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{{Short description|Polish uprising against the Lithuanian authorities in August 1919}}
{{POV-title|date=December 2007}}
{{good article}}

{{Infobox military conflict
{{Campaign
| conflict = Sejny Uprising
|name=Establishment of Second Polish Republic
| image = Sejny 1919 rudnicki.JPG
|battles=] - ] - ] - ] - ] - ] - ]
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Lt. Adam Rudnicki, leader of the Sejny Uprising, and his colleagues. August 1919.
| place = ]
| date = August 23 – September 7, 1919
| result = Polish victory
| territory = Lithuanians retreated behind the ]; Poland secured Sejny
| combatant1 = {{flagicon|Second Polish Republic|1919}} ] (PMO) <br> {{flagicon|Second Polish Republic|1919}} 41st Infantry Regiment
| combatant2 = {{flagicon|Lithuania|1918}} ]n Sejny Command <br> {{flagicon|Lithuania|1918}} 1st Reserve Battalion
| commander1 = {{flagicon|Second Polish Republic|1919}} Adam Rudnicki <br> {{flagicon|Second Polish Republic|1919}} ]<br> {{flagicon|Second Polish Republic|1919}} ]{{KIA}}
| commander2 = {{flagicon|Lithuania|1918}} ]
| strength1 = 900<ref name=BuchSt/>–1,200<ref name=Manc/> PMO volunteers <br> 800 regular troops{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=276}}
| strength2 = 900 regular troops{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=276}}<!-- on Sept 1, including reserve --> <br> 300 volunteers{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=275}}
| casualties1 = 37 killed in action <br> 70 wounded
| casualties2 =
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Polish–Lithuanian War}}
| partof = ]
}} }}
{{Campaignbox Establishment of Second Polish Republic}}
The '''Sejny Uprising''' or '''Seinai Revolt''' ({{langx|pl|Powstanie sejneńskie}}, {{langx|lt|Seinų sukilimas}}) refers to a Polish uprising against the ]n authorities in August 1919 in the ethnically mixed area surrounding the town of ] ({{langx|lt|Seinai}}). When German forces, which occupied the territory during ], retreated from the area in May 1919, they turned over administration to the Lithuanians. Trying to prevent an armed conflict between Poland and Lithuania, the ] drew a demarcation line, known as the ]. The line assigned much of the disputed ] to Poland and required the ] to retreat. While the Lithuanians retreated from some areas, they refused to leave Sejny (Seinai), because of its major Lithuanian population.{{sfn|Senn|1975|p=158}} Polish irregular forces began the uprising on August 23, 1919, and soon received support from the regular ]. After several military skirmishes, Polish forces secured Sejny and the Lithuanians retreated behind the Foch Line.


The uprising did not solve the larger border conflict between Poland and Lithuania over the ethnically mixed ]. Both sides complained about each other's repressive measures.<ref name=BuchKr/> The conflict intensified in 1920, causing military skirmishes of the ]. Sejny changed hands frequently until the ] of October 1920, which left Sejny on the Polish side. The uprising undermined the plans of Polish leader ] who was ] to replace the Lithuanian government with a pro-Polish cabinet which would agree to a union with Poland (the proposed ] federation). Because the Sejny Uprising had prompted the Lithuanian intelligence to intensify its investigations of Polish activities in Lithuania, they discovered plans for the coup and prevented it, arresting Polish sympathizers.<!--Manczuk, Łossowski and Pisarska all support this claim--> These hostilities in Sejny further strained the ].
The '''Sejny Uprising''' ({{lang-pl|Powstanie sejneńskie}}) or '''Seinai Revolt'''<!--as used by Buchowski in English translation of his abstract in Lithuanian journal--> refers to a 1919 ]<!-- again refs look bad in lead, if somebody wants you can restore<ref name="buchowski"/><ref name="manczuk"/>--> by ] irregular forces, later aided by the regular ], in the area of the town of ] (]: ''Seinai''), against ]n authorities. Action began on ], 1919 and by ], 1919 Polish forces had secured the area. Control of the town changed hands several more times during the course of the following year; Sejny has remained within Poland since late 1920. The battle was part of a long-term conflict that arose in the twentieth century between Poland and Lithuania over ethnically-mixed territories in the area; the ] and the ] attempted to intervene in these conflicts.


Eventually, Poland and Lithuania reached an agreement on a new border that left Sejny on the Polish side of the border. The Polish–Lithuanian border in the Suwałki Region has remained the same since then (with the exception of the ] period).
The region had been occupied by Germany during ]; after the German defeat, both Lithuanian and Polish administrative and military organizations vied for control of the town, and the uprising occurred immediately after the departure of the German occupational authorities. The town changed hands and during that time both sides used repressive measures.<!--citations are bad style in lead but if you disagree the relevant ref is English abstract of K. Buchowski work-->

The uprising damaged the plans of Polish leader ], who was planning a ] in Lithuania in order to establish a government there that would be willing to join his proposed ] federation. For that reason Piłsudski wished for ] to be as bloodless as possible;<!--citations are bad style in lead but if you disagree the citation for this is Łossowski, p.66--> the unplanned hostilities in Sejny further damaged ], and the coup was prevented as the uprising drew the attention of Lithuanian police and intelligence forces to the activity of ] in Lithuania.<!--citations in lead are bad style but if you disagree, Manczuk, Łossowski and Pisarska all support this claim-->


==Background== ==Background==
During the ages, the lands surrounding the town of ] were part of the ] until 1795. Sejny itself was property of ]' ] friars from 1603 until 1805. During the ] in 1795, the region became part of the ] as ] until 1807, from then until 1815, it was part of the ] which ] had created. For a century after the conclusion of the ], the town was in ], a part of the ].<ref name="Wsp" /><ref name="Sejnhist" />
The lands surrounding the town of ] had been variously part of Polish, German, and Lithuanian borderlands since the ], and the borders in the area had shifted numerous times in the past. During the era of the ], the town of ] itself, along with the rest of the ], was part of the ] since 1569 rather than the ] it used to belong until then. However, the town had been controlled by ] friars from ]. During the nineteenth century the town was part of Russian-controlled ].<ref name="Wsp">{{pl icon}} on the pages of ]</ref><ref name="Sejnhist">{{pl icon}} , official pages of Sejny town</ref> According to contemporary ]'s statistics in 1889 ] there were 57,8% Lithuanians, 19,1% Poles, 3,5% Belarusians.<ref> {{cite journal|title=Tautos budimas ir blaivybės sąjūdis|journal=Istorija|date=1999|first=Ieva|last=Šenavičienė|coauthors=|volume=40|issue=|pages=p.3|id= |url=|format=|accessdate=2007-12-07 }}</ref> Lithuanian historian ] states that in the beginning of the 20th century population majority of town's and its surroundings remain Lithuanian, at lesser extend - Jews, ]s, Poles.<ref name= Makauskas>{{cite journal | last = Makauskas | first = Bronius | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Pietinės Sūduvos lietuviai už šiaudinės administracinės linijos ir geležinės sienos (1920–1991 m.) | publisher = ], No.27-30 |date=1999 | location = | pages = | quote = | url = http://www.voruta.lt/article.php?article=257 | doi = | id = ISSN 1392-0677 | isbn = }}</ref> Polish historian ] contends that the ethnic Lithuanian territories, where Lithuanians formed a majority, begun north on the town.<ref name="Łossowski51">], ''Konflikt polsko-litewski 1918-1920'', Książka i Wiedza, 1995, ISBN 8305127699, p.51</ref>


