{"id":3918,"date":"2013-03-15T14:23:07","date_gmt":"2013-03-15T20:23:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/?p=3918"},"modified":"2016-03-02T21:19:40","modified_gmt":"2016-03-03T03:19:40","slug":"the-liberation-of-klaipeda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/the-liberation-of-klaipeda\/","title":{"rendered":"The Liberation of Klaip\u0117da"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Henry L. Gaidis<\/p>\n

\"2013-03-15-LHERITAGE
\nAn ingenious plot returns Lithuania\u2019s only seaport after centuries of separation, and opens up its gateway to the world<\/strong><\/p>\n

THIS YEAR MARKS THE NINE- tieth anniversary of the Liberation of Klaip\u0117da, one of the most significant events in Lithuanian history in the modern era. Although most Lithuanians know the nation\u2019s 1918-1920 War of Independence\u2014 fought against Poles, Communist Russians, and Czarist White Russians\u2014established a free and independent state, few realize independence was not assured until Klaip\u0117da was restored to the nation. Without control of this ice-free port, the otherwise landlocked nation would have succumbed to a slow economic de mise.<\/p>\n

At the end of World War I, the victorious Allies met at Versailles, where they imposed sanctions upon the defeated nations and sought to reestablish a Czarist state. However, most of Russia had by then fallen under Communist control, and a number of new states had appeared making this option nonviable. Among these new states was the Republic of Lithuania, although it would not be recognized de jure for three years. Since they had not yet recognized the republic, when the Allied powers separated Klaip\u0117da (Memel) from Germany, they placed the seaport and its adjacent area under temporary administration by France.<\/p>\n

\"On
On this map of Lithuania, the Klaip\u0117da Territory is indicated by the dark area on the left.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The region had been populated by Lithuanians for centuries, but fallen under German Prussian occupation since the Middle Ages. The East Prussian state, in order to control Lithuania Minor, pursued a vigorous policy of Germanization, and over time, the ethnic Lithuanians there slowly developed their own dialect and customs. Although the rural areas continued to be inhabited by ethnic Lithuanians, the city and seaport became largely populated by Germans, who filled all the administrative positions. The French appointed General Dominique Joseph Odry and High Commissioner Gabriel Jean Petisne to administer the region and sent a small number of French troops in support. Unfortunately, the French relied heavily on German port administrators and this hamstrung the economic life of Lithuania. The French support for Poland raised fears that this vital seaport would fall into Polish hands.<\/p>\n

The events that followed are worthy of Mission Impossible: the Prime Minister of Lithuania directs a small group of military officers to instigate an insurrection in Klaip\u0117da that returns the seaport and its surrounding territory to Lithuania. For political reasons, the Lithuanian government disavows all knowledge of the mission, and warns those involved they could be subject to criminal prosecution if the operation fails.<\/p>\n

Many concluded something drastic had to be done to save Klaip\u0117da from becoming a free city like Danzig or, worse, being turned over to Poland. Among the Lithuanian leaders in Klaip\u0117da alarmed by the situation were members of the Prussian Lithuanian National Council, who realized Lithuania Minor could only be returned to Lithuania through military action. When members of the Council Erdmonas Simonaitis and Martynas Jankus met secretly with Lithuanian Prime Minister Ernestas Galvanauskas, they learned he was thinking along similar lines, but for political reasons, could not sanction such a move.<\/p>\n

To protect Lithuania\u2019s interests, Galvanauskas pursued the idea through diplomatic channels. He ascertained the Weimar Government preferred Klaip\u0117da in Lithuanian hands because it considered Lithuania neutral and France and Poland, who were likely to be given the territory by the League of Nation, major enemies. It has since been learned that Berlin maintained unofficial contact with the Lithuanians during the revolt and urged local Germans not to hinder the action. The Soviet Russians, who opposed a larger Polish state, not only supported the action, but would intervene if Poland moved against Lithuania. Strangely enough, the Polish government also preferred to see Klaip\u0117da in the hands of Lithuania rather than become a free city, like Danzig, under German influence.<\/p>\n

