Antanas Merkys
Encyclopedia
Antanas Merkys was the last Prime Minister of independent Lithuania
, serving from November 1939 to June 1940. When Soviet Union presented an ultimatum to Lithuania
, President Antanas Smetona
fled the country leaving Merkys as the acting president. Merkys ostensibly cooperated with the Soviets and handed over the power to Justas Paleckis
, who formed the so-called People's Government of Lithuania. When Merkys attempted to flee the country, he was captured and deported to interior of Russia, where he died in 1955.
(1914–18). In 1919, he served as the newly-independent Lithuania's Minister of Defence before serving with the Lithuanian Army until his decommissioning in 1922. He then practised as a lawyer.
After the Klaipėda Revolt
of 1923, Merkys became secretary to the Klaipėda Region
Commissioner, Antanas Smetona
. Following the coup d'état in 1926
, he became Minister of Defence again until 1927, when he was made Governor of Klaipėda Region. In 1932, German demands prompted his removal as Governor and Merkys returned to practising law. He became Mayor of Kaunas
in 1933 and served in this position until 1939. In 1936 was elected to the Fourth Seimas. On November 17, 1939, he became Prime Minister.
presented an ultimatum to Lithuania
, President Antanas Smetona proposed armed resistance. Merkys suggested accepting the ultimatum and offered to resign as Prime Minister, but he temporarily remained at the head of the cabinet. Merkys agreed to Soviet demands that Smetona be arrested, but was unsuccessful in doing so. Smetona symbolically turned over his presidential duties to Merkys before escaping to Germany
and then to Switzerland
.
The day after Smetona's departure, Merkys announced on national radio that he had removed Smetona as President and had assumed the post himself. This violated the Lithuanian constitution, since Smetona never formally resigned. As such, he is not recognized as a legitimate president by Lithuanian diplomats.
On June 17, 1940, Merkys acceded to more Soviet demands, appointing Justas Paleckis
as the new Prime Minister and resigned. A month later he attempted to escape to Sweden, but was arrested in Riga
. He and his family were deported to Saratov
in Russia. In 1941 Merkys was imprisoned. In 1954, during the period of de-Stalinization
, Merkys was released from prison but not allowed to return to Lithuania. He lived in Vladimir
until his death the following year, on March 5, 1955. Subsequently his grave could not be located but a symbolic cenotaph
dedicated to Merkys' memory is in the Petrašiūnai cemetery
in Kaunas.
Prime Minister of Lithuania
The Prime Minister of Lithuania is the head of the executive arm of Lithuania's government, and is chosen by the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas. The modern office of Prime Minister was established in 1990, although the official title was "Chairperson of the Council of Ministers" until 25...
, serving from November 1939 to June 1940. When Soviet Union presented an ultimatum to Lithuania
1940 Soviet ultimatum to Lithuania
The Soviet Union issued an ultimatum to Lithuania before midnight of June 14, 1940. The Soviets, using a formal pretext, demanded to allow an unspecified number of Soviet soldiers to enter the Lithuanian territory and to form a new pro-Soviet government...
, President Antanas Smetona
Antanas Smetona
Antanas Smetona was one of the most important Lithuanian political figures between World War I and World War II. He served as the first President of Lithuania from April 4, 1919 to June 19, 1920. He again served as the last President of the country from December 19, 1926 to June 15, 1940, before...
fled the country leaving Merkys as the acting president. Merkys ostensibly cooperated with the Soviets and handed over the power to Justas Paleckis
Justas Paleckis
Justas Paleckis was a Lithuanian journalist and politician. He was acting president of Lithuania after the Soviet invasion while Lithuania was still ostensibly independent, in office from June 17 – August 3, 1940....
, who formed the so-called People's Government of Lithuania. When Merkys attempted to flee the country, he was captured and deported to interior of Russia, where he died in 1955.
Biography
Educated in law, Merkys served in the Russian Army during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
(1914–18). In 1919, he served as the newly-independent Lithuania's Minister of Defence before serving with the Lithuanian Army until his decommissioning in 1922. He then practised as a lawyer.
