The Concept of Statehood by Lithuanian Historians-Politicians (1907-1918)

Lietuvių istorikų politikų valstybingumo samprata (1907-1918 m.)

Author(s): Audronė Janužytė / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 1/2007

The article deals with Lithuania's statehood in terms of hovv it vvas vievved by certain historians-politicians at the beginning of the 20th century, namely by P. Klimas, A. Voldemaras, J. Purickas, J. Šliūpas, and others. The analysis itself is based on the articles of the above mentioned historians-politicians as vvell as other historical studies, and it concentrates on the follovving issues: Lithuania's autonomy, its federation with Poland, the Lithuanian-Latvian statė, the Lithuanian-Belarus statė, a constitutional monarchy, and an independent nation statė. The ideas of Lithuanian historians-politicians on these questions are compared to the ones held by the most eminent European researchers of nationalism. The author of the article claims that nationalism, asoneof theforms of national ideology, sought for the best vvays to ensure a nation's existence and overcome disagreements among nations. P. Klimas distinguished tvvo types of nationalism: conquering nationalism (aggressive, chauvinist) as displayed in the Balkan VVars by the Ottoman Empire and liberating nationalism, striving for either national autonomy or independence as in the case of the nations of the Balkan peninsula. P.Klimas assigned the national movements of Lithuanians, Latvians, Byelorussians and Georgians to the second type, i.e. liberating nationalism.

The 7th Scientific-Practical Conference at I. Kant State University (Russia)

VII mokslinė praktinė konferencija Rusijos valstybiniame I. Kanto universitete

Author(s): Sandra Grigaravičiūtė / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 2/2007

Monograph on the History of Lithuania's Diplomacy

Monografija apie Lietuvos diplomatijos istoriją

Author(s): Aldona Gaigalaitė / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 2/2007

Conference Scientia et Historia - 2007

Konferencija Scientia et Historia - 2007

Author(s): Libertas Klimka / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 2/2007

Demography of the Iron Age Population in East Lithuania

Geležies amžiaus Rytų Lietuvos gyventojų demografija

Author(s): Laurynas Kurila / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 2/2007

The paper analyses the demography of the populations of the East Lithuanian barrowculture. The survey is based on a sample of 362 burials excavated in 64 cemeteries. Out of these, 54 were inhumations and 308 were cremations. In total, the remains of 443 individuals were identified. Due to a wide chronological and geographical distribution of the data used in the research, it presents rather a theoretical model than a demographical situation in a particular society. The obtained results and the life table of East Lithuanian populations are compared with those of well-investigated Central Lithuanian Plinkaigalis cemetery. The osteological age at death and sex determination were based on macroscopical analysis and osteometric measurement. The age at death was estimated with respect to the cranial suture closure, dental development, tooth wear and loss, epiphyseal fusion, vertebral growth and osteophyte development as well as pubic symphyseal surface. The sex of the individuals was determined mainly by the morphology of cranial and pelvic bones as well as by some long bone measurements. The available fragmentary osteological data are not sufficient for exploring matters of stature, pathology or trauma. The study is narrowed to the age and sex related issues. The individuals were divided into six age groups: up to 1 year, from 1 to 5, from 5 to 12, from 12 to 20, from 20 to 40 and over 40 years of age. Such division was employed with regard to age ranges, commonly given by the osteological analysis, and stages of human social development. The given age range for most individuals was rather wide. Therefore, the statistically evaluated presumable number of individuals in age groups was mostly used in the survey. In the graves under discussion, the number of infants up to one year of age wassurprisingly small (2.3%). In the Plinkaigalis cemetery, newborns and infants comprised 24.3% of all the population. Aconclusion can be drawn that a small number of graves reveals low social status of infants. They were probably buried in a different manner than older individuals, in different places, or not buried at all. The uncertain number of infant graves puts an obstacle in calculating the average life span. The average age of all the individuals was 27,1 years.