During ] the region was captured by ], which intended to incorporate the area into its province of ].<ref name="buchowski">{{pl icon}} {{cite web | author= Stanisław Buchowski | title=Powstanie Sejneńskie 23-28 sierpnia 1919 roku (Sejny uprising of ]-] ]) | publisher=] 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> 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"/> During ], the region was captured by the ], which intended to incorporate the area into its province of ].<ref name=BuchSt/> After the German defeat, the victorious ] was willing to assign the territory to either the newly independent Poland or Lithuania.<ref name=BuchSt/> The future of the region was discussed at the ] in January 1919.<ref name=Pisa/> The Germans, whose former ] administration was preparing to evacuate, initially supported leaving the area to a Polish administration.<ref name=Manc/> However, as Poland was becoming an ally of ], German support gradually shifted towards Lithuania.<ref name=Manc/> In July 1919, when the German troops began their slow retreat from the area, they delegated the administration to local Lithuanian authorities.{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=271}} Lithuanian officers and troops, who first arrived in the region in May,<ref name=Maka/> began to organize military units in the pre-war ].{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=271}}


According to Russian statistics from 1889, there were 57.8% Lithuanians, 19.1% Poles, and 3.5% Belarusians in the ].<ref name=Senav/> It is generally agreed that Lithuanians formed the majority of the population in the northern Suwałki Governorate, while Poles were concentrated in the south. But Lithuanian and Polish historians and political scientists continued to disagree over the location of the line that separated the areas of Lithuanian and Polish majorities. Lithuanians claimed that Sejny and the surrounding area were inhabited primarily by the Lithuanians,<ref name=Maka/> while the Poles claimed exactly the opposite.{{sfn|Łossowski|1995|p=51}} The German census of 1916 showed that 51% of Sejny population was Lithuanian.{{sfn|Senn|1975|p=133}}
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 a 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"/> Discussions of the area's future were held at the ] during January 1919.<ref name="dyplomacja">{{pl icon}} Katarzyna Pisarska, </ref> On ], ], the Germans delegated the administration of the town to locally elected Lithuanian authorities, and Lithuanian partisan troops were formed by Lithunian activists in the pre-war ].<ref name=KA>{{cite book | last = Lesčius | first = Vytautas | coauthors = Editors: dr. Gintautas Surgailis; habil. dr. prof. Algirdas Ažubalis; habil. dr. prof. Grzegorz Błaszczyk dr. doc. Pranas Jankauskas; dr. Eriks Jekabsons; habil. dr. prof. Waldemar Rezmer and others | title = Karo archyvas XVIII, chapter ''Lietuvos ir Lenkijos krainis konfliktas del Seinu krasto 1919 metais'' | publisher = Generolo Jono Žemaičio Lietuvos karo akademija |date=2003 | location = Vilnius | pages = pp.188-189 | url = http://www.kam.lt/EasyAdmin/sys/files/ArchyvasXVIII.pdf | doi = | id = ISSN 1392-6489 }}</ref><ref name="Buch_ann">], . LCAS Annuals, vol. XXIII</ref>


==Demarcation lines==
[[Image:Border-Lithuania-Poland-1919-1939.svg|thumb|right|250px|Selected lines of demarcation between Lithuania and Poland in 1919-1939.
], was drawn on July 27.]]
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Since the Polish-Lithuanian talks in Paris were inconclusive, on ] ],the ], ], under the influence of Polish war mission in Paris and general Rozwadowski,<ref>Makauskas, Bronius (1999).''Foch had been influenced by Polish war mission in Paris delivered favorable to Poles new administration line on July 26. //Foch under the influenced of general Rozwadowski question solved as technical rather than ethnic.''</ref> presented the new, favorable to Poles, line, which became known as the '']''. The Lithuanian delegation was absent during the establishment of the demarcation line.<ref name= Makauskas/> The demarcation line ran from the German border in ], south of ] (with ] on the Polish side), north of ] and then south of ]. From there the line turned along the shores of ], east of ] and along the ] and ] rivers to ]. This left the southern part of the conflict area, incuding ] and Sejny, in Polish hands, and the northern area in Lithuanian hands.<ref name="Łossowski51"/> The line roughly reflected the region's demographics, but still left significant minorities on both sides.<ref name="manczuk"/><ref name="Łossowski51"/>


In the ], the ] drew the first ] between Poland and Lithuania on June 18, 1919. The line satisfied no one, and Polish troops continued to advance deeper into the Lithuanian-controlled territory.{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=254}} These attacks coincided with the signing of the ] on June 28, which eliminated any danger from Germany.<ref name=Pisa/> Attempting to halt further hostilities, ] ] proposed a new line, known as the ], on July 18, 1919.{{sfn|Senn|1975|p=132}}
On ] the Foch Line was accepted by the Highest Council of the ] as the provisional border between the two states.<ref name="manczuk"/> Under pressure from the ], which would later become the ], both countries initially backed down on the issue; neither was satisfied, particularly as Polish forces were already in some areas up to 30 km over the line and showed no desire to retreat.<ref name="Łossowski51"/> Such repeated Polish violations of Foch line were protested in Paris.<ref name=nytimes>. Walter Duranty, ], ], 1920. Accessed on October 26, 2007.</ref> Lithuanian military forces were allowed to enter the area before the German army withdrew, which led many local Poles to believe that the Lithuanians intended to capture ], and convince the Entente to accept this as a '']''.<ref name="buchowski"/> Further, the Lithuanian forces in the disputed regions (about 1,200 strong) left Suwałki by ], but remained in Sejny, and formed a line on the ] river - ], in violation of the Foch Line.<ref name="buchowski"/>