\"At
At the Treaty of Versailles in June of 1919, the \u201cBig Four\u201d decided to place the Klaip\u0117da Territory under French administration. From left: British Prime Minister Lloyd George, Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando, French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau, and U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. ABOVE: Klaip\u0117da\u2019s French garrison in front of the Prefekt\u016bra (the territory\u2019s administrative office).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On November 20, 1922, Galvanauskas brought up the topic in a secret session of the Lithuanian government after it appeared the League of Nations was not going to rule favorably on Lithuania\u2019s claim to Klaip\u0117da and was likely to establish a Danzig-like free city or place it under Polish administration. After receiving a favorable response to the forceful seizure of Klaip\u0117da, General Silvestras \u017dukauskas, the hero of the Lithuanian War of Independence, believed the Lithuanian Army could invade and disarm the small French military contingent within twentyfour hours. But it was decided direct Lithuanian military action might start a war with France or resume the Lithuanian-Polish War, so an agreement was reached to organize an independent Lithuanian insurrection along the lines of General \u017deligowski\u2019s Mutiny in October 1920 that led to the invasion and occupation of Vilnius and surrounding territory by Poland.<\/p>\n

Preparations were left to Galvanauskas, who ordered the planning and execution of the uprising. So it would be a genuine surprise to the Lithuanian nation, he took great care to hide any links with the rebels and kept the operation secret from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Seimas. Since the Lithuanian Army was not to take part, he obtained the support of Vincas Kr\u0117v\u0117-Mickevi\u010dius, the cochair of the independent semimilitary Lithuanian Riflemen\u2019s Association (Lietuvos \u0160auli\u0173 S\u00e0junga), for manpower. Since most of the riflemen had fought alongside the Lithuanian Army in the War for Independence, they were combat-proven and reliable. Another advantage of using the riflemen was the government could blame the patriotic organization to absolve itself of responsibility for the insurrection.<\/p>\n

The action was planned by the Lithuanian General Staff. Although details regarding its development remain murky, Colonel Jonas Polovinskis, a Lithuanian Army counterintelligence officer, clandestinely coordinated the military action since known to history as the \u201cKlaip\u0117da Insurrection.\u201d He was an ethnic Lithuanian who had held a number of positions in the Czarist Government. He had served with great distinction as a military intelligence officer in the Russian Army during World War I, rising to the rank of Colonel, and was decorated on a number of occasions for his bravery and service. He continued in counter-intelligence with Admiral Alexander Kolchak\u2019s White Army in 1920 and 1921 in a failed attempt to restore the Czar to the throne.<\/p>\n

Upon returning to Lithuania in 1921, Polovinskis found a position with the Lithuanian Army and was soon serving as chief of the Lithuanian Counter-Intelligence Service. He had been tasked with leading a special clandestine team to the Klaip\u0117da area to ascertain the feelings of the population toward Lithuanian annexation and became well-versed with the territory and its inhabitants. His report found the local population divided equally between either wishing to join with Germany or Lithuania, or forming a free city. This situation was complicated by the native Lithuanians of Lithuania Minor who had developed their own identity, which included adherence to the Lutheran rather than Roman Catholic faith. Many of these Lithuanians were economically well off and worried that an influx of farm products and workers from Lithuania proper would cheapen their products and destroy their livelihood. Surely, this report brought Polovinskis to the attention of Galvanauskas and led to the latter\u2019s decision not to take an official part in the Klaip\u0117da Insurrection, but to select Polovinskis to lead it.<\/p>\n

\"Col.
Col. Jonas Polovinskis-Budrys (seated in front row, second from the right), leader of the Klaip\u0117da Insurrection, and his staff.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lithuanian activists were sent to various towns and villages in the Klaip\u0117da region in November and December of 1922 to deliver patriotic speeches and form local organizations willing to support an insurrection. These small local groups were unified at a gathering in Klaip\u0117da on December 18, 1922, which established the Supreme Committee for the Salvation of Lithuania Minor (SCSLM). Martynas Jankus was elected chairman and would serve as the insurrection\u2019s political leader. That same month, Kr\u0117v\u0117-Mickevi- \u010dius met with representatives of the German Army, who assured him they would not interfere with an insurrection. In addition, they sold him, at a reduced rate, 1,500 Mauser rifles, 5 light machineguns, and 1.5 million rounds of ammunition.<\/p>\n