Finnish Delegation's Visit at Vilnius Pedagogical University

Suomių vizitas Vilniaus pedagoginiame universitete

Author(s): Audronė Janužytė / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 2/2007

Repayment of Lithuanian Freedom Bonds to Lithuanian-Americans

Dėl Lietuvos laisvės paskolos grąžinimo JAV lietuviams

Author(s): Juozas Skirius / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 2/2007

The article, on the basis of archival documents and periodical press of that time, analyzes the reasons which forced the Lithuanian government at the beginning of the fourth decade of the 20th century to settle the issue ofthe sale of Lithuanian Freedom Bonds (LFBs) received from Lithuanian emigrants in 1919-1923. The Lithuanian government, regularly paying intereston the bonds (securities), realized that during the economic crisis of 1929-1932 their value decreased drastically (up to 25-30% of their nominal value). This decrease, unfortunately, diminished the prestige of the Lithuanian government among Lithuanian-Americans at the time when it assiduously tried to strengthen its authority among there. Persuaded by their representatives in the USA, the government authorized the bank of Lithuania to purchase the bonds to restore their value. However, to avoid expenses worth millions purchasing LFB in 1935, the Lithuanian government at first attempted to bind the bonds with the new domestic loan but in the end refused this idea and extended the validity of LFBs till 1945. Theauthor emphasizes that the authorities, having failed to increase interest on LFBs, had to purchase the major part of bonds in 1935-1936. The research proved that Lithuanians-Americans were willing to sell out their bonds because of the economic crisis, the devaluation of the dollar as well as unstable economic and political situation in Lithuania. However, Lithuania's occupation terminated the final purchasing of bonds planned for 1945. Nevertheless, it should be stated that this loan was useful and profitable for Lithuania.

Meam vide umbram, tuam videbia vitam

Meam vide umbram, tuam videbia vitam*

Author(s): Rimvydas Laužikas / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 2/2007

Features of Currency Circulation in Lithuania in 1915−1919

Pinigų cirkuliacijos Lietuvoje bruožai 1915−1919 m.

Author(s): Linas Kvizikevičius,Saulius Sarcevičius / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 4/2007

Keywords: Currency Circulation; Lithuania; 1915−1919

The article aims to evaluate and characterise the monetary circulation and its structural changes in Litbel, the Red Army controlled zone, that existed for several months in the territory of Lithuania and Belarus during the years of the First World War and in 1919. The article also throws some light on a new factual source, i.e. a hoard of money discovered in Vilnius during the archaeological research in 2004. Some financial and monetary issues were researched or, to varying degrees, touched upon in the works of historians and economists who dealt with the historiography of Lithuania underwent several stages of development. Till July-August 1917, a mixed monetary system had been formed throughout the entire territory of Lithuania. The main currency was the Russian Imperial money and German marks, which were the mostly valued by society. Alongside, the Ost Rubel, functioning as a secondary currency, enriched the monetary circulation. Insignificant quantities of other European and US currencies were also in circulation. Starting with July-August 1917, significant circulation changes occurred, as the Russian Imperial currency was ousted from circulation; it was replaced by German currency. From late 1917 until late 1918-early 1919, alongside the principal monetary system, circulating in Lithuania, the remainder of the Russian Imperial currency which occupied a secondary currency position, began to be used more intensively and its quantity fluctuated in a regressive order. At the beginning of 1919 (until April), a second, structurally different, money circulation system appeared in the eastern part of Lithuania (Litbel), which was occupied by the units of the Red Army. Its principle currency in January 1919 consisted of Russian 1917 and Imperial currency alongside an insignificant percentage of German currency: the Ost-Rubel and Ostmark as well as locally issued currency (in Panevėžys). The principal circulating currency in the Litbel territory essentially consisted of money which could not be converted into other currency. This is also clearly reflected by the hoard discovered during archaeological research in Vilnius in 2004. A glass beer bottle, containing 148 Russian Imperial, Duma, and the Provisional Government banknotes (total value being 4,970 roubles), was discovered. The majority (2,820 roubles or 56% of the total value) consisted of 20 and 40 rouble denomination 'kerenka' treasury notes issued in 1917 by the Russian Provisional Government. A glass box held 564 coins (560 of which were silver with a total weight of 1,457.16 gr.). These consisted of 496 (89%) Russian Imperial, 66 (11 %) German, and 2 Austrian coins. The majority were small denomination coins: Russian 10, 15, and 20 kopeck coins and German half marks, which, in the author's opinion, reflects the then circulation situation, i.e. a shortage of large denomination freely convertible coins. The coins of 1913-1915 were the most represented (248) in the hoard...