The Foch Line was negotiated with the Polish war mission, led by General ] in Paris, while Lithuanian representatives were not invited.<ref name=Maka/> The Foch Line had two major modifications compared to the June 18 line: first, the entire line was moved west to give extra protection to the strategic ] and second, the ], including the towns of Sejny, ], ], was assigned to Poland.{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|pp=254, 257}} Despite assurances at the time that the line was just a temporary measure to normalize the situation before full negotiations could take place, the southern Foch Line is the present-day ].<ref name=Maka/>{{sfn|Senn|1975|p=135}}
On ] ], a Polish meeting in Sejny attracted over 100 delegates from neighboring Polish communities; the meeting passed a resolution that "only securing the area by Polish Army can solve the problem."<ref name="buchowski"/><ref name="manczuk"/> On ], a Lithuanian counter-demonstration was staged, whose participants in turn pronounced words of a recently issued Lithuanian volunteer army recruitment proclamation: "Citizens! Our nation is in danger! To arms! We shall leave not a single occupant on our lands!"<ref name="buchowski"/><ref name="Łossowski67"/> Governments of both countries were encouraging the conflict. <!--Polish historian Stanisław Buchowski asserts that -->] ] visited Sejny and in his speech called Lithuanians to defend their lands "to the end, however they can, with axes, pitchforks and scythes".<ref name="buchowski"/><ref name="Łossowski67">], ''Konflikt polsko-litewski 1918-1920'', Książka i Wiedza, 1995, ISBN 8305127699, p.67</ref> In turn, the Polish government - particularly the Polish chief of state, ] - was supporting the secret ] (PMO), which was planning a ] that would topple the sovereign government of Lithuania. The Lithuanian government was not eager to cooperate with Poland, perceiving that it would lose its sovereignty under Piłsudski's ] ] scheme.<ref name="manczuk"/> Within Lithuania, the pro-Polish faction was supported by the Lithuanian general ] and by politician ].<ref name="dyplomacja"/> The Sejny branch of the Polish Military Organization, led by Polish regular army officers Adam Rudnicki and Wacław Zawadzki, had been preparing for the uprising since ];<ref name="buchowski"/> PMO irregular forces numbered about 900 PMO members and local militia volunteers.<ref name="buchowski"/>


On July 26, the Foch Line was accepted by the ] as the provisional border between the two states.<ref name=Manc/> Lithuanians were not informed about this decision until August 3.{{sfn|Senn|1975|p=134}} Neither country was satisfied: both Lithuanian and Polish forces would have to retreat from the Suwałki and Vilnius regions, respectively.{{sfn|Łossowski|1995|p=51}} Those Germans still present in the region also objected to the boundary of the line.<ref name=Loss/> The Lithuanian forces (about 350 strong){{sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=272}} left the town of Suwałki by August 7, but stopped in Sejny and formed a line at the ] river – ], thus effectively violating the demarcation line.<ref name=BuchSt/> Lithuanians believed that the Foch Line was not the final decision, and that they had the duty to protect Lithuanian outposts in the region.<ref name=Maka/>
Lithuanian historian ] has stated that the coup was meant to be accompanied by a series of PMO uprisings across all of Lithuania, scheduled for August 1919.<ref name=LKA1/> He bases this assertion on documents stolen from a safe at PMO headquarters, located in Polish-controlled ], documenting the coordination of PMO actions in Lithuania.<ref name=LKA1/> According to the Polish historian ], Piłsudski - who both historians agree was involved in planning the coup - did not want Polish-Lithuanian hostilities, and discouraged the local PMO activists from carrying out the Sejny uprising, which would have left any new Lithuanian government less receptive to Polish federative proposals. The local PMO disregarded his recommendations and launched the uprising, which while locally successful, led to the failure of the nationwide coup.<ref name="manczuk"/> A similar argument has been presented by Polish historian ].<ref name="dyplomacja"/>


==Uprising preparations==
==Military skirmishes ==
On August 12, 1919, two days after the Germans retreated from Sejny,{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=273}} a Polish meeting in the town attracted over 100 delegates from neighboring Polish communities; the meeting passed a resolution that "only securing the area by Polish Army can solve the problem."<ref name=BuchSt/><ref name=Manc/> The Sejny branch of the ] (PMO), led by Polish regular army officers Adam Rudnicki and Wacław Zawadzki, began preparing for the uprising on August 16.<ref name=BuchSt/> PMO members and local militia volunteers numbered some 900<ref name=BuchSt/> or 1,200 men (sources vary).<ref name=Manc/> The uprising was scheduled for the night of August 22 to 23, 1919.<ref name=Manc/> The date was chosen to coincide with the withdrawal of German troops from the town of Suwałki.<ref name=BuchSt/> The Poles hoped to capture the territory up to the Foch Line and advance further to take control of the towns of ], ], ] as far as ].<ref name=Manc/>{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=274}}
The Polish uprising, led by undercover local PMO activists commanded by Polish regular army officers,<ref name=LKA1/> began early in the morning of ], ].<ref name="manczuk"/> The date was chosen to coincide with the withdrawal of German troops from the territory.<ref name="buchowski"/> Details of the battles differ in the accounts of Lithuanian and Polish historians.


According to the Polish historian ], Piłsudski – who was ] in ] – discouraged the local PMO activists from carrying out the Sejny Uprising.<ref name=Manc/> Piłsudski reasoned that any hostilities could leave Lithuanians even more opposed to the proposed union with Poland (see ]). The local PMO disregarded his recommendations and launched the uprising. While locally successful, it led to the failure of the nationwide coup.<ref name=Manc/><ref name=Pisa/>
The first Polish assault was a success, and the PMO troops took Sejny and several neighboring communities and then advanced into territories within the Lithuanian side of the Foch line.<ref name="manczuk"/> The ] PMO detachment had orders to capture the entire territory of the Sejny powiat up to the city of ],<ref name="manczuk"/> but growing Lithuanian resistance prevented this.<ref name='Paransevicius'> {{cite web|url=http://www.punsk.com.pl/saltinis/saltinis1_2007/5.htm" |title=Seinai – 1918-1920 metai |accessdate = 2007-09-27 |last=Paransevičius |first=Juozas Sigitas |language=Lithuanian }}</ref> On the evening of August 25 the first regular unit (41st Infantry Regiment) of the Polish army received an order to advance towards Sejny.<ref name="manczuk"/> The local Lithuanian militia<ref name=LKA1/> and the regular army, gained an advantage over the irregular forces of PMO insurgents, and retook the city on ]. Polish sources assert that Lithuanians there aided by a company of Germans volunteers,<ref name="manczuk"/><ref name="Wsp"/><ref name="Sejnhist"/><ref name="buchowski"/> but Lithuanian sources assert that there are no facts supporting such findings.<ref name= Makauskas2>{{cite journal | last = Makauskas | first = Bronius | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Pietinės Sūduvos lietuviai už šiaudinės administracinės linijos ir geležinės sienos (1920–1991 m.) | publisher = Voruta, No.27-30 |date=1999 | location = | pages = | quote = German participation among Lithuanian side is mentioned by Polish sources, but these claims are not supported by facts. | url = | doi = | id = ISSN 1392-0677 | isbn = }}</ref> Lithuanian forces recovered some important documents and property, freed the Lithuanian prisoners of war taken by Poles<ref name=LKA1/> and, according to Mańczuk, executed several of the PMO fighters they found wounded.<ref name="manczuk"/> The Lithuanian forces retreated on the same day. Lesčius, who had access to Lithuanian army documents, states the retreat was motivated by a report that a Polish cavalry unit was approaching from Suwałki.<ref name=LKA1/> Mańczuk states that the Lithuanians had received an erroneous report that a large force of Polish regular cavalry was operating in their rear, on the Lithuanian side of the Foch line - but no such regular unit existed, and the only Polish cavalry unit in the region was an irregular PMO unit under Lieutenant Rudnicki.<ref name="manczuk"/> He agrees that the Lithuanians received a report that Polish regular troops were approaching the town.<ref name="manczuk"/> Later the next day, during the afternoon of ], the PMO forces in Sejny were joined by the Polish 41st Regiment.<ref name="manczuk"/>


