185:
156:: "supreme command of all German forces in the East"). At first, the Germans simply exploited Lithuania for the benefit of their war effort. As the war progressed, it became evident that the two-front war that Germany was engaged in would necessitate a compromise peace with the Russian Empire. This necessitated a re-thinking of strategies concerning the occupied territories in the east. An openly pursued goal of annexation gave way to a more guarded policy after Germany perceived that a
27:
220:, an organization that helped war victims and mobilized political activists, then entered into negotiations between the Lithuanians and the occupational authorities. The Committee demanded that the Germans agree to permit a national convention, elected directly by the people. After lengthy negotiations, the parties reached an agreement that a conference could convene that would represent the Lithuanian aspirations; however no elections were allowed to take place.
172:. Lengthy debates between German military leaders (who favored open annexation) and the civilian administration (which leaned towards a more subtle strategy) resulted in a resolution that declared that the military administration governing occupied territories would grant some semblance of autonomy to their populations. The plan was to form a network of formally independent states that would in fact be completely dependent on Germany, the so-called
99:
303:, the new state was to be created only in the lands, that were assumed to be ethnically Lithuanian. Lacking real powers to represent the nation (the Conference was not democratically elected by the citizens), it did not specify the foundations of the state or relationships with other countries. These were to be decided by the
227:) met in Vilnius on 1–4 August 1917. At the start of the meeting, the military authorities presented an ultimatum that any future conferences would need to declare loyalty to Germany and agree to annexation. Since no elections had been held the representatives had to be invited by the Organizing Committee, which included
355:
If
Germany agrees to proclaim the state of Lithuania before the Peace Conference and to support the needs of Lithuania at the Peace Conference, then the Lithuanian Conference, bearing in mind that in normal conditions of peace the interests of Lithuania incline not so much to the East or to the South
373:
to act as the executive authority of the
Lithuanian people. The council was empowered to carry out the resolution adopted by the Conference, i.e. to negotiate with the Germans and declare an independent Lithuania. The Social Democratic members of the conference were dissatisfied with the composition
314:
The national minorities were promised freedom for their cultural needs. In later years national minorities were granted the same rights as
Lithuanians and in some cases extra representation in the government: after the war ended, the Council of Lithuania was expanded to include Jewish and Belarusian
360:
East, South, and West in this context referred to Russia, Poland, and
Germany, respectively. This carefully balanced passage was a response to German demands to declare loyalty to Germany. It did not please the Germans and they did not allow the publication of the resolution.
263:
The meetings of the
Conference were held behind closed doors and no German representatives participated. A number of speeches were delivered during the early sessions of the council that denounced the German occupation, mentioning
86:, gave legal authority to the council and its decisions. While the Conference laid the basic guiding principles of Lithuanian independence, it deferred any matters of the political structure of future Lithuania to the
356:
as to the West, recognizes the possibility for the future state of
Lithuania to enter into a certain relationship, still to be determined, with Germany, without harming its own independent development.
295:
In regard to the future of
Lithuania, the Conference announced that an independent state, based on democratic principles, needed to be declared. In response to various schemes to re-create the old
30:
Presidium and secretariat of the
Vilnius Conference. The hall was decorated with small two-color (red and green) flags (three are visible in the picture). This was one of the suggestions for the
247:. The Committee strove to choose representatives from a wide political, professional, and social spectrum. In total 264 representatives were selected, five to eight from each county (
204:
and ethnic minorities in
Lithuania. The military administration approached a number of prominent members of the Lithuanian community, including Bishop Pranciškus Karevičius,
240:
148:
invaded Russia and soon entered the territory which comprised
Lithuania. In 1915, the Germans assumed control and organized a military administration known as
217:
109:
Lithuania existed as an independent state from the beginning of the 13th century until 1569, when it entered into a union with Poland, forming the
82:
that was entrusted with the mission of declaring and re-establishing an independent Lithuania. The Conference, hoping to express the will of the
616:
Eidintas, Alfonsas; Vytautas Žalys; Alfred Erich Senn (September 1999). "Chapter 1: Restoration of the State". In Ed. Edvardas Tuskenis (ed.).
962:
565:
441:
433:
Many sources state that the Conference ended on September 23, and not September 22. This mistake probably originated in the
967:
315:
representatives; the first governments of Lithuania included Ministries for Jewish and Belarusian affairs; in 1920 the
300:
255:). 214 of them attended the conference that convened on 18 September 1917, and remained in session until 22 September.