Polovinskis recruited a number of likeminded Lithuanian military of ficers willing to take part in this unofficial action and risk the dangers of combat and criminal prose- cution. To provide cover, he and his officers each adopted a nom de guerre. Polovinskis became known by his code name, Jonas Budrys, which he was to use for the rest of his life. His Chief of Staff, Captain Juozas Tomkus, became Oksas; his assistant, Juozas \u0160arauskas, Juozapaitis; and so on. Budrys would command the main force of the insurrection, frequently referred to as \u201cBudrys\u2019s Army.\u201d Upon the call of the SCSLM, he would move on the city, his flanks covered by support formations.—On January 7, 1923, the SCSLM issued a proclamation entitled Broliai \u0160auliai! (Brothers Riflemen!), announcing they were taking up arms to rid themselves of \u201cslavery\u201d and calling upon the Lithuanian Riflemen\u2019s Association for help. Two days later, the SCSLM\u2019s \u0160ilut\u0117 chief declared the existing French Klaip\u0117da Directorate dissolved and authorized Erdmonas Simonaitis to establish a new directorate to govern the territory. The declaration was published in German and Lithuanian\u2014both proclaimed official languages\u2014ordered the release of all political prisoners, and established martial law. The proclamation appealed to the French soldiers not to resist this action, because it was the will of the Lithuanian people.<\/p>\n

\"TOP:
TOP: A group of insurgents poised to repel any attack; ABOVE: A happy farmer raises a sign that reads: \u201cLong Live Lithuania!\u201d<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On January 10, 1923, 1,090 Lithuanian volunteers in civilian dress crossed the border on trains from Kretinga and Taurag\u0117. Among them was Vladas Putvinskis, the military commander of the Lithuanian Riflemen\u2019s Association, providing the cover demanded by the Lithuanian government, and Lithuanian American flyer Steponas (Stephen) Darius, who with Stasys (Stanley) Gir\u0117nas, would become famous for the ill-fated 1933 trans-Atlantic flight.<\/p>\n

Upon their arrival in the Klaip\u0117da territory, the volunteers were met by Budrys with some 300 local volunteers. Each Lithuania Minor volunteer wore a green armband with the initials MLS to identify him as a Ma\u017eosios Lietuvos sukil\u0117lis\/savanoris (Lithuania Minor Insurgent\/ Volunteer). Armed with a rifle and 200 rounds of ammunition, the infantrymen were supported by 21 light machinegun crews, 4 motorcycles, 3 cars, and 63 cavalry horses. To conceal their identity, they were ordered not to carry any Lithuanian documents or even currency. To curtail local anger, each volunteer was ordered to be polite at all times and to avoid looting, drinking alcohol, and making inflammatory comments.<\/p>\n

The largest formation, consisting of 530 men commanded by Major Jonas I\u0161linskas, codename Auk\u0161tuolis, was assigned to capture Klaip\u0117da; the second formation of 443 men, under Captain Mykolas Kalmantavi\u010dius (Kalmantas), codename Bajoras, was tasked with the capture of Pag\u0117giai (Pogegen) and securing the border with Germany; the third formation of 103 men led by Major Petras Jak\u0161tas, codename Kalvaitis, was to capture \u0160ilut\u0117 (Heydekrug and cover the insurgents\u2019 flank. Although they met with little resistance, the volunteers encountered great difficulties from cold weather, lack of transportation, and inadequate clothing and food.<\/p>\n

By January 11, 1923, the Lithuanian insurgents had secured all their objectives with little resistance, with the exception of some parts of Klaip\u0117- da held by the French. With the refusal of French Commissioner Gabriel Jean Petisne to surrender his force of 250 French soldiers, 350 German policemen, and about 300 civilian volunteers, a brisk engagement ensued. Petisne agreed to a ceasefire that afternoon and his soldiers were interned in their barracks. During the engagement, twelve Lithuanian insurgents lost their lives along with two French soldiers and one German police officer. Two other French soldiers were wounded, but recovered.<\/p>\n