On August 17, a Lithuanian counter-demonstration was staged. Its participants read aloud a recently issued recruiting proclamation of the Lithuanian volunteer army: "Citizens! Our nation is in danger! To arms! We shall leave not a single occupant on our lands!"<ref name=BuchSt/>{{sfn|Łossowski|1995|p=67}} On August 20, ] ] visited Sejny and called on Lithuanians to defend their lands "to the end, however they can, with axes, pitchforks and scythes".<ref name=BuchSt/>{{sfn|Łossowski|1995|p=67}} According to Lesčius, at the time the Lithuanian command in Sejny had only 260 infantry and 70 cavalry personnel, stretched along the long line of defense. There were only 10 Lithuanian guards and 20 clerical staff in the town itself.{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=273}} Mańczuk and Buchowski note that the Polish insurgents estimated the Lithuanian forces at 1,200 infantry (Mańczuk also adds an estimate of 120 cavalry), including a 400-strong garrison in Sejny.<ref name=BuchSt/><ref name=Manc/>
The last Lithuanian attempt to retake the city was made on ], defeated by the combined forces of the Polish army and PMO volunteers.<ref name="manczuk"/> The Polish forces forced all Lithuanian troops to retreat beyond the Foch demarcation line by ].<ref name="manczuk"/> The Polish regular army units did not cross the Foch line, and refused to aid the PMO insurgents still operating on the Lithuanian side; these insurgents fought in some areas for two more months.<ref name="manczuk"/>


==Military skirmishes==
Polish sources give total casualties for the Sejny Uprising as 37; they have no numbers for Lithuanian casualties.<ref name="buchowski"/><ref name="manczuk"/> Based on Lithuanian army reports, Lesčius states that on the heaviest day of fighting, ], the casualties consisted of 45 Polish soldiers and 3 officers killed (including the Sejny commandant), and 8 Lithuanian soldiers wounded.<ref name=LKA1/>
According to the Lithuanian historian Lesčius, the first Polish assault of about 300 PMO members on August 22 was repelled,{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=274}} but the next day Lithuanians were forced to retreat towards ]. Over 100 Lithuanians were imprisoned in Sejny when their commander Bardauskas sided with the Poles.{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|pp=274–275}} The Polish insurgents also attacked Lazdijai and Kapčiamiestis,<ref name=BuchSt/> towns on the Lithuanian side of the Foch Line.

In early morning of August 25, Lithuanians counterattacked and recaptured Sejny. Polish sources claim that Lithuanians there were aided by a company of Germans volunteers,<ref name=BuchSt/><ref name=Manc/><ref name=Wsp/><ref name=Sejnhist/> but Lithuanian sources assert that it was an excuse used by Rudnicki to explain his defeat.<ref name=Maka/> The Lithuanian forces recovered some important documents and property, freed Lithuanian prisoners{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=275}} and, according to Mańczuk, executed several of the PMO fighters they found wounded.<ref name=Manc/>

On the evening of August 25, the first regular unit (41st Infantry Regiment) of the Polish Army received an order to advance towards Sejny.<ref name=Manc/> The Lithuanian forces retreated on the same day when they learned about the approaching Polish reinforcements.{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=275}} According to Mańczuk, they based their retreat on an erroneous report about a "large Polish cavalry unit" operating to their rear; only small groups of Polish partisans operated there.<ref name=Manc/> Later the next day, during the afternoon of August 26, the PMO forces in Sejny were joined by the 41st Infantry Regiment.<ref name=Manc/>

On August 26, a large anti-Polish protest took place in ], with cries to march on Sejny.{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=275}} The last Lithuanian attempt to retake the town was made on August 28. The Lithuanians (about 650 men) were defeated by the combined forces of the Polish Army (800 men) and PMO volunteers (500 men).{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=275–276}} On August 27, the Poles officially demanded that Lithuanians retreat behind the Foch Line. On September 1, Rudnicki announced incorporation of PMO volunteers into the 41st Infantry Regiment.<ref name=Manc/> During the negotiations on September 5, representatives of the two groups agreed to settle on a detailed demarcation line; Lithuanians agreed to retreat by September 7.{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=277}} The Polish regular army units did not cross the Foch Line, and refused to aid the PMO insurgents still operating on the Lithuanian side.<ref name=Manc/>

Polish sources give total Polish casualties for the Sejny Uprising as 37 killed in action and 70 wounded.<ref name=BuchSt/><ref name=Manc/>


==Aftermath== ==Aftermath==
]
]
After the uprising, Poland repressed Lithuanian cultural life in Sejny. Lithuanian schools in Sejny (which had some 300 pupils) and surrounding villages were closed.<ref name=Maka/> The local Lithuanian clergy were evicted, and the ] relocated.<ref name=BuchKr/> According to the Lithuanians, the repressions were even more far-reaching, including a ban on public use of the ] and the closing of Lithuanian organizations, which had a total of 1,300 members.<ref name=Maka/>{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=278}} '']'', reporting on renewed hostilities a year later, described the 1919 Sejny events as a violent occupation by the Poles, in which the Lithuanian inhabitants, teachers, and religious ministers were maltreated and expelled.<ref name=NYT/> Polish historian Łossowski notes that both sides mistreated the civilian population and exaggerated reports to gain internal and foreign support.{{sfn|Łossowski|1995|p=66}}


