How a newly independent Lithuania fought three simultaneous wars to secure its survival
Following World War I, Lithuania faced a precarious struggle for sovereignty. Between 1918 and 1920, the fledgling nation fought three distinct conflicts against Bolshevik forces, the Bermontians, and Poland. These wars, often overlooked, delayed the establishment of civil institutions and tested the endurance of a nation fighting for its existence.
After the 1795 partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Lithuania was annexed by the Russian Empire. Following the collapse of German control in November 1918, the Council of Lithuania declared independence. Initially, the government, led by Augustinas Voldemaras, lacked a formal military, relying on unrealistic hopes for peace. By late 1918, however, the reality of Bolshevik aggression forced a rapid, albeit underfunded, mobilization of volunteers.
The conflict with Bolshevik forces, lasting from December 1918 to August 1919, was a fight for the state's survival against the spread of global proletarian revolution. Lithuanian forces, often supported by German volunteers, secured key victories near Kėdainiai and Panevėžys. By August 1919, the Bolsheviks were defeated near Zarasai, and the front stabilized at the Daugava River. A second threat emerged in October 1919 with the Bermontians—a mixed German-Russian force attempting to retain power in the region. Lithuanian troops decisively defeated them near Radviliškis in November 1919, seizing significant military equipment before the Entente oversaw their evacuation.
The final, most enduring conflict involved Poland. Tensions over Vilnius, which changed hands multiple times, culminated in a staged mutiny by General Lucjan Żeligowski in October 1920. Despite the Suwałki Agreement, Polish forces seized the city, leading to a 19-year period where Kaunas served as Lithuania's temporary capital. While Lithuania signed a peace treaty with Soviet Russia in July 1920, the dispute with Poland remained unresolved until 1939. These struggles were foundational, shaping the borders and national identity of modern Lithuania through immense sacrifice, with estimates of Lithuanian volunteer deaths ranging from 1,444 to 1,700.
Source: Lithuanian Wars of Independence
