Lithuanian-Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic
Encyclopedia
Lithuanian–Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic or Litbel (Lit-Bel, LBSSR; ; ; ; ) was a Soviet socialist republic, that existed within the territories of modern Belarus
and eastern Lithuania
for approximately seven months during 1919. It was created after the merger of Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
and the Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia
. The republic was dissolved after the Polish Army took over its territory during the Polish–Soviet War.
in November 1918, Soviet Russia began a westward offensive following the retreating German Army
. It attempted to spread the global proletarian revolution
and sought to establish Soviet republics in Eastern Europe. By the end of December 1918, Bolshevik forces reached Lithuania. The Bolsheviks saw the Baltic states
as a barrier or a bridge into the Western Europe, where they could join the German and the Hungarian Revolutions
.
The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
was proclaimed on 16 December 1918 and the Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia
was established on 1 January 1919. The two republics were weak, championed by newly created Communist Party of Lithuania
and Communist Party of Byelorussia but not enjoying public support. Faced with military setbacks in the Polish–Soviet and Lithuanian–Soviet War
s, the Soviets decided to consolidate the efforts and the two republics were merged into Litbel on 27 February 1919. The communist parties were also merged into the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Lithuania and Belorussia.
, resigned their posts. However, Moscow insisted and the merger was supervised by Adolph Joffe
, who selected the members of the Litbel government. The new government was headed by Vincas Mickevičius-Kapsukas
, Chairman of the Sovnarkom (corresponding to prime minister
) and included no Belarusians. The government was financed by loans from Russian SFSR. Historians describe it as "artificial creation" or "fiction".
Litbel's capital was initially Vilnius
. In April it was moved to Minsk
, after Vilnius was seized by the Polish Army during the Vilna offensive
. Soviet premier Vladimir Lenin
hoped to start peace negotiations with Poland via Polish communist Julian Markhlevski and officially liquidated Litbel on 17 July 1919. Minsk was lost during the Operation Minsk
, thus the government of Litbel – which in fact no longer existed – evacuated to Smolensk
in August 1919. By late July 1919, almost the entire territory of Litbel was occupied by foreign armies.
was concluded on July 12, 1920. When the Polish–Soviet War turned to Soviet favor, the Soviets recaptured Minsk and recreated the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic on 31 July 1920. Despite diplomatic recognition and the peace treaty, the Soviets planned a coup to overthrow the Lithuanian government and re-establish the Soviet republic. However, Soviets lost the Battle of Warsaw
and were pushed back by the Poles. Some historians credit this victory for saving Lithuania's independence from the Soviet coup. The Polish–Russian border was determined by the Peace of Riga
, which left just about half of Belarusian territory to Belorussian SSR.
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
and eastern Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
for approximately seven months during 1919. It was created after the merger of Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (1918–1919)
The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic was an early short-lived Soviet republic declared on December 16, 1918 by the provisional revolutionary government, led by Vincas Mickevičius-Kapsukas...
and the Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia
Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia
The Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia or Soviet Socialist Republic of Belarus was an early republic in the historical territory of Belarus after the collapse of the Russian Empire as a result of the October Revolution....
. The republic was dissolved after the Polish Army took over its territory during the Polish–Soviet War.
Background
After the end of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in November 1918, Soviet Russia began a westward offensive following the retreating German Army
German Army (German Empire)
The German Army was the name given the combined land forces of the German Empire, also known as the National Army , Imperial Army or Imperial German Army. The term "Deutsches Heer" is also used for the modern German Army, the land component of the German Bundeswehr...
. It attempted to spread the global proletarian revolution
World revolution
World revolution is the Marxist concept of overthrowing capitalism in all countries through the conscious revolutionary action of the organized working class...
and sought to establish Soviet republics in Eastern Europe. By the end of December 1918, Bolshevik forces reached Lithuania. The Bolsheviks saw the Baltic states
Baltic states
The term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
as a barrier or a bridge into the Western Europe, where they could join the German and the Hungarian Revolutions
Hungarian Soviet Republic
The Hungarian Soviet Republic or Soviet Republic of Hungary was a short-lived Communist state established in Hungary in the aftermath of World War I....
.
The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (1918–1919)
The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic was an early short-lived Soviet republic declared on December 16, 1918 by the provisional revolutionary government, led by Vincas Mickevičius-Kapsukas...
was proclaimed on 16 December 1918 and the Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia
Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia
The Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia or Soviet Socialist Republic of Belarus was an early republic in the historical territory of Belarus after the collapse of the Russian Empire as a result of the October Revolution....
was established on 1 January 1919. The two republics were weak, championed by newly created Communist Party of Lithuania
Communist Party of Lithuania
The Communist Party of Lithuania was a communist party in Lithuania, established in early October 1918. The party was banned in December 1926.-History:...
and Communist Party of Byelorussia but not enjoying public support. Faced with military setbacks in the Polish–Soviet and Lithuanian–Soviet War
Lithuanian–Soviet War
The Lithuanian–Soviet War or Lithuanian–Bolshevik War was fought between newly independent Lithuania and the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic in the aftermath of World War I. It was part of the larger Soviet westward offensive of 1918–1919...
s, the Soviets decided to consolidate the efforts and the two republics were merged into Litbel on 27 February 1919. The communist parties were also merged into the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Lithuania and Belorussia.