The uprising contributed to the deterioration of the ] and further discouraged the Lithuanians from joining the proposed ] federation.<ref name=Manc/><ref name=Pisa/>{{sfn|Łossowski|1995|p=68}} The Sejny Uprising doomed the Polish plan to ].<ref name=Manc/><ref name=Pisa/> After the uprising, the Lithuanian police and intelligence intensified their investigation of Polish sympathizers and soon uncovered the planned coup. They made mass arrests of Polish activists from August 27 to the end of September 1919. During the investigations, lists of PMO supporters were found; law enforcement completely suppressed the organisation in Lithuania.{{sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=270}}
After Poland acquired control of the town and its surroundings, Lithuanian schools were closed and Polish schools were opened.<ref name="Buch_ann"/> The Poles evicted the local Lithuanian clergy, which they saw as a stronghold of Lithuanian nationalism in the region; the prominent seminary in the town was relocated.<ref name="Buch_ann"/> According to Lithuanian historian ], the repressions directed at the Lithuanian population were even more widespread, with a ban on the public use of the ], closure of various Lithuanian organizations (with 1,300 members), all Lithuanian schools<ref name="Buch_ann"/> (with approx. 300 pupils), and printing presses, confiscation of property, and burning of Lithuanian books.<ref name=LKA>{{cite book | last = Lesčius | first = Vytautas | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Lietuvos kariuomenė nepriklausomybės kovose 1918-1920 | publisher = ], ] |date=2004 | location = Vilnius | pages = p.278 | quote= '''Translation''': Repressions affected various persons – teachers, public persons, pupils. Seiniai diocese bishop A. Karosas was implemented house arrest, later he was forced to go into exile to independent Lithuania. In 1919-09-02 Polish army units and police surrounded Seiniai priest seminary, majority Lithuanian professors and academics were imprisoned, some expelled to Lithuania. Poles devastated Lithuanian institutions, closed organizations and schools, like "Žiburys" fellowship (with 500 members), "Pavasaris" cell (215), "Blaivybė" fellowship (300), St. Zita fellowship (93), art fellowship "Lyra" (30), Lithuanian women catholic union (20), "Artojas" cooperative (120) – overall 9 fellowships, whish had 1300 members. Poles also closed Lithuanian boys and girls gymnasiums (with 223 pupils), grammar-school (with 75 pupils), all newspapers offices, press, reading-room. Property of Lithuanian children shelter was confiscated and transferred to Polish one. It was prohibited to speak Lithuanian in public places also. In 1919 September Lithuanian books of school's and hostel bookshops' were burnt. Terror wave affected all Seiny surroundings.. '''Original''': ''Represijos palietė daug asmenų –mokytojus, visuomenės veikėjus, mokinius. Net ir Seinių diecezijos vysk. A.Karosui buvo paskirtas namų areštas, o vėliau jis buvo priverstas pasitraukti į nepriklausomą Lietuvą. 1919 rugsėjo 2d. lenkų kariuomenės dalys ir policija apsupo Seinių kunigų seminariją, dauguma Lietuvių profesorių bei dėstytojų buvo įkalinti, kai kurie išvaryti į Lietuvą. Lenkai niokojo lietuviškas įstaigas, uždarinėjo lietuviškas organizacijas ir mokyklas, kaip antai „Žiburio“ draugija (500 narių), „Pavasario“ kuopą (215), Blaivybės draugiją (300), šv. Zitos draugiją (93), dailės draugija „Lyrą“ (30), Lietuvių katalikių moterų sąjungą (20), „Artojo“ kooperatyvą (120) – iš viso 9 draugijas, apimančias 1300 narių. Jie taip pat uždarė lietuvių berniukų ir mergaičių gimnazijas (223 mokiniai), pradžios mokyklą (75 vaikai), visas laikraščių redakcijas, spaustuvę, skaityklą, iš lietuvių vaikų prieglaudos atėmė turtą ir perdavė lenkiškai prieglaudai, uždraudė lietuviškai kalbėti gatvėse. 1919 rugsėjo mėn. sudegino lietuvių mokyklų ir bendrabučių knygynėlių knygas. Teroro banga palietė visas Seinių apskrities vietoves.'' |url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 9955423234 }}</ref><ref name=KA/> The ], reporting on renewed hostilities a year later, described the 1919 Sejny events as a violent occupation, in which the Lithuanian inhabitants, teachers, and religious ministers were maltreated and expelled.<ref name=nytimes>. Walter Duranty, ], ], 1920. Accessed on October 26, 2007.</ref> According to ], the uprising was a direct act of Polish government aggression against Lithuania.<ref name='Paransevicius'> Polish historian Łossowski notes that both sides mistreated civilian population and exaggerated reports to gain internal and foreign support.<ref name="Łossowski68"/>


Hostilities over the Suwałki Region resumed in summer 1920. When the Polish Army began to retreat during the course of the ], the Lithuanians moved to secure what they claimed to be their new borders, set by the ] of July 1920.<ref name=Senn/> The Peace Treaty granted Sejny and surrounding area to Lithuania. Poland did not recognize this bilateral treaty. Ensuing tensions heightened until the outbreak of the ]. Sejny changed hands frequently until it was controlled by Polish forces on September 22, 1920.<ref name=BuchKr/> The situation was legalized by the ] of October 7, 1920, which effectively returned the town to the Polish side of the border.{{sfn|Łossowski|1995|pp=166–175}}
]
Polish historians - Łossowski, Mańczuk, Pisarska - agree that it contributed to the deterioration of ],<ref name='Paransevicius'/> and that it further discouraged the antagonized Lithuanians from joining Piłsudski's proposed ] federation of states in the area.<ref name="manczuk"/><ref name="dyplomacja"><ref name="Łossowski68">], ''Konflikt polsko-litewski 1918-1920'', Książka i Wiedza, 1995, ISBN 8305127699, p.68</ref> Piłsudski wished for the coup to be as bloodless as possible, criticized those who suggested a military action, and did not plan nor wish for the Sejny uprising to occur.<ref name="Łossowski66">], ''Konflikt polsko-litewski 1918-1920'', Książka i Wiedza, 1995, ISBN 8305127699, p.66</ref>


==Notes==
The Sejny uprising doomed the Polish plan to overthrow the Lithuanian government.<ref name="manczuk"/><ref name="dyplomacja"/> PMO members in Lithuania stated that the Sejny uprising had damaged their reputation, and many of its former supporters rejected calls by PMO recruiters.<ref name=LKA1/> Lithuanian police and intelligence intensified their investigation of Polish sympathizers, and the coup, originally scheduled for ] ], was delayed until September. The plans for the coup were soon uncovered by counter-intelligence, and Lithuanian Army officers moved to prevent it. The first arrests in the case were made on ] and continued until the end of September. During the investigations lists of PMO supporters were found, and the organisation was completely eliminated in Lithuania.<ref name=LKA1>{{cite book | last = Lesčius | first = Vytautas | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Lietuvos kariuomenė nepriklausomybės kovose 1918-1920 | publisher = ], ] |date=2004 | location = Vilnius | pages = p.259-278 |sbn = 9955423234 }}</ref>
{{reflist|refs=


<ref name=BuchKr>{{cite journal|first=Krzysztof |last=Buchowski |author-link=Krzysztof Buchowski |url=http://www.lkma.lt/annuals/23annual_en.html |title=Polish-Lithuanian Relations in Seinai Region at the Turn of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries |journal=The Chronicle of Lithuanian Catholic Academy of Sciences|issue=XXIII |volume=2 |year=2003 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927015825/http://www.lkma.lt/annuals/23annual_en.html |archive-date = 2007-09-27}}</ref>
A year later, the town was captured by ] during the course of the ]. On ], ] a ] was signed, granting Lithuania the right to control the Sejny area in exchange for the right of passage for Soviet forces through Lithuanian territory. As a matter of fact the terriotry was contolled by the Soviets already.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} On ], ], the Lithuanians attacked the Polish defenders and recaptured the town. The Lithuanian authorities were once again established in the area.<ref name="Buch_ann"/> After the ] in 1920, the Soviet forces were defeated, and the ] again entered the Sejny area. The Lithuanian authorities persisted in their claim, and the town was an object of contention during the ]. As the town was located only some 2 ]s from the Lithuanian border, it was easily captured by Lithuanian forces. The assault was repelled and the Polish Army recaptured the town on ]. On ], 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.


