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| == Background == | == Background == | ||
| On ], ], administration of the town of ] was passed from the retreating ] to the reborn ]. This led to a conflict between Poland and Lithuania, as both sides claimed the area. The Foch line, drawed as demarcation line between Poland and Lithuania on July 26th, left Sejny on th ePolish side of the border.{{fact}} Under pressure from the ], which would later become the ], Poland initially backed down on the issue. | |||
| The lands around the town of ] formed a Polish-German-Lithuanian borderland since the ], and the borders in the area moved back and forth numerous times in the past. During the times of the ] the town of ] itself, along with the rest of the ], was part of the ] rather than the ]. However, the owners of the town were the Dominican friars from ]. In addition, the proximity of the borders as well as the trade routes through the forests of the area allowed the multi-cultural pattern of the town to be preserved until 20th century, with the majority of the population formed by Poles, Lithuanians, Jews and Tatars. In 19th century the town had been part of Russian-controlled ]. | |||
| During the ] the region was captured by ], which intended to incorporate the area into its province of ]. However, the German defeat in the war made those plans obsolete as it was clear that the victorious ] powers would be willing to assign the territory to the newly-recreated states of Poland or Lithuania, rather than to defeated Germany<ref name="buchowski">{{pl icon}} {{cite web | author= Stanisław Buchowski | title=Powstanie Sejneńskie 23-28 sierpnia 1919 roku (Sejny uprising of August 23-28, 1919) | publisher=Gimnazjum Nr. 1 w Sejnach | year= | work=www.g1.powiat.sejny.pl | url=http://www.g1.powiat.sejny.pl/buchowski.htm | accessdate=2007-09-27 }}</ref>. | |||
| This led to a conflict between Poland and Lithuania, as both sides claimed the area. The Germans, whose ] administration of the former ] was preparing to evacuate the area, initially supported the creation of Polish administration in the area<ref name="manczuk">{{pl icon}} {{cite journal | author =] | year =2001 | month = | title =Z Orłem przeciw Pogoni. Powstanie sejneńskie 1919 | journal =] | volume = | issue = | pages = | id = | url =http://mowiawieki.pl/artykul.html?id_artykul=860 | format = | accessdate =2007-09-27 }}</ref>. However, as reborn Poland was becoming an ally of ], with time their support started to gradually shift towards ]<ref name="manczuk"/>. On ], ], the Germans passed over the administration of the town to Lithuanian authorities, while Lithuanian troops were allowed to enter the area and seize defensive positions along the pre-war borders of the ]. However, the diplomatic conflict over the future of the area was far from finished, as the main battleground were the halls of the ]. | |||
| As the Polish-Lithuanian talks in Paris brought little effect, on ], 1919, ] ] presented both delegations with the project of the so-called '']''. The ] run from the German border, south of ] (with ] on the Polish side), north of ] and then south of Lubowo. From there the line turned along the shores of ], east of ] and along the ] and ] rivers to ]<ref name="kaluski">{{pl icon}} {{cite journal | author =Marian Kałuski | year =2004 | month =August | title =85 rocznica przyłączenia Suwalszczyzny do Polski | journal =Wirtualna Polonia | volume = | issue =2004-08-31 | pages = | id = | url =http://www.wirtualnapolonia.com/teksty.asp?tekstID=7719 | format = | accessdate =2007-09-27 }}</ref>. This left the southern part of the conflict area, with both ] and Sejny in Polish hands. At the same time the northern part of the area with the towns of Kalwaria/] and Mariampol/], in the past a part of ], was awarded to Lithuanian in its entirety. | |||
| On July 26 the Foch Line was accepted by the Highest Council of the ] as the provisional border between two states. Under pressure from the ], which would later become the ], Poland initially backed down on the issue. However, the fact that the Lithuanian military forces were allowed to enter the area even before the German army withdrew led many local Poles to believe, that the intention of Lithuanians was to capture the entire region, called by them ''Suvalkija'', and convince the Entente to accept such '']''<ref name="buchowski"/>. | |||
| == The uprising == | == The uprising == | ||
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| Only a year later, the town was captured by ] during the course of the ]. To ensure the right of passage through Lithuanian territory, on ], ] Russian authorities signed the ], which granted Lithuania the rights to the area. On ] the Lithuanians attacked the Polish defenders and recaptured the town. The Lithuanian authorities were once again established in the area. After the ] in 1920, the Bolshevik forces were defeated, and the ] again entered the area under Lithuanian control. Since the ] of 1919 had established the Polish-Lithuanian border on an ethnic basis, roughly correspondent to the '']'', the Lithuanian forces were forced to withdraw from the town, and on ], ] the town was again attached to Poland. However, the Lithuanian authorities continued to claim the area, and on ] a Lithuanian offensive initiated the ]. As the town was located only some 2 kilometres from the Lithuanian border, it was easily captured by Lithuanian forces. However, the assault was repelled with heavy losses on the Lithuanian side, and the Polish Army recaptured the town on ]. On September 10th, the last of the Lithuanian units retreated to the other side of the border, and on ] a ] agreement was signed, leaving Sejny on the Polish side of the border. | Only a year later, the town was captured by ] during the course of the ]. To ensure the right of passage through Lithuanian territory, on ], ] Russian authorities signed the ], which granted Lithuania the rights to the area. On ] the Lithuanians attacked the Polish defenders and recaptured the town. The Lithuanian authorities were once again established in the area. After the ] in 1920, the Bolshevik forces were defeated, and the ] again entered the area under Lithuanian control. Since the ] of 1919 had established the Polish-Lithuanian border on an ethnic basis, roughly correspondent to the '']'', the Lithuanian forces were forced to withdraw from the town, and on ], ] the town was again attached to Poland. However, the Lithuanian authorities continued to claim the area, and on ] a Lithuanian offensive initiated the ]. As the town was located only some 2 kilometres from the Lithuanian border, it was easily captured by Lithuanian forces. However, the assault was repelled with heavy losses on the Lithuanian side, and the Polish Army recaptured the town on ]. On September 10th, the last of the Lithuanian units retreated to the other side of the border, and on ] a ] agreement was signed, leaving Sejny on the Polish side of the border. | ||
| ==Notes and references== | |||
| ==Sources== | |||
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| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 16:38, 27 September 2007
Sejny Uprising (Template:Lang-pl) refers to a 1919 uprising by the Polish population in the area of the town of Sejny against Lithuanian authorities.