Lithuanian's Humanitarian Organizations in 1918-940

Lietuvos humanitarų organizacijos 1918-1940 metais

Author(s): Valdas Selenis / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 4/2007

Keywords: Lithuanian's Humanitarian Organizations; 1918-940

The Conference Dedicated to Tolerance

Tolerancijos dienai skirta konferencija

Author(s): Domininkas Burba / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 4/2007

Keywords: conference; tolerance

Kaunas Known as „Kiow in Samogitia" in Western European Sources of the 17th Century

„Kijevas Žemaitijoje": Kaunas Vakarų Europos XVII a. leidiniuose

Author(s): Rūstis Kamuntavičius / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 4/2007

Keywords: Kaunas; Kiow; Samogitia; Western European; 17th Century

The article reviews the information about Kaunas and other towns of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 17* century on the basis of cosmographic, travellers' memoirs and the information presented by a popular French newspaper „La Gazette". The first part of the article gives information about the most frequently visited and described Lithuania's regions. The second part explains how Kaunas' geographical situation was perceived by foreigners and how differently the city's name was used by them. The majority of travellers who came to Lithuania from Kraków, Warsaw, etc. aimed to visit Vilnius. Consequently, this place got most attention while other cities and towns of the Grand Duchy were scarcely mentioned. Nevertheless, we came across some descriptions concerning Gròdnò, dated by the end of 17th century, when joint Seyms of the Republic used to meet as well as Trakai and Tartar villages round Vilnius. Therefore the readers could have formed the impression that Lithuania was mainly inhabitated by Tartars, and there were only few towns, i.e. Vilnius, Trakai and Gròdnó. Though some authors named Gródnò as one of the most beautiful cities in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the prevailing opinion was that it was a miserable place not suitable for the joint meetings of the Polish-Lithuanian Seyms. All other places and regions, which were far away from the main road leading from Polish capitals to Vilnius, were not mentioned. Kaunas, which was relatively far away from Gròdnó-Vilnius road, was not an exception. Despite the fact that this city, situated alongside two main Lithuania's rivers, was an important economic centre, it was little known to Western Europe. Most often it was mentioned that it is situated on the confluence of two rivers - Nemunas and Neris. Throughout the whole 17th century it was called differently by Western authors, e.g. „Lawna" or „Kiow". There was not even a clear understanding to which administrative-political unit it belonged. Though in the majority of cases Kaunas was mentioned as belonging to Trakai voivode district, some authors attributed it to Samogitia (Lowland Lithuania).

The Historians of Independent Organizations in 1918-1940

Nepriklausomos Lietuvos istorikai

Author(s): Aldona Gaigalaitė / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 4/2007

Keywords: historians; Independent Organizations; 1918-1940

"Sity Space". The 6th Scientific Conference Dedicated the History of the GDL in the 18th Century

„Miesto erdvė". LDK XVIII a. istorijos šeštoji mokslinė konferencija

Author(s): Domininkas Burba / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 3/2007

Disagreements Between the Authorities of the Lithuanian Peasant Populist Union and the Committee of Telšiai District in 1931-1935

Lietuvos valstiečių liaudininkų sąjungos vadovybės ir Telšių apygardos komiteto nesutarimai 1931-1935 m.

Author(s): Mindaugas Tamošaitis / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 3/2007

Keywords: Lithuanian Peasant Populist Union; Committee of Telšiai District; 1931-1935

The article analyses disagreements between the Committee of Telšiai district, which was part of the Lithuanian Peasant Populist Union (LPPU), and the authorities of this union in 1931-1935. During this period, because of Antanas Smetona's authoritarian governing, the functioning of LPPU was basically paralysed, and the activities of some of its branches were almost stopped. In this context only the Committee of Telšiai district, consisting of Telšiai, Mažeikiai and Kretinga circles, showed more political activity. Its leaders were Aleksandras Tornau and Mečislovas Gedvilas. Starting with the fourth decade, the relationships between this committee and the leadership of the Lithuanian Peasant Populist Union became tense and complicated. In the first place the LPPU refused to financially support the regional newspaper "Žemaitis". Secondly, in 1932 A. Tornau published his book Ideological Principles of the Peasant Populist Union (s summary of the report which reviewed ideological principles of the Lithuanian Peasant Populist Union) in which he criticized the ideology of this Union and proposed to include into the party's programme some communist ideas. In addition, the Committee in its newspaper "Žemaitis" proclaimed some pro-communist concepts and suggested forming a joint front of leftist political forces, communist included, against fascism. This also aggravated the relationship. Despite these disagreements, the rebellious leaders were not expelled from the party. Moreover, their ideas became popular among younger members of the party. The research allows to draw a conclusion that these disagreements between the centre and the periphery weakened and divided the Lithuanian Peasant Populist Union; on the other hand, the popularity of the Telšiai Committee leaders themselves and their pro-communist ideas among younger members of the party give grounds to speak about ideological differences between the younger and the older generations within the party in 1931-1935. The leadership of the party, headed by M. Sleževičius, was not always able to adequately evaluate the processes taking place within the party and radically deal with those members who violated party discipline. Pro-communist members had not been expelled from the party; this situation questions the ability of the leadership to control the situation in the party. The above discussed disagreements allow to draw a conclusion that the Committee of Telšiai district became the centre of disseminating communist ideas...

