INDEPENDENCE DAY

Brief history of Lithuania

1009A.D. Lithuania was first mentioned in German (Quedlinburg) Chronicles. Lithuanians already have a reputation as fierce warriors.

1200 While much of Europe has already converted to Christianity, Lithuania is still pagan and will remain so for several hundred more years. Lithuanians believed fire embodies the divine. A sacred flame is kept at a Vilnius temple tended to by vestal virgins. If they break their vows of chastity or the flame goes out, the penalty is death.

1236 Lithuania is united by Mindaugas and later crowned king. Unification helps Lithuania fend off German crusaders.

1323 Vilnius founded by Grand Duke Gediminas.

1386 To keep the Germans at bay, the Lithuanian Grand Duke and Polish Queen wed, creating a monarchial union. This leads to Lithuania's final conversion to Christianity. The first act of faith is felling sacred trees and statues to pagan gods.

Lithuania-Poland stretches to the Black Sea. In 1410, Lithuanians and allies crush the Teutonic Knights, ending the Teutonic Knight's military might in the region for good.

J.Mateika “Battle of Žalgiris”

1569 Weakening Lithuania enters a formal Commonwealth with Poland The plague strikes and half the Vilnius’ residents die The Commonwealth is cut up by the partitions; Lithuania ends up in Russia Lithuanian uprisings; Czar outlaws public use of Lithuanian.

On February 16, 1918 the Lithuanian Council unanimously passed the resolution for the re-establishment of the Independent State of Lithuania at 12:30 p.m. in the historical capital of Vilnius at Didzioji st. 30 (currently Pilies st. 26). The “de jure” sovereignty of the now modern country was legally proclaimed.

First Lithuania Council signed the Act of Independence of Lithuania February 16th, Left to right - First row: J. Vileisis, dr. J. Saulys, kun. J. Staugaitis, S. Narutavicius, dr. J. Basanavicius, A. Smetona, kun. K. Saulys, S. Kairys, J. Smilgevicius. Second row: K. Bizauskas, J. Vailokaitis, D. Malinauskas, kun. V. Mironas, M. Birzicka, kun. A.Petrulis, S. Banaitis, P. Klimas, A. Stulginskis, J. Sernas, P. Dovydaitis

The Act of Independence of Lithuania

The house of Signators

The First President of Lithuania Antanas Smetona

1920 After battling Russia and other powers, Lithuania secures independence. Poles occupy Vilnius; Kaunas becomes Lithuania’s provisional capital. Catholic Lithuania breaks relations with the Vatican after Rome recognizes Polish rule over Vilnius.

1939 In March, a long-running dispute between Lithuania and Germany over the jurisdiction of Klaipeda comes to a head when Berlin demands that Lithuania give up the coastal city, or face a Nazi invasion. Lithuania, figuring it couldn’t depend on support from either Russia or any Western powers, gives in to the ultimatum. On March 22, Hitler arrives in Klaipeda In August, Hitler and Stalin carve up Europe, with the Baltics in the Soviet sphere. Before, the Baltics were able to play Germany and Russia off each other, but they’re now virtually within U.S.S.R. occupies Lithuania; mass deportations to Siberia begin. Moscow hands Vilnius back to Lithuania.

1941 Nazis occupy Lithuania Soviets occupy Lithuania again. Over 500,000 Lithuanians are either deported, forced into exile, jailed or shot.

1987 First open protests against Soviets Lithuanian Communists vote to break with the Soviet Party, a daring, even dangerous move at the time.

August 23, 1989 was an extraordinary day, when some 2 million people from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia linked hands, and formed a living chain, stretching from Vilnius through Riga and up to Tallinn. This human chain stretched some 650 km in total. The event was an act of solidarity during the 50-year anniversary commemoration of the transaction between J. Stalin and A. Hitler against the Baltic countries. This act of solidarity was named Baltijos kelias (Baltic Road). A declaration was made during a solemn session of the Seimas of Sajudis Lithuanian Reorganisation Movement. The declaration stated that the relationship between Lithuania and the USSR must be based on the Peace Treaty of July 12th of 1920.

11 th March 1990 Lithuania declares independence, the first Soviet republic to do so. Earlier, Soviet leader Gorbachev visited Lithuania hoping to talk Lithuanians into sticking with Moscow.

13 th January 1991 Soviet crackdown kills 13 civilians in Vilnius.

1991Admission into the United Nations. 1993Becoming a member of the Council of Europe. 1998Becoming an Associate Member of the EU. 2001Becoming a member of the World Trade Organization.

2002Invitation to start membership negotiations with NATO. 2003Signing the EU Accession Treaty. 2003Lithuanians voted for EU membership.

March 29, 2004 Lithuania is accepted into NATO. May 1, 2004 Lithuania joins the European Union.

The President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus

President Residence and Flag