"/><ref name="Demoskop"/> and German 1916 censuses<ref name="Brensztejn"/>) The Lithuanians nonetheless believed that their historical claim to the city (former capital of the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]]) had precedence and refused to recognize any Polish claims to the city and the surrounding area.<ref name="MacQueen_context">{{ cite journal |first=Michael |last=MacQueen |title=The Context of Mass Destruction: Agents and Prerequisites of the Holocaust in Lithuania |journal= Holocaust and Genocide Studies |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=27–48 |year=1998 |doi= 10.1093/hgs/12.1.27}}</ref> While Poland under [[Józef Pilsudski]] attempted to rebuild a multi-national [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]] with a number of ethnically non-Polish territories (see [[Międzymorze]] federation), Lithuania similarly strove to create a state in the historical lands of [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]],{{fact|date=March 2008}} a state including ethnically non-Lithuanian territories. Lithuanian authorities, however, argued that the majority of inhabitants living there, even if they did not speak Lithuanian and considered themselves Poles, were [[Polonization|Polonized]] (or [[Russification|Russified]]) Lithuanians.<ref name="Łossowski13-16">{{pl icon}} {{cite book |authorlink=Piotr Łossowski| fistPiotr |last=Łossowski | title=Konflikt polsko-litewski 1918-1920| location= Warsaw |publisher=Książka i Wiedza |year=1995 |isbn= 8305127699 |pages=13–16}}</ref> 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 [[Roman Dmowski]], saw modern Poland as an ethnic state, another, led by [[Józef Piłsudski]], wished to rebuilt the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.<ref name="Snyder64">{{cite book | authorlink=Timothy Snyder |first=Timothy |last=Snyder |title=The Reconstruction of Nations: Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, 1569-1999| publisher= Yale University Press |year=2003 |isbn= 030010586X |pages=65 |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=xSpEynLxJ1MC&pg=PA64&lr=&ei=SR5kR-DeAYyEiQH60ameAw&sig=dkFTXsp0pqj5Astl5WUsspgoEdQ }}</ref> Both parties were determined to take the Poles of Vilnius into the new state. Piłsudski attempted to rebuild the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in a canton structure, as part of the [[Międzymorze]] federation:<ref name="Snyder64"/> *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 fraction, 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).<ref name="Snyder64"/> The inclusion of territories predominant with non Poles would have weakened support for Dmowski.<ref name="Snyder64"/> ====Polish-Lithuanian War==== {{main|Polish-Lithuanian War|Żeligowski's Mutiny}} At the end of World War I, the area of the former [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] was divided between the [[Republic of Poland]], the [[Belarusian National Republic]], and the [[Republic of Lithuania]].{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Following the start of the [[Polish-Soviet War]], during the next two years, the control of Vilnius and its environs changed frequently. In 1919 the territory was briefly occupied by the [[Red Army]], which defeated the [[Lithuanian and Belarusian Self-Defence|local self-defense units]], but shortly afterwards the Russians [[Vilna offensive|were pushed back]] by the [[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 (1920)|Battle of Warsaw]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}, the Soviets made the decision to hand the city back over to Lithuania. The [[Polish-Lithuanian War]] erupted when Lithuania and Poland clashed over the [[Suvalkai Region]] on [[August 26]], [[1920]]. The League of Nations intervened and arranged negotiations in [[Suwałki]]. The League negotiated a cease-fire, signed on [[October 7]], [[1920]], placing the city of Vilnius in Lithuania.