Figure 1.--The Polish Army seized Vilinus which had a modtly Polish and Jewish population from Lithuania in the aftermath of World War I (1920). Here is photograph of celebrations in the city associated with the formal incorporation of Vilnius into the new Polish state. The action poisoned Lithuanian-Polish relations during the inter-War period. Source: Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe. Sygn. 1-H-406-3.

Lithuania within the Tsarist Empire was a multi-ethnic province which included Poles, Jews, and Belarussians. The large Jewish population, mostly located in the cities, spoke Yiddish or Russian. Only about 3 percent of Vilnius/Wilno in the southeast was historically associated with Lithuania, but by 1920 had only a small Lithuanian population, although Lithuanians were predominant in many rural areas around Vilinus, especially to the north and west of the city. Many Lithuanians wanted a new state with its capital at Vilinus. The border between Lithuania and Poland was not well defined. The two couyntries had lived in close association for centuries, both as part of a loose confederation and as part of the Tsarist Empire. Determining the border after World war I became difficult and led to a war. Lithuania immediately after World War I achieved control over Vilinus, making it the country's capital despite the fact that the city had arimarily Polish and Jewish population. The Lituanian claim to Vilinus was based on historical criteria rather than the ethnic population at the time. The Lithuanian constitution named Vilnius as the capital of the country. Vilinus was initially occupied by Lituanians after World War. There was a insurection (April 21, 1919). The Red Army took the city during the independence war (July 14, 1920). Polish General Lucjan Zeligowski led a military force into Vilinus to seize it for Poland (Octtober 9, 1920). Vilnius and the lands to the south thus became part of Poland. Lithuanians had to form a state based on Kaunas as its capital, but the major goal of Lithuanian foreign policy became to regain Vilinus above all else. The dispute over Vilnius poisoned Lithuanian-Polish relations and made it impossible for the two countries to cooperate in the security threat from Germany and the Soviet Union. It also made it difficult for the Baltic Republics to form any common front against the Soviets.

Created: 6:18 AM 12/5/2011
Last updated: 6:19 AM 12/5/2011