Figure 1.--

Lituania was part of the Tsarist Empire which lay to the east of East Prussia. The Russians honoring their treaty with France launched an offensive into East Prussia. The Germans surprised at the speed at which the Russians acted and had to shift troops from the Western drive thriough Belgium to confront the Russians. The Germans smashed the Russians at the Battle of Tannenberg (August 1914). This required them, however, to shift forces from their western offensive east. As a result of Tannenberg, the Germans moved into and occupied large areas of Lithuania. It would take longer to occupy Latvia. There were no Tsarist Lithuanian forces, Lithusnians were conscripted into Rusian units. This was because the Tsarist officials questiined their loyalty, 'The German occupation regime was Oberbefehlshaber der gesamten Deutschen Streitkräfte im Osten' (Ober Ost). The term meant Supreme Commander of All German Forces in the East". It could refer to the commander, but was the term used for the military administration and the area they controlled (1914). The initial commander was Paul von Hindenburg who won the Tannenberg victory. Ober Ost was ininitially captured Lithunania, but gradually expanded as the Germans win more battles and drove the Tsarist forces east. It eventually included a large area: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, parts of Poland (beyond the government General) and Courland. The German Army devised plans for the settlement of demobilized soldier-farmers in the occupied Baltic region--Land Ober Ost. [Liulevicius] After Verdun, the Chief of the General Staff Erich von Falkenhayn was dismissed (1916). Hindenburg replaced him and Prince Leopold of Bavaria was given command of an expanding Ober Ost. Ober Ost was the German administration of the norther area awarded to in the Treary of Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 1918). A Lithuanian conference of prominent Lithuanians met at Vilna (September 18-22, 1917). This led to the establishment of a national council and after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, a commitment to independence (December 11). The Germans had occupied Lithuania and encouraged the Lithuanians to declare independence. The Lituanians formally declared independence (February 16, 1918). The Bolsheviks invaded, but German forced prevented any important gains. The Bolsheviks under the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 3), however, were forced to recognize Lithuanian independence (March 3). The Germans also recognized Lithuanaia (March 23). The Germans convinced the Lithuanians to sign an alliance (May 14). The Lithuanians decided to create a monarchy rather than a republic. They elected Duke William of Urach as their king (June 4). I am nor sure as the Kaiser Wilhelm's role in this. At the time it looked like the Germans now that the Russians were out of the War to achiece victory in the West. The defeat of Germany in the West changed the political situation. The Germans began withdrawing immediately after the armistace on the Western Front (November 11). The election of the king was canceled. Augustinas Voldemaras formed a government, but the political situation was unstable. With the withdrawl of the Germans, the Bolsheviks invaded. Further confusing the situation, the Poles seized Vilinus. This would poison Lithuanian-Polish relations during the inter-War era.

Lithunia in the Tsarist Empire

Lituania was part of the Tsarist Empire which lay to the east of East Prussia. There were no Tsarist ethnic Lithuanian forces. This was Tsarist policy as they were not sure oif the loyalty of non-Russian ethnic units. A rare exceotion was the Lithusnian rifles. Lithusnians and other ethnicities were conscripted and soread out in Rusaian units.

Eastern Front

The Russians honoring their treaty with France launched an offensive into East Prussia. The Germans surprised at the speed at which the Russians acted and had to shift troops from the Western drive thriough Belgium to confront the Russians. The Germans smashed the Russians at the Battle of Tannenberg (August 1914). This required them, however, to shift forces from their western offendive east. As a result of Tannenberg, the Germans moved into and occupied large areas of Lithuania. It would take longer to occupy Latvia.

German Occupation

The German occupation regime was Oberbefehlshaber der gesamten Deutschen Streitkräfte im Osten' (Ober Ost). The term meant Supreme Commander of All German Forces in the East". It could refer to the commander, but was the term used for the military administration and the area they controlled (1914). The initial commander was Paul von Hindenburg who won the Tannenberg victory. Ober Ost was ininitially captured Lithunania, but gradually expanded as the Germans win more battles and drove the Tsarist forces east. It eventually included a large area: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, parts of Poland (beyonf the gOvernment General) and Courland. The German Army devised plans for the settlement of demobilized soldier-farmers in the occupied Baltic region--Land Ober Ost. [Liulevicius] After Verdun, the Chief of the General Staff Erich von Falkenhayn was dismissed (1916). Hindenburg replaced him and Prince Leopold of Bavaria was given command of an expanding Ober Ost.

