Between July 6 and 12, Lithuanians with some Latvian assistance attempted to drive out the Bolsheviks. By mid-June the Lithuanians reached the Latvian border and cornered the Soviets among lakes and hills near Zarasai, where the Soviets held out until the end of August 1919. Polish advance significantly shortened the Lithuanian–Soviet front line and allowed Lithuania to concentrate its forces for operations in northeastern Lithuania. In April–May, German forces were reorganized into the South Lithuania Volunteer Brigade composed of three regiments (18th, 19th, and 20th) and a separate battalion in Raseiniai. [36] On February 10, joint Lithuanian and German forces captured Šėta and forced the Red Army to retreat. Similar anti-Soviet resistance groups, also known as Forest Brothers and cursed soldiers, fought against Soviet rule in Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Galicia. When mediation at League of Nations failed to change the situation, Lithuania and Poland were suspended in the state of "no war, no peace" until the Polish ultimatum of 1938. Lithuania soon began organizing basic institutions, and established their first government led by Augustinas Voldemaras. In addition to the Vilnius Region, the nearby Suwałki Region was also disputed. On February 27, 1919, German volunteers supported by Plechavičius' partisans and Joniškėlis' partisans, defeated the Samogitian Regiment in a battle near Luokė. [32] Only local partisans, armed with weapons acquired from retreating Germans, offered brief resistance. [12], In Berlin, Smetona and Yčas signed a loan agreement with Germany for 100 million marks. [56] The southern group, formed on the basis of the 1st Riflemen Regiment and led by Kazys Ladiga, was to attack from Alytus along Daugai–Valkininkai line. On the night of February 14–15, German forces and one company of the Lithuanians returned to Alytus and retook the city. [32] The group, initially commanded by Jonas Variakojis, was aided by Joniškėlis' partisans from the north. [68], After the capture of Utena, Saxon Volunteers left the front and by mid-July departed from Lithuania. [35] That barred Bolshevik forces from directly attacking Kaunas, Lithuania's second-largest city. During World War I, Lithuania was occupied by Germany and made part of Ober Ost. [91] However, Soviets lost the Battle of Warsaw and were pushed back by the Poles. [64] On May 22, the Group launched an attack on Utena. Select Your Cookie Preferences. [28] The divisions did not have a common military commander. [74] Neither Lithuanians, Poles, nor Germans (still present in the Suwałki Region) were content with the new demarcation line. Soviets were ordered to abandon the offensive and maintain defensive position. The Soviets and Lithuanians, separated by the Daugava River, maintained their fronts until the Battle of Daugavpils in January 1920. In the occupied territory the Soviets created revolutionary committees and soviets based on structures developed in Russia. The Lithuanian government withdrew to Kaunas, the temporary capital of Lithuania. [63] The first brigade, stationed in Ukmergė, was called the Vilkmergė Group and included a battalion of Saxon Volunteers. Its first commander Kazys Ladiga was ordered to push along the Utena–Zarasai line. They renounced Russian claims to Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland. At the epicentre of the most recent debate are four group statues representing major social groups of the Soviet period – industrial workers, peasants, students and soldiers – which were erected on the Green Bridge in Vilnius in 1952. [51] As a reward for its successful operations, the volunteer regiment was named the Separate Panevėžys Battalion (Lithuanian: Panevėžio atskirasis batalionas) on March 22. On the eve of the Second World War, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany signed a non-aggression agreement, also known as the Molotov–Ribbentrop pact, dividing Central Europe – including the Baltic states – under the agreement’s secret protocols. [86] By August 31, on the southern shore of the Daugava, the Soviet held only Grīva, a suburb of Daugavpils. [28] Such policies alienated local population and contributed to the eventual defeat of the Soviets. Mykolas Sleževičius stepped in and organized a new government. It was part of the larger Soviet westward offensive of 1918–1919. It was part of the larger Soviet westward offensive of 1918–1919. The offensive followed retreating German troops with intentions to establish Soviet republics in Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland and link up with the German Revolution. [18] They were not very reliable as the German Revolution increased popularity of the Spartacist League and Soviet causes. "[4] In mid-May, the Lithuanian army, now commanded by General Silvestras Žukauskas, began an offensive against the Soviets in northeastern Lithuania. [81] They also had fortifications built during World War I about 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Daugavpils. [18] The first Saxon Volunteers, as they became known, arrived to Kaunas at the beginning of January, but quite a few of them were judged unfit for duty and sent back. Article 12 of the Compiègne Armistice required the Germans to protect Lithuania from possible Soviet attacks,[15] but Germany was also interested in maintaining its influence in the region and weakening Russia. Poland ignored both lines[26] and continued to advance up to the orange line. [63] The divisions did not have a common military commander. 