After the Klaipėda Revolt
Klaipeda Revolt
The Klaipėda Revolt took place in January 1923 in the Klaipėda Region . The region, located north of the Neman River, was detached from the East Prussia of the German Empire by the Treaty of Versailles and became a mandate of the League of Nations. It was placed under provisional French...
of 1923, Merkys became secretary to the Klaipėda Region
Klaipėda Region
The Klaipėda Region or Memel Territory was defined by the Treaty of Versailles in 1920 when it was put under the administration of the Council of Ambassadors...
Commissioner, Antanas Smetona
Antanas Smetona
Antanas Smetona was one of the most important Lithuanian political figures between World War I and World War II. He served as the first President of Lithuania from April 4, 1919 to June 19, 1920. He again served as the last President of the country from December 19, 1926 to June 15, 1940, before...
. Following the coup d'état in 1926
1926 Lithuanian coup d'état
The 1926 Lithuanian coup d'état was a military coup d'etat in Lithuania that resulted in the replacement of the democratically elected government with a conservative authoritarian government led by Antanas Smetona. The coup took place on December 17, 1926 and was largely organized by the military;...
, he became Minister of Defence again until 1927, when he was made Governor of Klaipėda Region. In 1932, German demands prompted his removal as Governor and Merkys returned to practising law. He became Mayor of Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
in 1933 and served in this position until 1939. In 1936 was elected to the Fourth Seimas. On November 17, 1939, he became Prime Minister.
Soviet ultimatum and occupation
When, on 14 June 1940, the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
presented an ultimatum to Lithuania
1940 Soviet ultimatum to Lithuania
The Soviet Union issued an ultimatum to Lithuania before midnight of June 14, 1940. The Soviets, using a formal pretext, demanded to allow an unspecified number of Soviet soldiers to enter the Lithuanian territory and to form a new pro-Soviet government...
, President Antanas Smetona proposed armed resistance. Merkys suggested accepting the ultimatum and offered to resign as Prime Minister, but he temporarily remained at the head of the cabinet. Merkys agreed to Soviet demands that Smetona be arrested, but was unsuccessful in doing so. Smetona symbolically turned over his presidential duties to Merkys before escaping to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and then to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
The day after Smetona's departure, Merkys announced on national radio that he had removed Smetona as President and had assumed the post himself. This violated the Lithuanian constitution, since Smetona never formally resigned. As such, he is not recognized as a legitimate president by Lithuanian diplomats.
On June 17, 1940, Merkys acceded to more Soviet demands, appointing Justas Paleckis
Justas Paleckis
Justas Paleckis was a Lithuanian journalist and politician. He was acting president of Lithuania after the Soviet invasion while Lithuania was still ostensibly independent, in office from June 17 – August 3, 1940....
as the new Prime Minister and resigned. A month later he attempted to escape to Sweden, but was arrested in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
. He and his family were deported to Saratov
Saratov
-Modern Saratov:The Saratov region is highly industrialized, due in part to the rich in natural and industrial resources of the area. The region is also one of the more important and largest cultural and scientific centres in Russia...
in Russia. In 1941 Merkys was imprisoned. In 1954, during the period of de-Stalinization
De-Stalinization
De-Stalinization refers to the process of eliminating the cult of personality, Stalinist political system and the Gulag labour-camp system created by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Stalin was succeeded by a collective leadership after his death in March 1953...
, Merkys was released from prison but not allowed to return to Lithuania. He lived in Vladimir
Vladimir
Vladimir is a city and the administrative center of Vladimir Oblast, Russia, located on the Klyazma River, to the east of Moscow along the M7 motorway. Population:...
until his death the following year, on March 5, 1955. Subsequently his grave could not be located but a symbolic cenotaph
Cenotaph
A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
dedicated to Merkys' memory is in the Petrašiūnai cemetery
Petrašiunai Cemetery
Petrašiūnai Cemetery is Lithuania's premiere last resting place formally designated for graves of people influential in national history, politics, arts, and science.- Location :...
in Kaunas.