Changes in Lithuania's geopolitical situation and strategies to regain Vilnius

Straipsnyje analizuojamos Lietuvos geopolitinės orientacijos pakeitimo priežastys ir aplinkybės, bandoma išsiaiškinti, kokiais būdais Lietuva tikėjosi susigrąžinti sostinę Vilnių. 1918–1940 m. Vilniaus klausimas buvo pagrindinė Lietuvos užsienio politikos problema, nulėmusi valstybės geopolitinę orientaciją. Iki 1925 m. Lietuva deklaravo orientaciją į Antantę ir Baltijos šalis, tačiau vėliau nukreipė žvilgsnį į SSRS ir Vokietiją, kurios taip pat turėjo teritorinių pretenzijų Lenkijai. Pasitelkus diplomatines, politines ir karines priemones buvo kuriami Vilniaus susigrąžinimo planaiThe article analyses the causes and circumstances of Lithuania’s geopolitical orientation; attempts are also made to clarify the means by which Lithuania hoped to regain Vilnius as capital. Vilnius issue was the main problem of Lithuania’s foreign policy in 1918–1940, which defined the state’s geopolitical orientation. Till 1925, Lithuania declared its orientation towards the Entente and the Baltic states; however, later it turned to the former USSR and Germany, the countries which also had territorial claims on Poland. When in 1923 the Conference of Ambassadors decreed to attach Vilnius region to Poland, Lithuania started considering the possibilities to change its geopolitical orientation; and on June 12, 1925, the Cabinet of Ministers accepted the final decision to orient the country’s geopolitical policy towards the USSR and Germany block rather than towards the Entente. The leaders of the Party of National Progress, who were in the opposition then and were influenced by the USSR Embassy, supported and encouraged this orientation; the ruling Christian Democrats, meanwhile, adopted a hesitant policy and made attempts to raise Vilnius issue at international institutions. Various organizations and their representatives came up with the plans how to regain Vilnius by diplomatic, political and military means. J. Purickis’ suggestion was to stage a rebellion of national minorities – the Lithuanians, the Belarussians, the Ukrainians and the Germans – in Poland and in concert with exterior forces to regain Vilnius. Up to 1927 this plan was supported by the Special Department of Lithuania’s National Guards; its activities were coordinated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice-Minister of the Defence Ministry. Further historical events serve as a proof of Lithuania’s changed geopolitical orientation; in 1939, Lithuania rejected Germany’s proposal to regain Vilnius region and accepted this region from the USSR together with the USSR military garrison