25). [54], The lull between Soviet attacks was used to strengthen and organize the army. [31] Three divisions were employed: Pskov division (later renamed Lithuanian Division), International Division (later renamed 2nd Latvian Riflemen Division; included 39th, 41st, 47th, and 60th Regiments), and 17th Division (later renamed Western Division; included 5th Vilnius Regiment). Soviets also accused Germans of violating the demarcation line set on January 18 and pressured them to retreat. [18] The Baltische Landeswehr, led by General Rüdiger von der Goltz, organized a coup against the Latvian government and captured Riga. The Ukmergė Group attacked first and captured Zarasai on August 25. [82], The Ukmergė Group attacked first and captured Zarasai on August 25. The volunteers were paid 30 marks per month plus 5 marks per day and had to sign up for three months. The Lithuanian Communist Party and the authorities were in practice controlled from Moscow, from whence all orders came. [67] Converging on Daugavpils, the Lithuanian–Soviet front shortened and the Lithuanians were able to concentrate their forces. The wars delayed international recognition of independent Lithuania and the … The operation was risky as for a while Kėdainiai was unprotected opening a path to Kaunas,[32] but also very successful: some 500 Soviets were taken prisoner and about 50 Poles, captured by the Soviets in the battles near Vilnius, were liberated and returned to Poland. [34] Southern Lithuania was a little better protected as Germans retreated from Ukraine through Hrodna. Lithuanian forces entered the city on March 26, but the Red Army retook it on April 4. Direct negotiations between May 28 and June 11, 1919, collapsed as neither side was inclined to compromise. From April 1919, the Lithuanian war went parallel with the Polish–Soviet War. On May 3, the Separate Panevėžys Volunteer Regiment, supported by the 18th Regiment of Saxon Volunteers, had secured the town. Already in September 1919 the Soviets offered to negotiate a peace treaty, but talks began only in May 1920. As Winter War ended in March and Germany was making rapid advances in the Battle of France , the Soviets heightened anti-Lithuanian rhetoric and accused Lithuanians of kidnapping Soviet soldiers from their bases. During World War I Lithuania was occupied by Germany and made part of Ober Ost. As Lithuanian flanks were not defended, they decided to abandon to offensive. [89], Advance of Soviet forces (red arrows) against Polish troops in June–August 1920, The first Lithuanian–Soviet attempt at negotiations took place on September 11, 1919, after the People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs of Soviet Russia, Georgy Chicherin, sent a note with a proposal for a peace treaty. [92] On August 26, the Red Army left Vilnius and Lithuanians prepared to defend their borders as they were drawn in the treaty. The Lithuanian partisans (Lithuanian: Lietuvos partizanai) were partisans who waged a guerrilla warfare in Lithuania against the Soviet Union in 1944–1953. Soviet troops (about 18,000 to 20,000 men ) approached the Lithuanian territory on December 12, 1918. On February 9, Soviet 7th Riflemen Regiment (900 men) took over Jieznas, south of Kaunas. Bolshevik forces advance following retreating German troops (red arrows). [13] The money was used primarily to build and supply the army. The Soviets gathered their forces from calmer fronts and forced Lithuanians to retreat to their former positions. [23] On January 5, 1919, Vilnius was taken by the Soviets after a five-day fight with Polish paramilitary platoons led by general Władysław Wejtko. [14] Mobilization of officers was announced only on January 25; about 400 people responded. At first, both Poles and Lithuanians cooperated against the Soviets, but soon the cooperation gave way to increasing hostility. [80] The Red Army used the time to reorganize and strengthen their forces, using natural barriers, like plentiful lakes, rivers, and hills, enhanced with trenches and barbed wires, to secure their position. The front somewhat stabilized when Soviet forces were stopped near the Venta River by Latvian and German units (Baltische Landeswehr). [82] ISBN, White, James D. (1994). On February 16, 1918, the Council of Lithuania declared independence from both Germany and Russia. [35], The movement of the Bolsheviks towards East Prussia worried Germany, and they sent volunteers (Brigade Schaulen) commanded by General Rudiger von der Goltz to free a section of the Libau–Romny Railway line linking Liepāja, Mažeikiai, Radviliškis, and Kėdainiai. In February the Soviet advance was stopped by Lithuanian and German volunteers, who prevented the Soviets from capturing Kaunas, the temporary capital of Lithuania. Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected it as it required the Polish forces to retreat up to 30–35 km (19–22 mi); Lithuanians were not content with it as well, as it left Vilnius and Hrodna under Polish control. [63] The first brigade, stationed in Ukmergė, was called the Vilkmergė Group and included a battalion of Saxon Volunteers. The success of this operation lifted the Lithuanian army's morale and prevented the Red Army from encircling Kaunas from the north. [19] He decided to mount offensive in northeastern Lithuania. The Vilkmergė Group captured Kurkliai and Anykščiai. Kėdainiai was attacked by the 2nd Riflemen Regiment of Lithuanian (former Pskov) Division (about 1,000 men). [5] The Bolshevik Western Army followed retreating German troops maintaining a distance of about 10–15 kilometres (6.2–9.3 mi) between the