Background
The lands around the town of Suwałki formed a Polish-German-Lithuanian borderland since the Middle Ages, and the borders in the area moved back and forth numerous times in the past. During the times of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth the town of Sejny itself, along with the rest of the Podlachian Voivodeship, was part of the Kingdom of Poland rather than the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. However, the owners of the town were the Dominican friars from Vilna. In addition, the proximity of the borders as well as the trade routes through the forests of the area allowed the multi-cultural pattern of the town to be preserved until 20th century, with the majority of the population formed by Poles, Lithuanians, Jews and Tatars. In 19th century the town had been part of Russian-controlled Congress Poland.
During the World War I the region was captured by Imperial Germany, which intended to incorporate the area into its province of East Prussia. However, the German defeat in the war made those plans obsolete as it was clear that the victorious Entente powers would be willing to assign the territory to the newly-recreated states of Poland or Lithuania, rather than to defeated Germany.
This led to a conflict between Poland and Lithuania, as both sides claimed the area. The Germans, whose Ober-Ost administration of the former Suwałki Governorate was preparing to evacuate the area, initially supported the creation of Polish administration in the area. However, as reborn Poland was becoming an ally of France, with time their support started to gradually shift towards Lithuania. On May 8, 1919, the Germans passed over the administration of the town to Lithuanian authorities, while Lithuanian troops were allowed to enter the area and seize defensive positions along the pre-war borders of the powiat of Sejny. However, the diplomatic conflict over the future of the area was far from finished, as the main battleground were the halls of the Paris Peace Conference.
As the Polish-Lithuanian talks in Paris brought little effect, on July 18, 1919, Marshal of France Ferdinand Foch presented both delegations with the project of the so-called Foch Line. The demarcation line run from the German border, south of Lake Vištytis (with Wiżajny on the Polish side), north of Puńsk and then south of Lubowo. From there the line turned along the shores of Lake Galadusys, east of Bereźniki and along the Marycha and Igorka rivers to Neman. This left the southern part of the conflict area, with both Suwałki and Sejny in Polish hands. At the same time the northern part of the area with the towns of Kalwaria/Kalvarija and Mariampol/Marijampolė, in the past a part of Congress Poland, was awarded to Lithuanian in its entirety.
On July 26 the Foch Line was accepted by the Highest Council of the Entente as the provisional border between two states. Under pressure from the Conference of Ambassadors, which would later become the League of Nations, Poland initially backed down on the issue. However, the fact that the Lithuanian military forces were allowed to enter the area even before the German army withdrew led many local Poles to believe, that the intention of Lithuanians was to capture the entire region, called by them Suvalkija, and convince the Entente to accept such faits accompli.
The uprising
On August 22, 1919, local Poles revolted against Lithuanian rule. After several days of fighting, Polish partisans, aided by the Polish army, forced the Lithuanians back. Six days later the uprising ended with a Polish success and the town became a part of Poland. Polish casualties numbered about 37; the number of Lithuanian casualties remains unknown.
Aftermath
Only a year later, the town was captured by Bolshevist Russia during the course of the Polish-Bolshevik War. To ensure the right of passage through Lithuanian territory, on July 12, 1920 Russian authorities signed the a treaty between Moscow and Lithuania, which granted Lithuania the rights to the area. On July 19 the Lithuanians attacked the Polish defenders and recaptured the town. The Lithuanian authorities were once again established in the area. After the Battle of Warsaw in 1920, the Bolshevik forces were defeated, and the Polish Army again entered the area under Lithuanian control. Since the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 had established the Polish-Lithuanian border on an ethnic basis, roughly correspondent to the status quo ante bellum, the Lithuanian forces were forced to withdraw from the town, and on August 31, 1920 the town was again attached to Poland. However, the Lithuanian authorities continued to claim the area, and on September 2 a Lithuanian offensive initiated the Polish-Lithuanian War. As the town was located only some 2 kilometres from the Lithuanian border, it was easily captured by Lithuanian forces. However, the assault was repelled with heavy losses on the Lithuanian side, and the Polish Army recaptured the town on September 9. On September 10th, the last of the Lithuanian units retreated to the other side of the border, and on October 7 a cease fire agreement was signed, leaving Sejny on the Polish side of the border.
Notes and references
- In-line:
- ^ Template:Pl icon Stanisław Buchowski. "Powstanie Sejneńskie 23-28 sierpnia 1919 roku (Sejny uprising of August 23-28, 1919)". www.g1.powiat.sejny.pl. Gimnazjum Nr. 1 w Sejnach. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
- ^ Template:Pl icon Tadeusz Mańczuk (2001). "Z Orłem przeciw Pogoni. Powstanie sejneńskie 1919". Mówią Wieki. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
{{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help) - Template:Pl icon Marian Kałuski (2004). "85 rocznica przyłączenia Suwalszczyzny do Polski". Wirtualna Polonia (2004-08-31). Retrieved 2007-09-27.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)