<ref name=BuchSt>{{cite web | first=Stanisław | last=Buchowski | title=Powstanie Sejneńskie 23–28 sierpnia 1919 roku | publisher=Gimnazjum Nr. 1 w Sejnach | url=http://www.g1.powiat.sejny.pl/strony/buchowski.htm | access-date=2007-09-27 | language=pl | archive-date=2008-06-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610050258/http://www.g1.powiat.sejny.pl/strony/buchowski.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Notes and references==
{{reflist|2}}


<ref name=Loss>{{cite book | first=Piotr |last=Łossowski |title =Stosunki polsko-litewskie w latach 1918–1920 |year=1966 | publisher =Książka i Wiedza |location=Warsaw |oclc=9200888 |page=51|language=pl}}</ref>
{{Polish uprisings}}
{{Template:Polish wars and conflicts}}


<ref name=Maka>{{cite journal | last = Makauskas | first = Bronius | title = Pietinės Sūduvos lietuviai už šiaudinės administracinės linijos ir geležinės sienos (1920–1991 m.) | journal = ] |volume=27–30 |issue=405–408 |date=1999-08-13 | url = http://www.voruta.lt/pietines-suduvos-lietuviai-uz-siaudines-administracines-linijos-ir-gelezines-sienos-1920%E2%80%931991-m/ | issn=1392-0677|language=lt}}</ref>
]

]
<ref name=Manc>{{cite journal|first=Tadeusz |last=Mańczuk |year=2001 |title=Z Orłem przeciw Pogoni. Powstanie sejneńskie 1919 |journal=] |url=http://www.mowiawieki.pl/artykul.html?id_artykul=860 |access-date=2007-09-27 |language=pl |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223034311/http://www.mowiawieki.pl/artykul.html?id_artykul=860 |archive-date=December 23, 2007 }}</ref>
]

]
<ref name=NYT>{{cite journal| url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1920/09/06/109799019.pdf |title=Poles Attacked By Lithuanians |first=Walter |last=Duranty |journal=] |date=1920-09-06 }}</ref>
]

]
<ref name=Pisa>{{cite web| first=Katarzyna |last=Pisarska |url=http://www.www.dawna-suwalszczyzna.com.pl/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=349 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313135500/http://www.www.dawna-suwalszczyzna.com.pl/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=349 |archive-date=2012-03-13 | url-status=dead |title=Stosunki Polsko–Litewskie w latach 1926–1927 |access-date=2007-09-27|language=pl}}</ref>

<ref name=Sejnhist>{{cite web |url=http://www.sejny.home.pl/historia |title=Historia |publisher=Urząd Miasta Sejny |access-date=2008-11-09 |language=pl |archive-date=2008-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211201112/http://www.sejny.home.pl/historia |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name=Senav>{{cite journal| title=Tautos budimas ir blaivybės sąjūdis| journal=Istorija| year=1999| first=Ieva| last=Šenavičienė| volume=40| page=3| issn=1392-0456| url=http://archyvas.istorijoszurnalas.lt/images/stories/Istorija_40/Istorija40.pdf| language=lt| access-date=2019-10-05| archive-date=2021-08-14| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814130015/http://archyvas.istorijoszurnalas.lt/images/stories/Istorija_40/Istorija40.pdf| url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name=Senn>{{cite book |first=Alfred Erich |last=Senn |title=The Great Powers: Lithuania and the Vilna Question, 1920–1928 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=180UAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA37 |publisher=Brill Archive |year=1966 |series=Studies in East European history |page=37 |lccn=67086623 }}</ref>

<ref name=Wsp>{{cite web| url=http://www.wspolnota-polska.org.pl/index.php?id=h23081919 |title=Powstanie Sejneńskie 1919 |publisher=] |access-date=2008-11-09|language=pl}}</ref>
}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book | last = Lesčius | first = Vytautas | title = Lietuvos kariuomenė nepriklausomybės kovose 1918–1920 | publisher = ], ] | year = 2004 | location = Vilnius | isbn = 9955-423-23-4 | url = http://www.lka.lt/download/7665/lietuvos_kariuomene_1.pdf | language = lt | access-date = 2019-12-27 | archive-date = 2015-01-02 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150102043921/http://www.lka.lt/download/7665/lietuvos_kariuomene_1.pdf | url-status = dead }}
* {{cite book| first=Piotr |last=Łossowski |author-link=Piotr Łossowski |title=Konflikt polsko-litewski 1918-1920 |publisher= Książka i Wiedza |location=Warszawa |year=1995 |isbn=83-05-12769-9 |language=pl }}
* {{cite book| first=Alfred Erich |last=Senn | title=The Emergence of Modern Lithuania |publisher=Greenwood Press |orig-year=1959 |year=1975 |isbn=0-8371-7780-4 }}
{{refend}}

{{Polish uprisings}}
{{Polish wars and conflicts}}


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Latest revision as of 05:15, 12 November 2024

Polish uprising against the Lithuanian authorities in August 1919

Sejny Uprising
Part of Polish–Lithuanian War

Lt. Adam Rudnicki, leader of the Sejny Uprising, and his colleagues. August 1919.
DateAugust 23 – September 7, 1919
LocationSuwałki Region
Result Polish victory
Territorial
changes		 Lithuanians retreated behind the Foch Line; Poland secured Sejny
Belligerents
Second Polish Republic Polish Military Organization (PMO)
Second Polish Republic 41st Infantry Regiment		 Lithuania Lithuanian Sejny Command
Lithuania 1st Reserve Battalion
Commanders and leaders
Second Polish Republic Adam Rudnicki
Second Polish Republic Mieczysław Mackiewicz
Second Polish Republic Wacław Zawadzki †		 Lithuania Kazys Ladiga
Strength
900–1,200 PMO volunteers
800 regular troops		 900 regular troops
300 volunteers
Casualties and losses
37 killed in action
70 wounded
Polish–Lithuanian War
Żeligowski's Mutiny
Establishment of the Second Polish Republic

The Sejny Uprising or Seinai Revolt (Polish: Powstanie sejneńskie, Lithuanian: Seinų sukilimas) refers to a Polish uprising against the Lithuanian authorities in August 1919 in the ethnically mixed area surrounding the town of Sejny (Lithuanian: Seinai). When German forces, which occupied the territory during World War I, retreated from the area in May 1919, they turned over administration to the Lithuanians. Trying to prevent an armed conflict between Poland and Lithuania, the Entente drew a demarcation line, known as the Foch Line. The line assigned much of the disputed Suwałki (Suvalkai) Region to Poland and required the Lithuanian Army to retreat. While the Lithuanians retreated from some areas, they refused to leave Sejny (Seinai), because of its major Lithuanian population. Polish irregular forces began the uprising on August 23, 1919, and soon received support from the regular Polish Army. After several military skirmishes, Polish forces secured Sejny and the Lithuanians retreated behind the Foch Line.

