Page 220 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

218  INTRODUCING LITHU ANIA

which involved a conscious
eradication of all traces of traditional
Lithuania. Catholic churches were
converted to Orthodox ones and
Lithuanian-language books in the
Latin alphabet were banned.
However, language and identity were
kept alive by smuggling books in from
East Prussia as well as the printing and
cir culation of the first Lithuanian-
Napoleon’s Grand Army crossing the Nemunas river in 1812 language newspapers, Aušra (Dawn)
and Varpas (Bell).
Tsarist Russian Rule
More than 120 years of occupation followed Nationhood Regained, and Lost
the break-up of the Commonwealth, with As the chaos of World War I and the 1917
most of the land once governed by the Revolution weakened Russia, an elected
Grand Duchy of Lithuania now absorbed council in Vilnius declared Lithuanian
into the Russian Empire. Resistance independence on 16 February 1918.
constantly simmered under the surface, International rec ognition was slow in
however, and hopes of independence were coming. In October 1920, Józef Piłsudski
revived when Napoleon marched through (1867–1935), the nationalist head of state of
Kaunas and Vilnius in June 1812. Poland, which had also regained
These hopes were crushed six its independence in 1918, sent
months later when the an army to occupy Vilnius. The
demoralized, half-frozen remnants Lithuanian government was,
of the French Grand Army retreated therefore, forced to re-establish
from Moscow through Vilnius. itself in Kaunas. Vilnius was
When a rebellion led mainly by indisputably Lithuania’s
the rural nobility failed in 1831, historical capital, but by now,
repressive measures were launched almost half of the city’s
such as the closure of Vilnius population was Jewish, and the
University and the enforced use of other half consisted of Polish-
Russian in Lithuanian schools. Even speakers. Kaunas was declared
harsher oppression followed President Antanas Smetona Lithuania’s temporary capital
another rebellion in 1863, with over (r.1926–40) and remained so until 1939. An
100 of the resistance leaders hunted element of pride was restored
down and hanged, while others were when Lithuania snatched control of Memel
deported with their families to Siberia. The from a caretaker French garrison in early
Russification of the whole country followed, 1923 and renamed it Klaipėda.

1812 Napoleon’s 1832 Russians close 1918 Lithuania
advance and down Vilnius Dr Jonas Basanavičius, one of the declares
disastrous retreat University independence
signatories of the Lithuanian
Independence Act
1815 1855 1895
1863 Lithuanian 1866 Ban on Lithuanian-language books in 1926 President
1831 Rebellion rebels persecuted the Latin alphabet; 40 years of book- Smetona
against by Russia smuggling from East Prussia begins seizes power
Tsarist rule

218-219_HistLth.indd 218 15/02/17 10:15 am