two armies. [26] The Soviet propagated internationalism and atheism in a country of staunch Catholics and determined nationalists. On December 29, he issued the first mass appeal in four languages calling for volunteers for the Lithuanian Army. On December 8, 1918, a temporary revolutionary government, chaired by Vincas Mickevičius-Kapsukas, was formed solely from members of the Communist Party of Lithuania. Historian Norman Davies summarized the situation: "the German army was supporting the Lithuanian nationalists, the Soviets were supporting the Lithuanian communists and the Polish Army was fighting them all. [28] The divisions did not have a common military commander. [61] Lithuanians claimed Vilnius as their historical capital and opposed to any federation with Poland, desiring an independent national Lithuanian state. [79] This compromised Lithuania's declared neutrality and further deepened the Polish–Lithuanian crisis. Their main purpose was to demoralize the enemy forces and boost confidence of local residents and Lithuanian volunteers. [32] However, Lithuanian advance continued and, on June 10, Lithuanian forces reached the territory controlled by Latvian partisans (Green Guard) and supplied them with munitions. [51] As a reward for its successful operations, the volunteer regiment was given a name on March 22: the Separate Panevėžys Battalion (Lithuanian language: Panevėžio atskirasis batalionas The Soviets and Lithuanians, separated by the Daugava River, maintained their fronts until the Battle of Daugavpils in January 1920. However, the soldiers were tired and demoralized and wanted to return home as soon as possible. [56] Germans did not participate. [3] By the end of December 1918 Soviet forces reached Lithuanian borders. [8] The Soviets attempted to spread the global proletarian revolution and sought to establish Soviet republics in the region. [24] On February 27, the Lithuanian SSR was incorporated into the Lithuanian–Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic or Litbel. Soldiers received first uniforms. As the Soviets approached, Juozas Lukša, at … Instead Soviets planned a coup to overthrow Lithuanian government and establish a Soviet republic. [14] Mobilization of officers was announced only on January 25; about 400 people responded. [91] However, Soviets lost the Battle of Warsaw and were pushed back by the Poles. [57] The Polish army forced the Soviets to withdraw their left wing from the territories south of the Neris River. Lithuanian forces from Panevėžys, commanded by Jonas Variakojis, and from Kėdainiai numbered only about 200 men. [93] During all this time Soviet Russia was Lithuania's strongest ally against Poland. Warsaw: Książka i Wiedza. [26] Poland justified its actions not only as part of a military campaign against the Soviets but also as the right of self-determination of local Poles, who formed a significant minority in eastern Lithuania. In recent years Lithuania has witnessed many heated debates and an extreme polarization of opinions regarding its Soviet heritage. This led to further hostilities with Poland as it did not recognize the treaty. [63], On May 18, the reorganized army carried out its first operation. [79][92] On August 26, the Red Army left Vilnius and Lithuanians prepared to defend their borders as they were drawn in the treaty. [61] The line was drawn several kilometers west of the Warsaw – Saint Petersburg Railway. [11] Residents organized local self-defense units to defend themselves from retreating Germans. On May 30, Joniškėlis' partisans broke through the Soviet lines and took Rokiškis in Soviet rear;[67] Bolshevik forces, afraid that they could be encircled, left Kupiškis on the night of May 30–31, and Lithuania secured that city on June 1. "[13] It meant the land would be taken from large landowners and redistributed first to the volunteers for free and then to small peasants for a fee. Lithuanian partisan war lasted almost for a decade, thus being one of the longest partisan war in Europe. For half a century the Soviet Union kept this war a secret. Planned Soviet attacks to encircle and capture Kaunas. [9] By the end of December 1918, Bolshevik forces reached eastern Lithuania. Approved third parties … Its objective was to reach the Baltic Sea and cut off German supplies to Latvians in their war against the Soviets. After the Second World War, a comprehensive Sovietisation of the Lithuanian society continued from the first occupation. [10] They lacked guns, ammunition, and officers. Lithuania became part of the Russian Empire after the final partition of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795. [71] Trying to prevent a direct military conflict the Allied Supreme Council drew the first demarcation line on June 18, 1919. At first they were organized into the 46th Saxon Volunteer Division. It is estimated that a total of 30,000 Lithuanian partisans and their supporters were killed. Its first commander Kazys Ladiga was ordered to push along the Utena–Zarasai line. [69] On June 12, the Soviets counterattacked and Lithuanians were stopped. [39] Antanas Juozapavičius, the first Lithuanian officer to die in the wars, was killed during this battle. [73] Preoccupied with the Soviet threat, Lithuania could not organize an effective defense and the Entente intervened again by drawing the second demarcation line, known as the Foch Line, on July 26, 1919. [53] The Bolshevik morale underwent deeper declines and, between March 19 and March 24, their forces left Panevėžys. 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