The uprising did not solve the larger border conflict between Poland and Lithuania over the ethnically mixed Suwałki Region. Both sides complained about each other's repressive measures. The conflict intensified in 1920, causing military skirmishes of the Polish–Lithuanian War. Sejny changed hands frequently until the Suwałki Agreement of October 1920, which left Sejny on the Polish side. The uprising undermined the plans of Polish leader Józef Piłsudski who was planning a coup d'état in Lithuania to replace the Lithuanian government with a pro-Polish cabinet which would agree to a union with Poland (the proposed Międzymorze federation). Because the Sejny Uprising had prompted the Lithuanian intelligence to intensify its investigations of Polish activities in Lithuania, they discovered plans for the coup and prevented it, arresting Polish sympathizers. These hostilities in Sejny further strained the Polish–Lithuanian relations.

Eventually, Poland and Lithuania reached an agreement on a new border that left Sejny on the Polish side of the border. The Polish–Lithuanian border in the Suwałki Region has remained the same since then (with the exception of the World War II period).

Background

During the ages, the lands surrounding the town of Suwałki were part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania until 1795. Sejny itself was property of Vilnius' Dominican friars from 1603 until 1805. During the Third Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795, the region became part of the Kingdom of Prussia as New East Prussia until 1807, from then until 1815, it was part of the Duchy of Warsaw which Napoleon had created. For a century after the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars, the town was in Congress Poland, a part of the Russian Empire.

During World War I, the region was captured by the German Empire, which intended to incorporate the area into its province of East Prussia. After the German defeat, the victorious Entente was willing to assign the territory to either the newly independent Poland or Lithuania. The future of the region was discussed at the Paris Peace Conference in January 1919. The Germans, whose former Ober-Ost administration was preparing to evacuate, initially supported leaving the area to a Polish administration. However, as Poland was becoming an ally of France, German support gradually shifted towards Lithuania. In July 1919, when the German troops began their slow retreat from the area, they delegated the administration to local Lithuanian authorities. Lithuanian officers and troops, who first arrived in the region in May, began to organize military units in the pre-war Sejny county.

According to Russian statistics from 1889, there were 57.8% Lithuanians, 19.1% Poles, and 3.5% Belarusians in the Suwałki Governorate. It is generally agreed that Lithuanians formed the majority of the population in the northern Suwałki Governorate, while Poles were concentrated in the south. But Lithuanian and Polish historians and political scientists continued to disagree over the location of the line that separated the areas of Lithuanian and Polish majorities. Lithuanians claimed that Sejny and the surrounding area were inhabited primarily by the Lithuanians, while the Poles claimed exactly the opposite. The German census of 1916 showed that 51% of Sejny population was Lithuanian.

Demarcation lines

Selected lines of demarcation between Lithuania and Poland in 1919–1939. Light green denotes the first line, drawn on June 18, 1919. The second, dark green line known as Foch Line, was drawn on July 27.

In the aftermath of World War I, the Conference of Ambassadors drew the first demarcation line between Poland and Lithuania on June 18, 1919. The line satisfied no one, and Polish troops continued to advance deeper into the Lithuanian-controlled territory. These attacks coincided with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, which eliminated any danger from Germany. Attempting to halt further hostilities, Marshal of France Ferdinand Foch proposed a new line, known as the Foch Line, on July 18, 1919.

The Foch Line was negotiated with the Polish war mission, led by General Tadeusz Jordan-Rozwadowski in Paris, while Lithuanian representatives were not invited. The Foch Line had two major modifications compared to the June 18 line: first, the entire line was moved west to give extra protection to the strategic Warsaw – Saint Petersburg Railway and second, the Suwałki Region, including the towns of Sejny, Suwałki, Puńsk, was assigned to Poland. Despite assurances at the time that the line was just a temporary measure to normalize the situation before full negotiations could take place, the southern Foch Line is the present-day Lithuania–Poland border.

On July 26, the Foch Line was accepted by the Conference of Ambassadors as the provisional border between the two states. Lithuanians were not informed about this decision until August 3. Neither country was satisfied: both Lithuanian and Polish forces would have to retreat from the Suwałki and Vilnius regions, respectively. Those Germans still present in the region also objected to the boundary of the line. The Lithuanian forces (about 350 strong) left the town of Suwałki by August 7, but stopped in Sejny and formed a line at the Czarna Hańcza river – Wigry Lake, thus effectively violating the demarcation line. Lithuanians believed that the Foch Line was not the final decision, and that they had the duty to protect Lithuanian outposts in the region.

Uprising preparations

On August 12, 1919, two days after the Germans retreated from Sejny, a Polish meeting in the town attracted over 100 delegates from neighboring Polish communities; the meeting passed a resolution that "only securing the area by Polish Army can solve the problem." The Sejny branch of the Polish Military Organization (PMO), led by Polish regular army officers Adam Rudnicki and Wacław Zawadzki, began preparing for the uprising on August 16. PMO members and local militia volunteers numbered some 900 or 1,200 men (sources vary). The uprising was scheduled for the night of August 22 to 23, 1919. The date was chosen to coincide with the withdrawal of German troops from the town of Suwałki. The Poles hoped to capture the territory up to the Foch Line and advance further to take control of the towns of Seirijai, Lazdijai, Kapčiamiestis as far as Simnas.

According to the Polish historian Tadeusz Mańczuk, Piłsudski – who was planning a coup d'état in Kaunas – discouraged the local PMO activists from carrying out the Sejny Uprising. Piłsudski reasoned that any hostilities could leave Lithuanians even more opposed to the proposed union with Poland (see Międzymorze). The local PMO disregarded his recommendations and launched the uprising. While locally successful, it led to the failure of the nationwide coup.

On August 17, a Lithuanian counter-demonstration was staged. Its participants read aloud a recently issued recruiting proclamation of the Lithuanian volunteer army: "Citizens! Our nation is in danger! To arms! We shall leave not a single occupant on our lands!" On August 20, Prime Minister of Lithuania Mykolas Sleževičius visited Sejny and called on Lithuanians to defend their lands "to the end, however they can, with axes, pitchforks and scythes". According to Lesčius, at the time the Lithuanian command in Sejny had only 260 infantry and 70 cavalry personnel, stretched along the long line of defense. There were only 10 Lithuanian guards and 20 clerical staff in the town itself. Mańczuk and Buchowski note that the Polish insurgents estimated the Lithuanian forces at 1,200 infantry (Mańczuk also adds an estimate of 120 cavalry), including a 400-strong garrison in Sejny.

Military skirmishes

According to the Lithuanian historian Lesčius, the first Polish assault of about 300 PMO members on August 22 was repelled, but the next day Lithuanians were forced to retreat towards Lazdijai. Over 100 Lithuanians were imprisoned in Sejny when their commander Bardauskas sided with the Poles. The Polish insurgents also attacked Lazdijai and Kapčiamiestis, towns on the Lithuanian side of the Foch Line.

