Lithuania

Events (26)

• 1009

  3/9 — First known mention of Lithuania, in the annals of the monastery of Quedlinburg.

• 1253

  7/6 — Mindaugas is crowned King of Lithuania.

• 1674

  5/21 — The nobility elect John Sobieski King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania.

• 1863

  1/22 — The January Uprising breaks out in Poland, Lithuania and Belarus. The aim of the national movement is to regain Polish-Lithuanian-Ruthenian Commonwealth from occupation by Russia.

• 1918

  2/16 — The Council of Lithuania unanimously adopts the Act of Independence, declaring Lithuania an independent state.

• 1919

  4/16 — Polish-Soviet War: The Polish army launches the Vilna offensive to capture Vilnius in modern Lithuania.

• 1920

  7/12 — The Soviet-Lithuanian Peace Treaty is signed, by which Soviet Russia recognizes the independence of Lithuania.

• 1924

  5/8 — The Klaipėda Convention is signed formally incorporating Klaipėda Region (Memel Territory) into Lithuania.

• 1926

  12/17 — Antanas Smetona assumes power in Lithuania as the 1926 coup d'état is successful.

• 1939

  3/22 — World War II: Germany takes Memel from Lithuania.

• 1940

  6/16 — A Communist government is installed in Lithuania.

• 1940

  6/17 — The three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania fall under the occupation of the Soviet Union.

• 1940

  7/23 — The United States' Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles issues a declaration on the U.S. non-recognition policy of the Soviet annexation and incorporation of three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

• 1941

  6/14 — June deportation: the first major wave of Soviet mass deportations and murder of Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians, begins.

• 1989

  8/23 — Singing Revolution: Two million people from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania stand on the Vilnius-Tallinn road, holding hands.

• 1991

  1/13 — Soviet Union troops attack Lithuanian independence supporters in Vilnius, killing 14 people and wounding around 1000 others.

• 1991

  2/9 — Voters in Lithuania vote for independence.

• 1991

  8/27 — The European Community recognizes the independence of the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

• 1991

  9/6 — The Soviet Union recognizes the independence of the Baltic states Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

• 1991

  9/17 — Estonia, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, the Marshall Islands and Micronesia join the United Nations.

• 1993

  8/31 — Russia completes removing its troops from Lithuania.

• 2002

  11/21 — NATO invites Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to become members.

• 2002

  12/13 — European Union enlargement: The EU announces that Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia will become members from May 1, 2004.

• 2004

  3/29 — Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia join NATO as full members.

• 2004

  4/6 — Rolandas Paksas becomes the first president of Lithuania to be peacefully removed from office by impeachment.

• 2004

  5/1 — Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia join the European Union, celebrated at the residence of the Irish President in Dublin.