Lithuania Timeline of Events

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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...

Timeline of Events

1009

2.14.1009

First known mention of Lithuania, in the annals of the monastery of Quedlinburg.

1253

7.6.1253

Mindaugas is crowned King of Lithuania.

1674

5.21.1674

The nobility elect John Sobieski King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania.

1863

1.22.1863

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.

1917

12.11.1917

Lithuania declares its independence from Russia.

1918

2.16.1918

The Council of Lithuania unanimously adopts the Act of Independence, declaring Lithuania an independent state.

3.3.1918

Germany, Austria and Russia sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ending Russia's involvement in World War I, and leading to the independence of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

1920

7.12.1920

The Soviet–Lithuanian Peace Treaty is signed. Soviet Russia recognises independent Lithuania.

10.7.1920

The Suwalki Agreement between Poland and Lithuania is signed.

1923

1.10.1923

Lithuania seizes and annexes Memel.

1926

12.17.1926

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

1939

3.22.1939

World War II: Germany takes Memel from Lithuania.

1940

6.16.1940

A Communist government is installed in Lithuania.

6.17.1940

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

7.23.1940

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

6.14.1941

June deportation, the first major wave of Soviet mass deportations and murder of Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians, begins.

1949

3.25.1949

The extensive deportation campaign known as March deportation is conducted in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to force collectivisation by way of terror. The Soviet authorities deport more than 92,000 people from the Baltics to remote areas of the Soviet Union.

1989

8.23.1989

Singing Revolution: two million people from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania stand on the Vilnius-Tallinn road, holding hands (Baltic Way).

1990

1.11.1990

300,000 march in favor of Lithuanian independence.

3.11.1990

Lithuania declares itself independent from the Soviet Union.

1991

1.13.1991

Soviet Union military troops attack Lithuanian independence supporters in Vilnius. Killed 14 people and wounding 1000.

2.9.1991

Voters in Lithuania vote for independence.

8.27.1991

The European Community recognizes the independence of the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

9.2.1991

The United States recognize the independence of the Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

9.6.1991

The Soviet Union recognizes the independence of the Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

9.17.1991

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

1992

10.25.1992

Lithuania holds a referendum on its first post-Soviet constitution.

2002

11.21.2002

NATO invites Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to become members.

12.13.2002

Enlargement of the European Union: The European Union announces that Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia will become members from May 1, 2004.

2004

3.29.2004

Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia join NATO as full members.

4.6.2004

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

5.1.2004

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.

2009

5.17.2009

Dalia Grybauskaitė is elected the first female President of Lithuania.