In early morning of August 25, Lithuanians counterattacked and recaptured Sejny. Polish sources claim that Lithuanians there were aided by a company of Germans volunteers, but Lithuanian sources assert that it was an excuse used by Rudnicki to explain his defeat. The Lithuanian forces recovered some important documents and property, freed Lithuanian prisoners and, according to Mańczuk, executed several of the PMO fighters they found wounded.

On the evening of August 25, the first regular unit (41st Infantry Regiment) of the Polish Army received an order to advance towards Sejny. The Lithuanian forces retreated on the same day when they learned about the approaching Polish reinforcements. According to Mańczuk, they based their retreat on an erroneous report about a "large Polish cavalry unit" operating to their rear; only small groups of Polish partisans operated there. Later the next day, during the afternoon of August 26, the PMO forces in Sejny were joined by the 41st Infantry Regiment.

On August 26, a large anti-Polish protest took place in Lazdijai, with cries to march on Sejny. The last Lithuanian attempt to retake the town was made on August 28. The Lithuanians (about 650 men) were defeated by the combined forces of the Polish Army (800 men) and PMO volunteers (500 men). On August 27, the Poles officially demanded that Lithuanians retreat behind the Foch Line. On September 1, Rudnicki announced incorporation of PMO volunteers into the 41st Infantry Regiment. During the negotiations on September 5, representatives of the two groups agreed to settle on a detailed demarcation line; Lithuanians agreed to retreat by September 7. The Polish regular army units did not cross the Foch Line, and refused to aid the PMO insurgents still operating on the Lithuanian side.

Polish sources give total Polish casualties for the Sejny Uprising as 37 killed in action and 70 wounded.

Aftermath

Polish cavalry parade in Sejny

After the uprising, Poland repressed Lithuanian cultural life in Sejny. Lithuanian schools in Sejny (which had some 300 pupils) and surrounding villages were closed. The local Lithuanian clergy were evicted, and the Sejny Priest Seminary relocated. According to the Lithuanians, the repressions were even more far-reaching, including a ban on public use of the Lithuanian language and the closing of Lithuanian organizations, which had a total of 1,300 members. The New York Times, reporting on renewed hostilities a year later, described the 1919 Sejny events as a violent occupation by the Poles, in which the Lithuanian inhabitants, teachers, and religious ministers were maltreated and expelled. Polish historian Łossowski notes that both sides mistreated the civilian population and exaggerated reports to gain internal and foreign support.

The uprising contributed to the deterioration of the Polish–Lithuanian relations and further discouraged the Lithuanians from joining the proposed Międzymorze federation. The Sejny Uprising doomed the Polish plan to overthrow the Lithuanian government in a coup d'état. After the uprising, the Lithuanian police and intelligence intensified their investigation of Polish sympathizers and soon uncovered the planned coup. They made mass arrests of Polish activists from August 27 to the end of September 1919. During the investigations, lists of PMO supporters were found; law enforcement completely suppressed the organisation in Lithuania.

Hostilities over the Suwałki Region resumed in summer 1920. When the Polish Army began to retreat during the course of the Polish–Soviet War, the Lithuanians moved to secure what they claimed to be their new borders, set by the Soviet–Lithuanian Peace Treaty of July 1920. The Peace Treaty granted Sejny and surrounding area to Lithuania. Poland did not recognize this bilateral treaty. Ensuing tensions heightened until the outbreak of the Polish–Lithuanian War. Sejny changed hands frequently until it was controlled by Polish forces on September 22, 1920. The situation was legalized by the Suwałki Agreement of October 7, 1920, which effectively returned the town to the Polish side of the border.

Notes

  1. ^ Buchowski, Stanisław. "Powstanie Sejneńskie 23–28 sierpnia 1919 roku" (in Polish). Gimnazjum Nr. 1 w Sejnach. Archived from the original on 2008-06-10. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
  2. ^ Mańczuk, Tadeusz (2001). "Z Orłem przeciw Pogoni. Powstanie sejneńskie 1919". Mówią Wieki (in Polish). Archived from the original on December 23, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
  3. ^ Lesčius 2004, p. 276.
  4. ^ Lesčius 2004, p. 275.
  5. Senn 1975, p. 158.
  6. ^ Buchowski, Krzysztof (2003). "Polish-Lithuanian Relations in Seinai Region at the Turn of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries". The Chronicle of Lithuanian Catholic Academy of Sciences. 2 (XXIII). Archived from the original on 2007-09-27.
  7. ^ "Powstanie Sejneńskie 1919" (in Polish). Association "Polish Community". Retrieved 2008-11-09.
  8. ^ "Historia" (in Polish). Urząd Miasta Sejny. Archived from the original on 2008-12-11. Retrieved 2008-11-09.
  9. ^ Pisarska, Katarzyna. "Stosunki Polsko–Litewskie w latach 1926–1927" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2012-03-13. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
  10. ^ Lesčius 2004, p. 271.
  11. ^ Makauskas, Bronius (1999-08-13). "Pietinės Sūduvos lietuviai už šiaudinės administracinės linijos ir geležinės sienos (1920–1991 m.)". Voruta (in Lithuanian). 27–30 (405–408). ISSN 1392-0677.
  12. Šenavičienė, Ieva (1999). "Tautos budimas ir blaivybės sąjūdis" (PDF). Istorija (in Lithuanian). 40: 3. ISSN 1392-0456. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-08-14. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  13. ^ Łossowski 1995, p. 51.
  14. Senn 1975, p. 133.
  15. Lesčius 2004, p. 254.
  16. Senn 1975, p. 132.
  17. Lesčius 2004, pp. 254, 257.
  18. Senn 1975, p. 135.
  19. Senn 1975, p. 134.
  20. Łossowski, Piotr (1966). Stosunki polsko-litewskie w latach 1918–1920 (in Polish). Warsaw: Książka i Wiedza. p. 51. OCLC 9200888.
  21. Lesčius 2004, p. 272.
  22. ^ Lesčius 2004, p. 273.
  23. ^ Lesčius 2004, p. 274.
  24. ^ Łossowski 1995, p. 67.
  25. Lesčius 2004, pp. 274–275.
  26. Lesčius 2004, p. 275–276.
  27. Lesčius 2004, p. 277.
  28. Lesčius 2004, p. 278.
  29. Duranty, Walter (1920-09-06). "Poles Attacked By Lithuanians" (PDF). The New York Times.
  30. Łossowski 1995, p. 66.
  31. Łossowski 1995, p. 68.
  32. Lesčius 2004, p. 270.
  33. Senn, Alfred Erich (1966). The Great Powers: Lithuania and the Vilna Question, 1920–1928. Studies in East European history. Brill Archive. p. 37. LCCN 67086623.
  34. Łossowski 1995, pp. 166–175.

References

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