110:
885:
854:
816:
780:
695:
625:
516:
418:
304:
87:
434:
390:
308:
122:
307:, elected by popular vote. These three principles were echoed by the Council of Lithuania when it declared the
871:
766:
200:("Council of Trust" or "Confidential Council") was authorized in May 1917; its membership was to consist of
332:
977:
102:
957:
374:
of this council, since it included only two members of that party, and of the twenty members, six were
972:
336:
331:, were also granted autonomy. The only sizeable group that did not have extra representation was the
296:
982:
324:
213:
20:
382:
914:
690:. Translated by Algirdas Budreckis (6th ed.). New York: Manyland Books. pp. 151–155.
654:
189:
71:
62:
met on 18–22 September 1917, and began the process of establishing a Lithuanian state based on
846:
839:
228:
165:
209:
34:. The delegates decided it was too dark and gloomy and eventually a yellow stripe was added.
370:
283:
114:
79:
39:
8:
939:
248:
51:
19:
This article is about a conference in 1917. For an international conference in 2006, see
580:
126:
328:
327:
received financial support from the government; Germans, concentrated in the disputed
919:
881:
850:
812:
776:
741:
701:
691:
659:
621:
512:
414:
320:
117:
in the late 18th century. Most of the Lithuanian territory was incorporated into the
31:
386:
437:, passed on February 16, 1918. This is one factual mistake in the text of the Act.
351:
In response to the ultimatum by the Germans, the following resolution was adopted:
157:
244:
316:
236:
205:
134:
184:
375:
340:
161:
130:
118:
67:
686:
Gerutis, Albertas (1984). "Independent Lithuania". In Albertas Gerutis (ed.).
389:. Five months later, on 16 February 1918, the Council of Lithuania issued the
951:
745:
727:
269:
232:
145:
75:
369:
At the end of the proceedings, the conference elected twenty members to the
533:
467:
442:"Vasario 16-osios aktas: teksto formavimo šaltiniai ir autorystės problema"
265:
173:
63:
891:
786:
658:. Vol. VI. Boston, Massachusetts: Juozas Kapočius. pp. 173–175.
618:
Lithuania in European Politics: The Years of the First Republic, 1918-1940
26:
918:. Vol. I. Boston, Massachusetts: Juozas Kapočius. pp. 581–585.
201:
141:
83:
845:. Westview Series on the Post-Soviet Republics. WestviewPress. pp.
615:
169:
534:"From Auszra To The Great War: The Emergence Of The Lithuanian Nation"
43:
620:(Paperback ed.). New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 20–28.
732:
538:
472:
149:
98:
875:
770:
652:
Simas Sužiedėlis, ed. (1970–1978). "Vilnius National Conference".
923:
663:
446:
History. A Collection of Lithuanian Universities' Research Papers
378:
272:. The Conference, however, concentrated on three main questions:
154:
der Oberbefehlshaber der gesamten deutschen Streitkräfte im Osten
705:
381:. Two of the priests then resigned; their places were taken by
448:(in Lithuanian) (59–60). Vilnius Pedagogical University: 57–66
290:
509:
Lietuvos valstybės konstitucijų istorija (XX a. pirmoji pusė)
125:
arose during the 19th century, based on concepts of national
940:
DIDŽIOJO TIKSLO LINK: Lietuvių konferencijai Vilniuje – 100
912:
Simas Sužiedėlis, ed. (1970–1978). "Council of Lithuania".
16:
1917 meeting establishing an independent Lithuanian state
836:
880:(in Lithuanian). Vilnius: Elektroninės leidybos namai.
775:(in Lithuanian). Vilnius: Elektroninės leidybos namai.
468:"Higher Education In Lithuania: An Historical Analysis"
90:, which would later be elected in a democratic manner.
911:
651:
566:"The Year 2000: History and Contemporary Experience"
511:(in Lithuanian). Vilnius: Justitia. pp. 35–36.
323:
with the right to legislate binding ordinances; the
276:
The future of Lithuania and its national minorities;
838:
837:Vardys, Vytas Stanley; Judith B. Sedaitis (1997).
809:111 Lietuvos valstybės 1918-1940 politikos veikėjų
218:Lithuanian Society for the Relief of War Sufferers
811:(in Lithuanian). Vilnius: Knyga. pp. 11–20.
949:
258:
115:Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
212:, all of whom refused to participate in their
168:could use such territorial expansion in their
728:"Lithuania's Struggle for Survival 1795-1917"
188:Venue of the Vilnius Conference (present-day
113:. The Commonwealth ceased to exist after the
223:The Organizing Committee of the Conference (
179:
721:
719:
717:
715:
506:
439:
291:Future of Lithuania and national minorities
806:
611:
609:
607:
605:
603:
601:
563:
413:. Vilnius: Versus aureus. pp. 82–87.
