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Lithuania
Tag
(10)
1915
May
18
Russian expulsions of Jews from the front zone
On 18 May 1915 the deadline expired for the Jews of western Kovno province to leave their homes. The Russian army accused them of treason.
1917
September
18
Vilna conference
On 18 September 1917 over 200 Lithuanian activists met in Vilna with German consent. It demanded an independent Lithuania and elected the Taryba.
December
11
Declaration of the Taryba
On 11 December 1917 the Lithuanian Taryba in Vilna proclaimed an independent state with Vilna as capital, bound to Germany by a "perpetual" alliance.
1918
February
16
Act of Independence of Lithuania
On 16 February 1918 the Taryba in Vilna proclaimed the restoration of an independent, democratic Lithuania with Vilna as capital, now with no tie to Germany.
1919
April
19
Key event
Poles take Vilna
On 19 April 1919 Lt-Col Belina-Prażmowski's Polish cavalry burst into Vilna and took most of the city. By 21 April the Poles had driven the Bolsheviks out.
August
23
Sejny uprising
On the night of 22–23 August 1919 the POW struck the Lithuanians near Sejny and took the town, which the Foch line assigned to Poland.
1920
September
20
Battle of the Niemen begins
On 20 September 1920 two Polish divisions attacked Grodno from the Augustów Forest. Tukhachevsky took it for the main blow; Piłsudski planned to outflank him.
October
09
Żeligowski's mutiny
On 9 October 1920 General Żeligowski's division, supposedly in mutiny against the high command, took Vilna from the Lithuanians. Piłsudski had ordered it.
1923
January
10
Revolt in Klaipėda
On 10 January 1923 Lithuanian volunteers in civilian clothes marched into the Klaipėda (Memel) Territory, administered by the French for the Entente.
March
15
Key event
Conference of Ambassadors recognises Poland's eastern border
On 15 March 1923 the Conference of Ambassadors recognised Poland's eastern borders with Russia and Lithuania and its sovereignty over Eastern Galicia and Vilna.