<ref name=Zigmas>{{cite book | last = Zinkevičius | first= Zigmas | authorlink =Zigmas Zinkevičius | title = Rytų Lietuva praeityje ir dabar | publisher = [[Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidykla]] |location=Vilnius | year=1993 | pages =158| isbn = 5-420-01085-2 }}</ref> The [[Suwałki Agreement]] was to have taken effect at 12:00 on [[October 10]], [[1920]]. However, on October 8, General [[Lucjan Żeligowski]] and the [[1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Infantry Division]], along with local Polish inhabitants [[Żeligowski's Rebellion|launched a surprise attack]] on the weak Lithuanian forces in the area, and most of them retreated.<ref name="von Rauch"/> Poland disclaimed all responsibility for the action, maintaining that Żeligowski had acted entirely on his own initiative.<ref name="von Rauch"/> This version of the event was redefined in August 1923 when Pilsudski, speaking in public at a Vilnius theater, stated that the attack was undertaken by his direct order.<ref name="Venclova">{{en icon}} {{cite book | first=Tomas |last=Venclova| authorlink=Tomas Venclova | coauthors =[[Czesław Miłosz]]| title =Winter Dialogue | year =1999 | pages =146 | publisher =Northwestern University Press | isbn= 0-8101-1726-6 | url= http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0810117266&id=t0_mJNrytgsC&pg=PA146&lpg=PA146&sig=JCub-ySaV2MFWSBEUZtjCMIcJNM}}</ref> Rather than annexing the area to Poland, Żeligowski proclaimed a new state, the Republic of Central Lithuania. This action cut off solid Lithuanian speaking lands lying southwest and northeast from Slavicized Vilnius vicinity.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} Lithuanian culture in the territory was suppressed and the revival of language disrupted.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} The seat of Lithuanian government moved to Lithuania's second-largest city, [[Kaunas]]. Armed conflicts 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 on [[November 27]].<ref name="Łoss216-218">{{pl icon}} {{cite book |authorlink=Piotr Łossowski| fistPiotr |last=Łossowski | title=Konflikt polsko-litewski 1918-1920| location= Warsaw |publisher=Książka i Wiedza |year=1995 |isbn= 8305127699 |pages=216–218}}</ref> === Republic of Central Lithuania === On [[October 12]] [[1920]], Żeligowski announced the creation of a [[provisional government]]. Soon the courts and the police were formed by his decree of [[January 7]], [[1921]], and the [[civil rights]] of Central Lithuania were granted to all people who lived in the area on [[January 1]], [[1919]], or for five years prior to [[August 1]], [[1914]]. The symbols of the state were a red flag with Polish [[Coat of Arms of Poland|White Eagle]] and Lithuanian [[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]]. Extensive diplomatic negotiations continued behind the scenes. Lithuania proposed creating a [[confederation]] of Baltic Western Lithuania (with Lithuanian as an [[official language]]) and Central Lithuania (with Polish as an official language).{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Poland added the condition that the new state must be also federated with Poland, pursuing [[Józef Piłsudski]]'s goal of creating the [[Międzymorze]] Federation.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Lithuanians rejected this condition. With nationalistic sentiments rising all over Europe, many Lithuanians were afraid that such a federation, resembling the [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]] from centuries ago, would be a threat to [[Lithuanian culture]], as during the Commonwealth times the many of the of Lithuanian nobility [[Polonization|Polonized]] themselves under the influence of the [[Polish culture]]. [[Election in Central Lithuania|General elections in Central Lithuania]] were decreed to take place on [[January 9]], [[1921]], and the regulations governing this election were to be issued prior to [[November 28]], [[1920]]. However, due to the [[League of Nations]] mediation, and the Lithuanian boycott of the voting, the elections were postponed.