Provisional Government of Lithuania
Encyclopedia
The Provisional Government of Lithuania was a temporary government aiming for independent Lithuania during the last days of the Soviet occupation and the first weeks of German Nazi occupation
in 1941. It was secretly formed on 22 April, 1941, announced on 23 June, 1941, and dissolved on 5 August, 1941. It was formed from the members of the Lithuanian Activist Front
(LAF) in Kaunas
and Vilnius
.
. However, the leader of the LAF, Kazys Škirpa
, who was supposed to become the Prime Minister
, was in Germany
at the time, hoping to obtain recognition for Lithuania (he was also former Lithuanian envoy
to Germany and therefore continued to live there). Since the Nazi
regime saw Lithuania as a future part of Greater Germany, it was not interested in Lithuanian independence. Kazys Škirpa was not allowed to leave Germany and return to Lithuania to join the government; instead, he was put under house arrest
. Rapolas Skipitis, another planned minister who was also in Berlin
was also prevented from leaving.
The planned government had other losses as well: Vytautas Bulvičius, who was Minister of Defence, was arrested by the Soviet forces on June 2. His place was therefore taken by General Stasys Raštikis
. On June 21, 1941 (just one day before Germany declared war on the Soviet Union), four members of the planned government were arrested by the Soviets: (Vladas Nasevičius, Vytautas Statkus, Jonas Masiliūnas and Jonas Vainauskas); they were imprisoned in Gorky prison in Moscow
. The tribunal started on November 26, 1941 (after the uprising had ended, and while Lithuania was still occupied by Germany). Sentences were pronounced on November 28: Bulvičius was executed, while Masiliūnas, Nasevičius, and Statkus were exiled to Siberia, along with other people arrested at the same time.
The government, however, still came to power after the June uprising, and ruled during the Lithuanian 1941 independence
, until dissolving itself upon the Nazi occupation of the country.
Occupation of Lithuania by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Lithuania by Nazi Germany refers to the occupation of Lithuania by Nazi Germany from the start of the German invasion of Soviet Union to the end of the Battle of Memel . At first the Germans were welcomed as "liberators" from the repressive Soviet regime which occupied Lithuania...
in 1941. It was secretly formed on 22 April, 1941, announced on 23 June, 1941, and dissolved on 5 August, 1941. It was formed from the members of the Lithuanian Activist Front
Lithuanian Activist Front
Lithuanian Activist Front or LAF was a short-lived resistance organization established in 1940 after Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union. The goal of the organization was to liberate Lithuania and re-establish its independence...
(LAF) in 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...
and Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
.
History
The provisional government was confirmed on June 22, at the start of June uprisingLithuanian 1941 independence
The June Uprising was a brief period in the history of Lithuania between the first Soviet and Nazi occupations in June 1941. Approximately one year earlier, on June 15, 1940, the Red Army invaded Lithuania and the unpopular Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic was soon established. Political...
. However, the leader of the LAF, Kazys Škirpa
Kazys Škirpa
Kazys Škirpa was a Lithuanian military officer and diplomat best known for his attempts to establish Lithuanian independence in 1941.- Army career:...
, who was supposed to become the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, was in 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...
at the time, hoping to obtain recognition for Lithuania (he was also former Lithuanian envoy
Envoy (title)
In diplomacy, an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary is, under the terms of the Congress of Vienna of 1815, a diplomat of the second class, ranking between an Ambassador and a Minister Resident....
to Germany and therefore continued to live there). Since the Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
regime saw Lithuania as a future part of Greater Germany, it was not interested in Lithuanian independence. Kazys Škirpa was not allowed to leave Germany and return to Lithuania to join the government; instead, he was put under house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
. Rapolas Skipitis, another planned minister who was also in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
was also prevented from leaving.
The planned government had other losses as well: Vytautas Bulvičius, who was Minister of Defence, was arrested by the Soviet forces on June 2. His place was therefore taken by General Stasys Raštikis
Stasys Raštikis
Stasys Raštikis was a Lithuanian military officer, ultimately obtaining the rank of General of the Lithuanian Army, as well as the Minister of Defense in the Provisional Government established before the German takeover of Lithuania in 1941.-Biography:Born in Kuršėnai, Raštikis attended school in...
. On June 21, 1941 (just one day before Germany declared war on the Soviet Union), four members of the planned government were arrested by the Soviets: (Vladas Nasevičius, Vytautas Statkus, Jonas Masiliūnas and Jonas Vainauskas); they were imprisoned in Gorky prison in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. The tribunal started on November 26, 1941 (after the uprising had ended, and while Lithuania was still occupied by Germany). Sentences were pronounced on November 28: Bulvičius was executed, while Masiliūnas, Nasevičius, and Statkus were exiled to Siberia, along with other people arrested at the same time.
The government, however, still came to power after the June uprising, and ruled during the Lithuanian 1941 independence
Lithuanian 1941 independence
The June Uprising was a brief period in the history of Lithuania between the first Soviet and Nazi occupations in June 1941. Approximately one year earlier, on June 15, 1940, the Red Army invaded Lithuania and the unpopular Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic was soon established. Political...
, until dissolving itself upon the Nazi occupation of the country.
The cabinet
The people who were meant to be in the government:- Prime Minister: Colonel Kazys ŠkirpaKazys ŠkirpaKazys Škirpa was a Lithuanian military officer and diplomat best known for his attempts to establish Lithuanian independence in 1941.- Army career:...
(was put under house arrest in BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
) - Defense: Major Vytautas Bulvičius (arrested by Russians on June 2, executed in November), later General Stasys RaštikisStasys RaštikisStasys Raštikis was a Lithuanian military officer, ultimately obtaining the rank of General of the Lithuanian Army, as well as the Minister of Defense in the Provisional Government established before the German takeover of Lithuania in 1941.-Biography:Born in Kuršėnai, Raštikis attended school in...
- Foreign affairs: Rapolas Skipitis (was not able to leave Berlin)
- Internal affairs: Vladas Nasevičius (arrested by Soviets on June 21, later exiled to Siberia)
- Education: Professor Juozas AmbrazevičiusJuozas AmbrazeviciusJuozas Ambrazevičius or Juozas Brazaitis was a Lithuanian literary historian, better known for his political career and nationalistic views...
(served as prime minister after Lithuania was liberated in the June uprising) - Finance: Jonas Matulionis
- Trade: Vytautas Statkus (arrested by Soviets on June 21, later exiled to Siberia)
- Industry: Doctor engineer Adolfas Damušis
- Agriculture: Professor Balys Vitkus
- Social security: Doctor Jonas Pajaujis
- Infrastructure: Engineer Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis
- Communication: Jonas Masiliūnas (arrested by Soviets on June 21, later exiled to Siberia)
- Controller of state: Jonas Vainauskas (arrested by Soviets on June 21)