Vilnius returned to Lithuania (1939)

Every year on October 9, Lithuania mournfully marked the anniversary of the capture of Vilnius by Poland.

Kaunas Street.

The mournful whistle of a locomotive sounds, people stand in a minute of silence.

Kaunas railway station, residents greet Vilnius Lithuanians who were allowed to visit Lithuania by the Polish authorities.

The platform filled with people. "In twenty years of independence, Kaunas has grown into a modern, well-maintained city." Panorama of Kaunas, streets and buildings.

View of the Ministry of Justice, the post office, the university, the Čiurlionis Museum, various mansions, a monument to the Unknown Soldier who died in the battles of 1919, the Independence Monument - an obelisk made of stones.

The square of the Military Museum.

The Lithuanian government made every effort to reclaim the Vilnius region.

After the political events of 1939 in Poland, a favorable situation was created on October 7, 1939. The Lithuanian government delegation consisting of the Deputy Prime Minister Kazimieras Bizauskis, Foreign Minister Juozas Urbšys, Commander-in-Chief of the Lithuanian Army Stasys Raštikis and Head of the Economic Department of the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry Morkaitis flew to Moscow.

On October 11, news arrived that Vilnius and the Vilnius region had been returned to Lithuania.

Large demonstrations took place in Kaunas.

At the rally in the square of the Military Museum, General Nagyus-Nagevičius addresses the crowd from a balcony decorated with a bust of Gediminas, the national flag and the coat of arms of Vilnius: "

Today we are ready to go to our ancient capital Vilnius, which is associated with the main moments of the history and revival of our nation: in 1905, the resolution of our Seimas was heard there, in 1918, independent Lithuania and its army were born there, there lies the ashes of the father of our people Jonas Basanavičius, there in 1920 we experienced the loss of our capital.

This treaty was signed in a hall decorated with a double-headed eagle, a cross and the motto of the Union of Lublin: "Free with the free, equal with equal." Just recently, Radio Poland broadcast the frantic cry of the crowd addressed to Pilsudski: "Marshal, lead us to Kovno!" Despite the immense grief, our public was asked to concentrate, to remain silent, so that a careless step, a thoughtless word would not serve as a pretext for a Polish attack.

Now, however, our eyes are presented with completely different Poles – ragged and hungry fugitives wandering the roads of Lithuania in the hope of refuge from the misfortune that has befallen their state.

We are heading to Vilnius to build a beautiful future for our nation there.

Vilnius is not only the right, but also the duty of our nation." Flowers are laid at the obelisk.

Lithuanian troops are passing by.

After the demonstration, its participants headed to the residence of President Antanas Smetona to congratulate him and listen to his speech at this historic moment. “My deep gratitude to the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Community, students, pupils and all citizens who have gathered here on this historic day.

Vilnius and the Vilnius region have been returned.

Today, we are receiving the best possible border with friendly Russia.

We must preserve the friendship of our peoples in the future, because harmony between neighbours is the greatest blessing.

We, our nation, are too small to achieve our cherished goal on our own – to return our ancient capital.

Vilnius is both the right and the duty of our people.” On the demarcation line, there is a symbolic gate with the inscription: “Long live independent Lithuania with Vilnius as its capital.” The line is guarded by Lithuanian border guards and Red Army soldiers.

Symbolic burning of a broom on a bonfire.

Women give flowers to border guards.

On October 28, an order is read to the Red Army near the demarcation line, opening the way for Lithuanian troops to Vilnius.

Soviet and Lithuanian border guards shake hands through the barrier.

Then the barrier is sawed through.

The commander of the Lithuanian armed forces gives the order to move to Vilnius.

Lithuanian troops enter the Vilnius region.

Infantry, motorized, armored and other units of the Lithuanian army cross the line.

Residents of the region joyfully greet the Lithuanian troops.

A Lithuanian soldier treats residents to cigarettes and candy.

Children greet the soldier.

Lithuanian troops enter the Vilnius region.

A large number of Vilnius Lithuanians arrived to meet the army on the outskirts of the capital.

The poster reads: "We welcome you to Vilnius." Rallies in various places.

Soldiers at a rest stop, they eat.

Sign: 3 km to Vilnius.

Soldiers look at a map.

Troops enter Vilnius.

The first car of war correspondents gets stuck in the crowd of greeters, it is showered with flowers.

Crowds of residents welcome the troops.

Columns of Lithuanian troops turn from Cathedral (Gediminas) Square onto Gediminas Avenue.

Cavalry rides past the cathedral.

A military orchestra plays.

A line of soldiers marches, a cavalryman in front makes his horse "dance." Trucks with soldiers drive by.

Cyclists block traffic from the crowd with their bicycles.

Residents with flowers.

Girls kiss Lithuanian soldiers.

Before the Lithuanian army arrived in Vilnius, the locals were in poverty and stood for hours outside bakeries and grocery stores.

A bread shop with a Polish owner, a sign: "Boleslav Koliško's Bakery and Confectionery Shop", there is a queue, queues at other stores.

The Lithuanian army urgently organized several dozen points for distributing food to the population.

A Lithuanian field kitchen, a cook distributes porridge and bread to residents.

The next day, Sunday, October 29, a tour of Grand Duke Vytautas University was organized for the soldiers, and thousands of believers gathered for the first public mass in Lithuanian near the icon of the patron saint of Lithuania, St.

Barbara, near the Gates of Dawn.

After the mass, the soldiers gathered at Cathedral Square for the ceremony of raising the national flag on Gediminas Hill.

The celebrations end with a parade of Lithuanian troops at the cathedral near the tombs of Grand Duke Vytautas and the patron saint of Lithuania, Saint Casimiras.