\"
Steponas (Stephen) Darius in Klaip\u0117da during the Insurrection.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In addition to the earlier mentioned Steponas Darius, a number of other Lithuanian Americans participated in the insurrection, among them Antanas Iva\u0161kevi\u010dius (Anthony Ivas), the brothers Kostas and Julius Jurg\u0117la, Jonas \u017dilinskas-\u017dilius, Andrius Martusevi\u010dius-Martus, Pranas Purvis, Juozas Zaukus, and Pranas Rimkus. Darius and Iva\u0161kevi\u010dius were both members of the Supreme Committee for the Salvation of Lithuania Minor. Darius did planning and led an armed unit while Iva\u0161kevi\u010dius travelled through the country giving speeches to rouse the population. He also provided a great amount of money to the committee. He was the first Lithuanian American awarded the Lithuanian Riflemen\u2019s Association\u2019s \u0160auli\u0173 \u017dvaig\u017ed\u0117 (Riflemen\u2019s Star). Jonas \u017dilinskas-\u017dilius served as Governor of Klaip\u0117da in 1925 and 1926. A number of Lithuanian organizations were set up in the United States to support the liberation of Klaip\u0117da. They engaged in heavy propaganda through the press and raised funds for the Liberation of Klaip\u0117- da, before and after the insurrection.<\/p>\n

On January 13, 1923, the Klaip\u0117- da civilian leader, Simonaitis, formed a new pro-Lithuanian directorate, which included Vilius Gaigalaitis, Martynas Reizgys, Jonas Toleikis, and Kristupas Lek\u0161as, to administer the seaport and region. Although the French and Polish governments protested and sent warships to the area, the British declined to support their action. The Allied Conference of Ambassadors dispatched a commission of inquiry to Klaip\u0117da and demanded the insurgents withdraw from the city. While French and British warships remained in the harbor, the Lithuanian government denied any part in the insurrection, and the Allied demand was withdrawn. On January 20, the Klaip\u0117da Region Special Representative transferred all sovereign rights to the Republic of Lithuania. The insurgents began to organize a local army on January 24, and pledged to swiftly restore civilian control to the district.<\/p>\n

On January 29, a French proposal to send troops to quash the revolt was rejected after the British and Italians supported Lithuania. Although the Allies made one last gesture two days later, when they sent a sternly worded ultimatum demanding the insurgents disband, no action was taken. That ultimatum was recanted on February 4 in a diplomatic note requesting that the Klaip\u0117da region be transferred in an orderly fashion. A second message, on February 11, thanked the Lithuanian Government for peacefully resolving the crisis.<\/p>\n

\"Col.
Col. Jonas Polovinskis-Budrys (seated in front row, second from the right), leader of the Klaip\u0117da Insurrection, and his staff.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To further appease the international community, on February 15, the Klaip\u0117da Directorate was disbanded and Viktoras Gailius formed a new provisional five-member directorate that included two Germans and three Prussian Lithuanians. Finally, on February 17, the Allied Conference transferred Klaip\u0117da and its surounding area to Lithuania with the agreement that the region be granted outonomy and Lithuania compensate the Allies for the cost of administration and assume German war reparations. With Lithuania\u2019s acceptance of these terms, the Klaip\u0117da Insurrection was legitimized and the matter resolved. Although this insurrection is often considered a great Lithuanian feat, many recent historians conjecture that the League of Nations\u2019 action to relinquish Klaip\u0117da was an unofficial way to compensate Lithuania for its earlier loss of Vilnius to the Poles. Regardless of the reason, the 1923 insurrection firmly established Klaip\u0117da as part of Lithuania, and neither the subsequent brief Nazi annexation nor the prolonged Soviet occupation changed that fact.<\/p>\n

\"Medal
Medal by renowned Lithuanian sculptor and medalist Petras Rim\u0161a struck in 1927 to commemorate the regaining of Klaip\u0117da. It shows a Lithuanian girl welcoming a warrior.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"2013-03-15-LHERITAGE
TOP: A unit of the Lithuanian regular Army enters Klaip\u0117da after the end of the insurrection; ABOVE: Lithuanian soldiers feed Klaip\u0117da\u2019s children.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Henry L. Gaidis An ingenious plot returns Lithuania\u2019s only seaport after centuries of separation, and opens up its gateway to the world THIS YEAR MARKS THE NINE- tieth anniversary of the Liberation of Klaip\u0117da, one of the most significant events in Lithuanian history in the modern era. Although most Lithuanians know the nation\u2019s 1918-1920 …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3919,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[135,70],"tags":[84,78],"class_list":["post-3918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-geography-regions","category-history-1900","tag-gaidis-h","tag-lith-heritage"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3918","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3918"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3918\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3919"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3918"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3918"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}