Treary of Brest Litovsk (1918)

Ober Ost was the German administration of the northern area the Bolsheviks were fvorce to transfer to Germany in the Treary of Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 1918).

National Council and Independence (1917-18)

A Lithuanian conference of prominent Lithuanians met at Vilna (September 18-22, 1917). This led to the establishment of a national council and after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, a commitment to independence (December 11). The Germans had occupied Lithuania and encouraged the Lithuanians to declare independence. The Lituanians formally declared independence (February 16, 1918).

German Duchy (1918)

The Bolsheviks invaded, but German forced prevented any important gains. The Bolsheviks under the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 3), however, were forced to recognize Lithuanian independence (March 3). The Germans also recognized Lithuanaia (March 23). The Germans convinced the Lithuanians to sign an alliance (May 14). The Lithuanians decided to create a monarchy rather than a republic. They elected a German nobel, Duke William of Urach, as their king (June 4). I am nor sure as the Kaiser Wilhelm's role in this. At the time it looked like the Germans now that the Russians were out of the War to achiece victory in the West. The defeat of Germany in the West changed the political situation. The Germans began withdrawing immediately after the armistace on the Western Front (November 11). The election of the king was canceled. Augustinas Voldemaras formed a government, but the political situation was unstable.

American Relief

World War I resulted in a dramatic decline of food production throughout Europe. Conscription of agricultural workers, war damage, the unvailsbility of materils and products, and other factors created an increasing problem as the war progressed and reached crisis by 1918. This included Tsarist Russia and the areas in controlled in Eastern Europe. This areacbefprevthe War was the breadbasket of Europe. Much of it like the Baltics including Lithuania was occupied by the Central Powers, primarily the Germans. The same factoirs were faced by the Allies, but control of the Sea meant that food could be shipped in from America. After the German capitulation and Armistice, America in an unprecedented act of chharity began shipping food into Europe. Nothing like this had ever before occurred in all of world history. And only America's food shipments prevented mass starvation in Europe. Lituania had a largely agricultural economy, but because of the War, people had begun to starve. We have not found much infomation on American feeding programs in the Baltics, including Lithunia. The Baltics like most of Poland had been part of the Tsarist Empire. We know there was extensive feeding progrms focusing on children. Of the three Baltic replublics, Lithuania was a little different because of its historic association with Poland. There was no clear boundary between Lithunia and Poland. In border areas the population was mixed. And much of Lithuania like Poland was within the Pale of Settlement. This meant that there was a substantial Jewish population. As a result the Joint provide relief support for Jews. No American Goverment relief effiorts were possible until after the Armistice (November 1918). We note the American Relief Committe feeding children (August 1919). This seems similar to the ARA operations in Poland. Even after the War there were complications, howver, as the Bolsheviks tried to retake Poland and the Baltics. As far as we know there were no destributions in Bolshevik controlled areas. The Bolsheviks refued to allow it. Despite dire need, the Bolsheviks regarded the ARA as a hostile entity. We also notice Red Cross nurses operating in Lithuania, although we have few details. Nurses did not only work in hispitals, but were involved in relief work as well. Red Cross nurse Cora Elm serving in France had her passport validated for Lithusnia, Latvia, and Russia. We think the Russian validation was a optimisic assessment of the ability to get into Russia to assist the Russian people. We are not sure she used that passport because she married (1921). [Foxwell]

War with the Bolsheviks (1919)

With the withdrawl of the Germans, the Bolsheviks invaded again.

War with Poland (1920)

Further confusing the situation, the Poles seized Vilinus. This would poison Lithuanian-Polish relations during the inter-War era.

Sources

Liulevicius, Vejas. War Land on the Eastern Front (Cambridge: The Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge, 2000).

Foxwell, Elizabeth. "Relief workers, "American women in World War I (October 16, 2017).

Created: 11:39 AM 6/6/2018
Last updated: 13:29 AM 6/7/2018