Short-lived state
The merger of Lithuanian and Belarusian Soviet Republics was not welcomed in either Lithuania or Belarus. In particular, Belarusians perceived the merger as annexation by Lithuania and resented exploitation of Belarusian nationalism for tactical reasons. Some Belarusian nationalists, like Zmicier ZhylunovichZmicier Zhylunovich
Zmicier Zhylunovich was Belarusian poet, writer and journalist known under pen name Tsishka Hartny , and a political leader...
, resigned their posts. However, Moscow insisted and the merger was supervised by Adolph Joffe
Adolph Joffe
Adolph Abramovich Joffe was a Communist revolutionary, a Bolshevik politician and a Soviet diplomat of Karaim descent.-Revolutionary career:...
, who selected the members of the Litbel government. The new government was headed by Vincas Mickevičius-Kapsukas
Vincas Mickevicius-Kapsukas
Vincas Mickevičius-Kapsukas was a Lithuanian political activist, one of the founders and leaders of the Communist Party of Lithuania and the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic ....
, Chairman of the Sovnarkom (corresponding to prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
) and included no Belarusians. The government was financed by loans from Russian SFSR. Historians describe it as "artificial creation" or "fiction".
Litbel's capital was initially Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
. In April it was moved to Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, after Vilnius was seized by the Polish Army during the Vilna offensive
Vilna offensive
The Vilna offensive was a campaign of the Polish–Soviet War of 1919–1921. The Polish army launched an offensive on April 16, 1919, to take Vilnius from the Red Army. After three days of street fighting from April 19–21, the city was captured by Polish forces, causing the Red Army to...
. Soviet premier Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet state during its initial years , as it fought to establish control of Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a...
hoped to start peace negotiations with Poland via Polish communist Julian Markhlevski and officially liquidated Litbel on 17 July 1919. Minsk was lost during the Operation Minsk
Operation Minsk
Operation Minsk refers to the Polish offensive and capture of Minsk from the Bolshevik control in early August 1919.In the summer of 1919 after the Polish successes in several Polish-Russian skirmishes, the two combatants have been near the limits of their capabiity to wage warfare with each...
, thus the government of Litbel – which in fact no longer existed – evacuated to Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
in August 1919. By late July 1919, almost the entire territory of Litbel was occupied by foreign armies.
Aftermath
Already in September 1919, the Soviets recognized independent Lithuania and offered to negotiate a peace treaty. The Soviet–Lithuanian Peace TreatySoviet–Lithuanian Peace Treaty
The Soviet–Lithuanian Peace Treaty, also known as the Moscow Peace Treaty, was signed between Lithuania and Soviet Russia on July 12, 1920. In exchange for Lithuania's neutrality and permission to freely move its troops in the recognized territory during its war against Poland, Soviet Russia...
was concluded on July 12, 1920. When the Polish–Soviet War turned to Soviet favor, the Soviets recaptured Minsk and recreated the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic on 31 July 1920. Despite diplomatic recognition and the peace treaty, the Soviets planned a coup to overthrow the Lithuanian government and re-establish the Soviet republic. However, Soviets lost the Battle of Warsaw
Battle of Warsaw (1920)
The Battle of Warsaw sometimes referred to as the Miracle at the Vistula, was the decisive battle of the Polish–Soviet War. That war began soon after the end of World War I in 1918 and lasted until the Treaty of Riga resulted in the end of the hostilities between Poland and Russia in 1921.The...
and were pushed back by the Poles. Some historians credit this victory for saving Lithuania's independence from the Soviet coup. The Polish–Russian border was determined by the Peace of Riga
Peace of Riga
The Peace of Riga, also known as the Treaty of Riga; was signed in Riga on 18 March 1921, between Poland, Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine. The treaty ended the Polish-Soviet War....
, which left just about half of Belarusian territory to Belorussian SSR.
Members of the Council of People's Commissars
Members of the Council of the People's Commissars (equivalent to a cabinet of ministers) as of February 27, 1919 were:- Chairman and Commissar of Foreign Affairs: Vincas Mickevičius-KapsukasVincas Mickevicius-KapsukasVincas Mickevičius-Kapsukas was a Lithuanian political activist, one of the founders and leaders of the Communist Party of Lithuania and the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic ....
- Commissar of Internal Affairs: Zigmas Aleksa-Angarietis
- Commissar of Food: Moses Kalmanovich
- Commissar of Labor: Semyon Dimanstein
- Commissar of Finance: Yitzhak Weinstein
- Commissar of Roads: Aleksandras Jakševičius
- Commissar of Agriculture: Vaclovas Bielskis
- Commissar of Education: Julian LeszczyńskiJulian LeszczynskiJulian Leszczyński was leader of the Stalinist faction in the Communist Party of Poland , led the party in the 1930s, and himself fell victim to Stalin's Great Purge. He joined the Social Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania in 1905, and was also a member of the Bolshevik Party...
- Commissar of Communications: Carl Rozental (К. Ф. Розенталь)
- Commissar of Justice: Mieczysław Kozłowski (Мечислав Козловский)
- Commissar of War: Józef UnszlichtJózef UnszlichtJózef Unszlicht or Iosif Unshlikht , a Bolshevik revolutionary activist, chekist, and Soviet government official of Polish-Jewish extraction from the Masovian region....
- Commissar of Health: Petras Avižonis
- Commissar of People's Economy: Vladimir Ginzburg
- Commissar of Social Affairs: Josif Oldak