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The Republic of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuva; full - Lietuvos Respublika) is a republic in Northern Europe. One of the three Baltic States along the Baltic Sea, it shares borders with Latvia to the north, Belarus to the southeast, Poland to the south, and the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia to the southwest.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, Lithuania was the largest country in Europe: present-day Belarus, Ukraine, and parts of Poland and Russia were territories of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. With the Lublin Union of 1569 Poland and Lithuania formed a new state, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Commonwealth lasted more than two centuries, until neighboring countries systematically dismantled it from 1772 to 1795, with the Russian Empire annexing most of Lithuania's territory. In the wake of the First World War, Lithuania's Act of Independence was signed on February 16, 1918, declaring the re-establishment of a sovereign state. Starting in 1940, Lithuania was occupied first by the Soviet Union then Nazi Germany. As World War II neared its end in 1944 and the Nazis retreated, the Soviet Union reoccupied Lithuania. On March 11, 1990, Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to declare its renewed independence.
Lithuania became a full member of the Schengen Agreement on 21 December 2007. In 2009, Lithuania celebrating the millennium of its name.Featured article
Welles declaration, July 23, 1940
The Welles declaration was issued on July 23, 1940 by acting United States Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles. The declaration condemned the Soviet Union's forcible incorporation of the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) and announced a U.S. refusal to recognize the legitimacy of Soviet control of the three states. It was an application of the Stimson Doctrine to the Baltic issue.The declaration was consistent with Franklin D. Roosevelt's overall attitude towards forcible territorial expansion, and reflected the views held by the highest levels of the Roosevelt administration.
The Welles Declaration established a decades-long non-recognition of the Baltic States' forcible annexation. The document had major significance for overall U.S. policy toward Europe in the critical year of 1940. Subsequent U.S. presidents and Congressional resolutions reaffirmed the substance of the Welles declaration. The Baltic states re-established their independence in 1990. (continue...)
Featured picture
Stelmužė Oak is one of the oldest oak trees in Europe Did you know
Did you know that...
- ...football champion Romualdas Marcinkus (pictured) was the only Lithuanian pilot to serve in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War?
- ...the name of Lithuania (pictured) was mentioned for the first time in the Annals of Quedlinburg in 1009...
- ...Lithuania is in the geographical center of Europe? According to a study made by a French scientist in 1989, the geographical center of Europe lies just 26 kilometres North to Vilnius, the capital...
- ...Lithuanians were the last nation in Europe to convert to Christianity...
- ...national food Cepelinai is named so after the Zeppelins...
- ...Grand Duchy of Lithuania once stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea...
- ...the only public sculpture for Frank Zappa was in Vilnius, the capital, until in 2002 a bronze bust was installed in a square in Bad Doberan, Germany
- ...the evil serial killer Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs was born in Lithuania?
Quality content
- Featured content
House of Gediminas • Act of Independence of Lithuania • History of Lithuania (1219–1295) • Flag of Lithuania • Signatories of the Act of Independence of Lithuania • Jogaila • Counties of Lithuania • Municipalities of Lithuania
- Good articles
Mindaugas • Tautiška giesmė • Council of Lithuania • Vilnius Castle Complex • Great Seimas of Vilnius • Kaunas Fortress • House of Mindaugas • Lithuanian Civil War (1389–1392) • Palanga Amber Museum • Žirmūnai • 1939 German ultimatum to Lithuania • 1926 Lithuanian coup d'état
Categories
Wikiprojects
For an actual discussons and requests on Lithuania related articles take a look at: WikiProject Lithuania
Things you can do
- Create: Lithuanian humor (Čia priėjo Kindziulis, etc.) ...
- Expand: Dzūkija National Park, Kaunas County, Vilnius Old Town, see all stubs at Stubs, Geo-stubs, Historical-stubs
- Improve: Ignalina nuclear power plant, Rolandas Paksas, History of Vilnius, Nida (town), Curonian Lagoon, Culture of Lithuania
- Articles that need heavy copyediting: Nobility in Lithuania
Topics
History • Proto-Indo-Europeans • Balts • Lithuanians • Land of Lithuania • Kingdom of Lithuania • Grand Duchy of Lithuania • Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth • National awakening • Independence re-establishment • Occupation of the Baltic states • Lithuanian SSR • Independence movement • Independence renewal
Geography • Municipalities • Rivers • Extreme points
Politics • Government • Presidents • National Assembly • Elections • Parties • Foreign relations
Culture • Music • Language • Literature • Religion • EducationRelated portals
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