The Polish-Lithuanian War (1919 – 1920) – The Forgotten Post-WW1 Conflict

The Polish-Lithuanian War (1919–1920) is a lesser-known conflict that took place in the chaotic aftermath of World War I. As both Poland and Lithuania emerged as independent nations after centuries of foreign domination, their aspirations clashed over the control of the city of Vilnius (Wilno), a culturally mixed region important to both nations.
Poland, re-establishing itself after 123 years of partitions, sought to incorporate territories it considered historically Polish. Lithuania, meanwhile, aimed to create a unified nation that included Vilnius as its capital. The conflict escalated, with Polish forces, led by Józef Piłsudski, eventually capturing Vilnius in October 1920.
In a controversial move, a "revolt" by pro-Polish forces established a puppet state called the Republic of Central Lithuania, which was later annexed by Poland. This deepened the rivalry between the two nations, and the territorial dispute over Vilnius remained a sore point for decades.
Despite its significance, the Polish-Lithuanian War is often overshadowed by larger conflicts of the era, yet it shaped both nations' post-WWI boundaries and influenced their relations throughout the 20th century.



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SOURCES
– War, Revolution, and Nation-Making in Lithuania, 1914–1923 (Tomas Balkelis).
– The History of Lithuania (Alfonsas Eidintas, Alfredas Bumblauskas, Antanas Kulakauskas, Mindaugas Tamošaitis).
– The History of Lithuania (Kiaupa Zigmantas).

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