Varviškės "respublika" (1920-1923)

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Karinis konfliktas; Lenkija (Lenkijos karalystė. Kingdom of Poland. Poland); Lenkų partizanai; Lietuvių-lenkų santykiai; Neutralioji zona; Partizanai; Varviškės respublika; Guerrillas; Lithuania; Military conflict; Neutral zone; Polish partisans; Polish-Lithuanian relations; The Republic of Varviškė.

ENVarviškė - is an old village and former manor near the river Igorka, where the Black Hańcza flows into the Nemunas River, 13 km southeast of Kapčiamiestis, 25 km north of Grodno, located in wooded and marshy field. Varviškė was founded in the late 15lh century. It was mentioned in the documents of 1518 and 1744 in the records of the Synod of Vilnius Diocese. In the 20th century, when Lithuania lost its southern territories at the beginning of the struggle for the independence, Varviškė became the furthest southern point of the country, just close to the demarcation line. The village was inhabited by Lithuanians, but the manor led to its Polonization. There were several manors in Seinai region which owners had an impact on Polonization of towns and cities, however, this process took place in some rural territories as well (in the southern territories of the region). The whole communities were Polonized. As the Poles began to establish organizational structures earlier than Lithuanians, they were stronger and therefore Polish agitators started their work in Seinai region earlier. They were invited by the owners of the manors. When the League of Nations established the demarcation line on June 18, 1919 and the neutral zone on November 29, 1920 Varviškė was in the territory of Lithuania. The border was guarded by the troops of the Lithuanian army; however their posts were arranged rarely, about 7-8 km from each other. Eastern and southern parts of the municipality Kapčiamiestis were difficult to cross because of swamps and bushes. In 1919-1920 in the most remote part of southern Lithuania the supporters of the idea to join Lithuania to Poland began to organize gatherings.They were supported by the Polish government, aiming to join the neutral zone to Poland. They announced the establishment of Varviškė local authority which was the fortified military outpost. The village and surroundings were sometimes called the Republic of Varviškė, although its territory constituted only about 30 km2. In 1920-1923 it was talked about the Republic of Varviškė not only in Seinai region, but also in the more remote regions of the country. Strong Polish partisan troop was created, which terrorized the inhabitants of the entire neutral zone and southern Lithuania. The organization embraced 300- 400 armed men. It is believed that some of them were military men, dressed as civilians. Their positions were located on the shores of the Black Hańcza, Igorka and Nemunas. The local authority of Varviškė declared its independence from both Poland and Lithuania and sought to join the Central Lithuania. It had its commandant and the stamp of the authority. The residents of municipalities: Kapčiamiestis, Kučiūnai, Lazdijai, Leipalingis, Liškiava, Punskas, Rudamina and Veisiejai were continually harassed by the armed groups from Varviškė. It was difficult to eliminate the group, because it acted in the woods and was equipped with machine guns, shotguns, grenades as well as it had the support of the Polish authorities. The local authority of Varviškė was finally broken up on March 23,1923 by the Lithuanian army with the help of Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union. [From the publication]