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} ===Mediation=== [[Image:Border-Lithuania-Poland-1919-1939.svg|thumb|right|330px|Selected demarcation lines during the struggle for central Lithuania]] Peace talks were held under the auspice of the [[League of Nations]]. The initial agreement was signed by both sides on [[November 29]], [[1920]], and the talks started on [[March 3]], [[1921]]. The League of Nations considered the Polish proposal of a [[plebiscite]] on the future of Central Lithuania. As a compromise, the so called "Hymans' plan" was proposed (named after [[Paul Hymans]]). The paln consisted of 15 points, among them were<ref name="Moroz">{{pl icon}} {{cite book | first=Małgorzata |last=Moroz | title =Krynica. Ideologia i przywódcy białoruskiego katolicyzmu | year =2001 | chapter =Białoruski ruch chrześcijańsko—demokratyczny w okresie pierwszej wojny światowej | chapterurl =http://kamunikat.fontel.net/www/knizki/historia/moroz/krynica/krynica_02.htm | publisher =Białoruskie Towarzystwo Historyczne | location =Białystok | isbn=8391502902 | url =http://kamunikat.fontel.net/www/knizki/historia/moroz/krynica/krynica_spis.htm | accessdate = }}</ref>: *Both sides guarantee each other's independence. *Central Lithuania is incorporated into the Federation of Lithuania, composed of two [[canton (subnational entity)|cantons]]: Lithuanian-inhabited [[Samogitia]] and multi-ethnic (Belarusian, Tatar, Polish, Jewish and Lithuanian) Vilnius area. Both cantons will have separate governments, parliaments, [[official language]]s and a common federative capital in Vilnius.<ref name="Geouffre de Lapradelle">{{cite book|first=Albert Geouffre de |last=Lapradelle | authorlink=Albert Geouffre de Lapradelle | coauthors =André Nicolayévitch Mandelstam, Louis Le Fur | title =The Vilna Question | year =1929| pages =15-18 | publisher =Hazell, Watson & Viney, ld. | location =London | url= http://books.google.com/books?vid=LCCN30006203&id=8DO6_mnXAO4C&pgis=1}}</ref> *Lithuanian and Polish governments will create interstate commissions on both foreign affairs, trade and industry measures and local policies. *Poland and Lithuania will sign a defensive alliance treaty. *Poland will gain usage of ports in Lithuania. The talks came to a halt when Poland demanded that a delegation from Central Lithuania (boycotted by Lithuania) be invited to [[Brussels]].<ref name="Moroz"/> On the other hand Lithuanians demanded that the troops in Central Lithuania be relocated behind the line drawn by the [[October 7]], [[1920]] cease-fire agreement,{{Fact|date=February 2007}} while Hymans' proposal left Vilnius in Polish hands, which was unacceptable to Lithuania.<ref name="Moroz"/> Both claims were a step too far. 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 [[Klaipėda Region]] (the area in [[East Prussia]] north of the [[Neman River]]) was to be incorporated into Lithuania in exchange for granting certain level of internal autonomy to the Central Lithuania.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} However, both Poland and Lithuania openly criticized this revised plan and finally this turn of talks came to a halt as well.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} ===Resolution=== [[Image:Krzyz Zaslugi Wojsk Litwy Srodkowej Ribbon.png|frame|right|Ribbon of the Cross of Military Merit 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).{{Fact|date=February 2007}} General [[Lucjan Żeligowski]] decided to pass the power to the civil authorities and confirmed the date of [[Election in Central Lithuania|the elections]] ([[January 8]] [[1922]]).{{Fact|date=February 2007}} There was a significant electioneering [[propaganda]] campaign as Poles tried to win the support of other ethnic groups present in the area. Polish government was also accused of various strong-arm policies (like closing of Lithuanian newspapers<ref name=cepenas/> or election violations like not asking for a valid document from a voter).<ref name="Documents">{{cite book | title=Documents diplomatiques. Conflit Polono-Lituanien. Questions de Vilna 1918-1924 |year=1924}}</ref> The elections where 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.<ref name=vote>{{cite book | first=Zigmantas |last=Kiaupa |title=The History of Lithuania |year=2004 |publisher=Baltos lankos |location=Vilnius | isbn=9955-584-87-4}}</ref> The elections were not recognized by Lithuania. Polish factions, which gained control over the parliament (Sejm) of the Republic, on [[February 20]] passed the request of incorporation into Poland.