Kovų dėl Seinų klausimu (1918-1919)

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Kariniai veiksmai; Lenkija (Lenkijos karalystė. Kingdom of Poland. Poland); Lenkijos ir Lietuvos konfliktas; Lenkų ir lietuvių kovos 1918–1919 m.; Lenkų-lietuvių karas; Lietuviai kariai savanoriai; Pirmasis pasaulinis karas, 1914-1918 (Didysis karas; World War I); Seinai; Seinų kraštas; First World War; Lithuania; Lithuanian military volunteers; Military operations; Polish and Lithuanian struggles 1918–1919; Polish-Lithuanian War; Polish-Lithuanian conflict; Seinai; Seinai Region.

ENAt the end of the First World War subjugated nations, including Lithuanians, strove for independence. Lithuania had been in union with Poland for a long time, therefore Poles were not able to understand Lithuanians’ aspirations. Poles wanted to form a federation of the two nations (Józef Piłsudski). Lithuanians did not agree with any of the Polish concepts and proclaimed the re-establishment of the Lithuanian state on February 16,1918. Consequently, the problem of Po- lish-Lithuanian border emerged. The conflict primarily concerned territorial control of the Vilnius Region, including Vilnius, and the Seinai Region, including the town of Seinai. Seinai was a town of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and it became the important centre of Lithuanian culture at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. In 1919 the administration of the town was passed to re-born Lithuania. Lithuanians were able to organize local civil and military authorities. This led to tensions between Poland and Lithuania, as both sides claimed the area. Polish landowners were afraid of their properties and the nationalization process. On August 23, 1919, Polish Military Organization from Suvalkai organized a military action against the Lithuanian rule and occupied Seinai. This started the Po- lish-Lithuanian War for Seinai Region. Seinai changed sides eleven times. The war ended in the late autumn with a Polish success, and the town became a part of Poland. [From the publication]