832:
830:
828:
681:
679:
677:
675:
673:
346:
712:
183:
97:
93:
25:
767:"Vokietija ir Lietuvos nepriklausomybė"
764:
685:
598:
531:
465:
364:
950:
869:
825:
725:
670:
502:
500:
498:
496:
494:
877:Gimtoji istorija. Nuo 7 iki 12 klasės
772:Gimtoji istorija. Nuo 7 iki 12 klasės
440:Klimavičius, Raimundas (2004-02-17).
408:
647:
645:
643:
641:
639:
637:
491:
279:Lithuania's relations with Germany;
13:
532:Stražas, Abelis S. (Winter 1996).
466:Šakalys, Jūratė A. (Winter 1985).
268:, heavy requisitions, and rampant
14:
994:
933:
634:
66:that would be independent of the
963:History of Lithuania (1795–1918)
573:Lithuanian Foreign Policy Review
435:Act of Independence of Lithuania
391:Act of Independence of Lithuania
309:Act of Independence of Lithuania
123:Lithuanian independence movement
905:
863:
800:
758:
507:Maksimaitis, Mindaugas (2005).
726:Laučka, Juozas (Winter 1984).
557:
525:
459:
427:
402:
301:Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
111:Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
1:
807:Banavičius, Algirdas (1991).
564:Gudavičius, Edvardas (1999).
396:
259:Proceedings of the Conference
78:. It elected a twenty-member
872:"Tautinės mažumos Lietuvoje"
64:ethnic identity and language
7:
870:Šetkus, Benediktas (2002).
841:Lithuania: The Rebel Nation
60:Vilnius National Conference
10:
999:
968:Legal history of Lithuania
160:backlash might occur: the
18:
411:Heraldry: Past to Present
319:was granted national and
180:Organizing the Conference
765:Skirius, Juozas (2002).
409:Rimša, Edmundas (2005).
297:Grand Duchy of Lithuania
137:speech in January 1918.
129:that were formalized in
325:Russian Orthodox Church
21:Vilnius Conference 2006
915:Encyclopedia Lituanica
655:Encyclopedia Lituanica
358:
347:Relations with Germany
252:
216:advisory council. The
193:
190:Old Theatre of Vilnius
106:
55:
35:
353:
187:
140:During the course of
101:
94:Historical background
56:Vilniaus konferencija
29:
688:Lithuania: 700 Years
383:Stanisław Narutowicz
371:Council of Lithuania
365:Council of Lithuania
305:Constituent Assembly
284:Council of Lithuania
88:Constituent Assembly
80:Council of Lithuania
579:(2). Archived from
335:because of intense
978:History of Vilnius
241:Jonas Stankevičius
210:Jonas Basanavičius
194:
164:realized that the
127:self-determination
107:
48:Vilnius Conference
36:
958:1917 in Lithuania
321:cultural autonomy
84:Lithuanian people
32:Flag of Lithuania
990:
973:1917 conferences
944:
928:
927:
909:
903:
902:
900:
899:
890:. Archived from
867:
861:
860:
844:
834:
823:
822:
804:
798:
797:
795:
794:
785:. Archived from
762:
756:
755:
753:
752:
723:
710:
709:
683:
668:
667:
649:
632:
631:
613:
596:
594:
592:
591:
585:
570:
561:
555:
554:
552:
551:
529:
523:
522:
504:
489:
488:
486:
485:
463:
457:
456:
454:
453:
431:
425:
424:
406:
317:Jewish community
282:Election of the
229:Mykolas Biržiška
158:public relations
998:
997:
993:
992:
991:
989:
988:
987:
948:
947:
943:(in Lithuanian)
942:
936:
931:
910:
906:
897:
895:
888:
868:
864:
857:
835:
826:
819:
805:
801:
792:
790:
783:
763:
759:
750:
748:
724:
713:
698:
684:
671:
650:
635:
628:
614:
599:
589:
587:
583:
568:
562:
558:
549:
547:
530:
526:
519:
505:
492:
483:
481:
464:
460:
451:
449:
438:
432:
428:
421:
407:
403:
399:
367:
349:
333:Polish minority
329:Klaipėda Region
293:
261:
237:Antanas Smetona
206:Antanas Smetona
182:
135:Fourteen Points
96:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