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} The request was accepted by Polish [[Sejm]] on [[March 22]], [[1922]]. All of Republic's territory was eventually incorporated into the newly-formed [[Wilno Voivodeship (1923–1939)|Wilno Voivodeship]]. Lithuania declined to accept the Polish authority over the area. Instead, it continued to treat the so-called [[Vilnius Region]] as part of its own territory and the city itself as its constitutional capital, with [[Kaunas]] being only a [[temporary capital of Lithuania|temporary seat of government]]. ===Aftermath=== In a [[counterfactual history|counterfactual]] analysis, several historians have asserted 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.<ref name="Senn"/> Under this scenario, despite the [[Soviet-Lithuanian 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.<ref name="Senn">[[Alfred Erich Senn]], ''The Formation of the Lithuanian Foreign Office, 1918-1921'', Slavic Review, Vol. 21, No. 3. (Sep., 1962), 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."''<br>Alfred Erich Senn, ''Lietuvos valstybes...'' 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."''<br>[[Antanas Ruksa]], ''Kovos del Lietuvos nepriklausomybes'', t.3, p.417: ''"In summer 1920 Russia was working on a communist revolution in Lithuania... From this disaster Lithuania was saved by the [[miracle at Vistula]]."''<br>Jonas Rudokas, [http://www.nasz-czas.lt/519/na_lamach.html Józef Piłsudski - wróg niepodległości Litwy czy jej wybawca?] (Polish translation of a Lithuanian article) "Veidas", 25 08 2005: ''[Piłsudski] "defended both Poland and Lithuanian from Soviet domination"''</ref> After the [[Molotov-Ribbentrop pact]] and the [[Invasion of Poland (1939)|Polish Defensive War]] of 1939, Lithuania was given Vilna, and its surroundings up to 30 km, on [[October 10]], [[1939]]. A part of the region was given to the [[Belarusian SSR]].{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Soon afterwards, Lithuania was forced to become the [[Lithuanian SSR]]{{Fact|date=February 2007}}, although since the restoration of Lithuanian independence in 1990, the city's status as Lithuania's capital has been internationally recognized. == See also == * [[History of Vilnius]] * [[Vilnius Voivodeship]] ==Notes and references== {{reflist|2}} == External links== * [http://viduramziu.lietuvos.net/etno/etno19a-en.htm Lithuanian-Belarusian language boundary in the 4th decade of the 19th century] * [http://viduramziu.lietuvos.net/etno/etno20a-en.htm Lithuanian-Belarusian language boundary in the beginning of the 20th century] * [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/lt-cent.html State symbols of Central Lithuania] * [http://www.halgal.com/pur_home.html Repatriation and resettlement of Ethnic Poles] * [http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/nceeer/2004_819-06g_Weeks.pdf From "Russian" to "Polish": Vilnius-Wilno 1900-1925] * {{de icon}} [http://www.wsgn.euv-frankfurt-o.de/vc/2005_SS/sch_grenzen/Kampf_um_Wilna-Kurzfassung.PDF Kampf um Wilna - historische Rechte und demographische Argumente] * [http://www.halgal.com/graphics/PUR/PUR_map_mixethnic1.jpg Mixed ethnic groups around Wilno / Vilnius during inter-war period], after [[Norman Davies]], ''God's Playground: A History of Poland: Volume II, 1795 to the Present''; Columbia University Press: 1982 * [http://www.filatelija.lt/zem_vl.htm Stamps of ROC] [[Category:Polish historical regions]] [[Category:Former countries in Europe]] [[Category:History of Belarus]] [[Category:History of Lithuania]] [[Category:Post-Russian Empire states]] [[Category:Polish-Lithuanian relations]] [[Category:20th century in Lithuania]] [[be:Сярэдняя Літва]] [[be-x-old:Сярэдняя Літва]] [[cs:Střední Litva]] [[da:Central-Litauen]] [[de:Mittellitauen (Staat)]] [[et:Kesk-Leedu]] [[eo:Centra Litovio 1920-1940]] [[it:Lituania Centrale]] [[he:ליטא המרכזית]] [[lt:Vidurinė Lietuva]] [[no:Midt-Litauen]] [[pl:Litwa Środkowa]] [[pt:República da Lituânia Central]] [[ru:Срединная Литва]] [[uk:Серединна Литва]]