Repatriation of Poles in 1944–1947

Lenkų repatriacija į Lenkiją 1944–1947 metais

Author(s): Vitalija Stravinskienė / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 3/2006

Keywords: Evacuation; repatriation; migration; Poles; LSSR

The author of the article analyses the repatriation of Poles from the then LSSR to Poland in 1944–1947; she also discusses the dynamics and results of this process, its organizers and their roles as well as the attitudes of the USSR and Polish representatives towards repatriation. The author points to the fact that though officially only 171,158 people repatriated to Poland in 1944–1947, real numbers were higher – about 180,000–190,000. According to author, the consequences of this repatriation could be estimated by several aspects. First of all, it negatively affected Lithuania’s ethno-demographic position, as this process created possibilities for the USSR citizens to settle in Lithuania. Secondly, this repatriation qualitatively and quantitatively influenced the Polish community in Lithuania: the number of Poles decreased, the structure of their social-economic community drastically changed, the process of assimilation and Russification accelerated.

Skills and Concepts Relevant to Develop the Awareness of the European Citizenship

Įgūdžiai ir sąvokos siekiant pažinti europiečių pilietiškumą

Author(s): Benediktas Šetkus / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 3/2006

Sociological and Philosophical Evaluation of the 800-year-old Tragedy

Sociosofinis žvilgsnis į 800 metų senumo tragediją

Author(s): Romualdas Grigas / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 3/2006

Keywords: Collective suicide; Baltic tribes; Baltic customs; communal consonance; social anthropology; Chronicle of Livonia

The author from a position of sociological and social anthropology investigates a collective suicide committed by Lithuanian women in 1205 (the Chronicle of Livonia). The author points to the fact that the reasons and motivation of suicide of fifty women are supposed to be the following: a strong belief in afterlife, spiritually as well as physically experienced pain caused by the loss of their husbands, traditional and long-established customs which strongly influenced the Lithuanians’ (the most militant of the Baltic tribes) communal consonance as well as the nation’s strive for expansion. The author views this tragic fact as the intersection of two patterns of life: ethnocultural-spiritual and utilitarian-pragmatic.

The Role of Teaching Practice in Training Teachers of History

Pedagoginės praktikos rengiant istorijos mokytojus

Author(s): Virgilijus Krapauskas,Benediktas Šetkus / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 3/2006

Keywords: History; students; teaching; practice; training teachers; Vilnius Pedagogical University; conference.

The Structure of Lithuania’s Economy in the 20th Century

Lietuvos ūkio pokyčiai XX amžiuje

Author(s): Juozas Petras Stankevičius / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 3/2006

Keywords: Economy of Lithuania; agriculture; industry; businesses; production; market; trade

The article aim to show economic development of Lithuania in the 20th century. The author points to the fact that at the beginning of the 20th century agriculture became a priority branch in Lithuania, thus stimulating the development of only this economic sector which was connected with processing of agricultural materials. After the Second World War Lithuania’s economy became an integral part of the Soviet Union’s economy. More attention was paid to the development of energetic, metal processing, and chemical industries. Despite certain conspicuous achievements in these spheres, the Soviet economy was not effective because of a wide disproportion between production and market demands. After the restoration of independence in 1990, Lithuania’s economy started functioning on the basis of principles of free market; consequently, some changes in the country’s economy became noticeable, the major being the emphasis on the service sector.