996:
986:
985:
983:Vilnius Region
980:
975:
970:
965:
960:
946:
945:
935:
934:External links
932:
930:
929:
904:
886:
862:
855:
824:
817:
799:
781:
757:
711:
696:
669:
633:
626:
597:
556:
524:
517:
490:
458:
426:
419:
400:
398:
395:
387:Jonas Vileišis
376:Roman Catholic
366:
363:
348:
345:
341:Vilnius Region
292:
289:
288:
287:
280:
277:
260:
257:
181:
178:
162:Central Powers
131:Woodrow Wilson
119:Russian Empire
95:
92:
68:Russian Empire
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
995:
984:
981:
979:
976:
974:
971:
969:
966:
964:
961:
959:
956:
955:
953:
941:
938:
937:
925:
921:
917:
916:
908:
894:on 2008-02-26
893:
889:
887:9986-9216-9-4
883:
879:
878:
873:
866:
858:
856:0-8133-1839-4
852:
848:
843:
842:
833:
831:
829:
820:
818:5-89942-585-7
814:
810:
803:
789:on 2008-02-26
788:
784:
782:9986-9216-9-4
778:
774:
773:
768:
761:
747:
743:
739:
735:
734:
729:
722:
720:
718:
716:
707:
703:
699:
697:0-87141-028-1
693:
689:
682:
680:
678:
676:
674:
665:
661:
657:
656:
648:
646:
644:
642:
640:
638:
629:
627:0-312-22458-3
623:
619:
612:
610:
608:
606:
604:
602:
586:on 2007-09-27
582:
578:
574:
567:
560:
545:
541:
540:
535:
528:
520:
518:9955-616-09-1
514:
510:
503:
501:
499:
497:
495:
479:
475:
474:
469:
462:
447:
443:
436:
430:
422:
420:9955-601-73-6
416:
412:
405:
401:
394:
392:
388:
384:
380:
377:
372:
362:
357:
352:
344:
342:
338:
334:
330:
326:
322:
318:
312:
310:
306:
302:
298:
285:
281:
278:
275:
274:
273:
271:
270:deforestation
267:
256:
254:
250:
246:
245:Jurgis Šaulys
242:
238:
234:
233:Petras Klimas
230:
226:
221:
219:
215:
211:
207:
203:
199:
198:Vertrauensrat
191:
186:
177:
175:
171:
167:
163:
159:
155:
151:
147:
143:
138:
136:
132:
128:
124:
120:
116:
112:
104:
103:Eastern Front
100:
91:
89:
85:
81:
77:
76:German Empire
73:
69:
65:
61:
57:
53:
49:
45:
41:
33:
28:
22:
913:
907:
896:. Retrieved
892:the original
876:
865:
840:
808:
802:
791:. Retrieved
787:the original
771:
760:
749:. Retrieved
737:
731:
687:
653:
617:
588:. Retrieved
581:the original
576:
572:
559:
548:. Retrieved
543:
537:
527:
508:
482:. Retrieved
477:
471:
461:
450:. Retrieved
445:
429:
410:
404:
368:
359:
354:
350:
313:
294:
266:forced labor
262:
224:
222:
214:rubber stamp
197:
195:
174:Mitteleuropa
153:
139:
108:
59:
47:
37:
202:Lithuanians
152:(short for
146:German Army
142:World War I
40:the history
952:Categories
898:2007-02-11
793:2007-01-28
751:2007-02-11
590:2007-09-15
550:2007-09-15
484:2007-09-15
452:2007-02-11
397:References
249:Lithuanian
170:propaganda
74:, and the
52:Lithuanian
924:74-114275
746:0024-5089
664:74-114275
339:over the
337:conflicts
253:apskritis
225:Ausschuss
44:Lithuania
733:Lituanus
706:75-80057
539:Lituanus
473:Lituanus
150:Ober Ost
379:priests
105:in 1917
922:
884:
853:
815:
779:
744:
740:(30).
704:
694:
662:
624:
515:
417:
243:, and
208:, and
166:Allies
144:, the
72:Poland
46:, the
584:(PDF)
569:(PDF)
58:) or
920:LCCN
882:ISBN
851:ISBN
813:ISBN
777:ISBN
742:ISSN
702:LCCN
692:ISBN
660:LCCN
622:ISBN
546:(42)
513:ISBN
480:(31)
415:ISBN
385:and
121:. A
299:or
133:'s
42:of
38:In
954::
874:.
849:.
847:39
827:^
769:.
736:.
730:.
714:^
700:.
672:^
636:^
600:^
575:.
571:.
542:.
536:.
493:^
476:.
470:.
444:.
393:.
343:.
311:.
251::
239:,
235:,
231:,
196:A
176:.
70:,
54::
926:.
901:.
859:.
821:.
796:.
754:.
738:4
708:.
666:.
630:.
595:.
593:.
577:2
553:.
544:4
521:.
487:.
478:4
455:.
423:.
286:.
192:)
50:(
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
