The Rebirth of a Nation: How 20 Men Signed a 122-Word Act in 1918 and Forged Modern Lithuania's Identity
Restoration of Lithuania's Statehood Day, celebrated annually on February 16th, stands as the most sacred date on the Lithuanian calendar. It commemorates the signing of the Act of Independence of Lithuania in 1918, a 122-word document that formally declared the restoration of an independent, democratic Lithuanian state with its capital in Vilnius, effectively ending more than a century of rule by the Russian Empire . This day is not merely a historical anniversary; it is the foundational moment of the modern Lithuanian nation, a celebration of national identity, and a reaffirmation of the enduring values of freedom and self-determination. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the holiday, exploring its deep historical roots, the dramatic path to the declaration, the content of the Act itself, and the vibrant traditions with which it is celebrated today both in Lithuania and around the world.
The Historical Context: A Century of Occupation and the Dawn of a New Era
To fully appreciate the significance of February 16th, one must understand the historical context from which it emerged. Lithuania boasts a rich and proud history of statehood, dating back to the 13th century. However, this long tradition was interrupted in 1795 when the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was finally partitioned, and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was annexed by the Russian Empire . For over 120 years, Lithuanians lived under the rule of the Tsar, enduring periods of intense Russification that sought to suppress their language, culture, and national identity. Despite these pressures, the desire for independence never fully extinguished, fueling major uprisings in 1830 and 1863, and a persistent movement to preserve the Lithuanian language and heritage.
The catastrophic conflict of World War I (1914-1918) proved to be the catalyst for change. In 1915, the German Empire occupied the Lithuanian territories, pushing the Russian army out . For the next three years, Lithuania was under the strict administration of the German military command, Ober Ost. While replacing one occupying power with another, the war fundamentally altered the geopolitical landscape. The Russian Empire was crumbling, weakened by military defeats and internal strife that would soon erupt into revolution. This chaos provided a unique window of opportunity for Lithuanian nationalists.
Germany, for its own strategic reasons, began to consider the future of the territories it had occupied. As part of its Mitteleuropa plan to establish a network of puppet states, Germany reluctantly allowed a gathering of Lithuanian activists, known as the Vilnius Conference, to take place in September 1917 . The German authorities hoped the conference would produce a declaration of loyalty and a desire for a close alliance with Germany. However, the plan backfired spectacularly. The conference, attended by over 200 delegates, instead passed a resolution demanding the establishment of an independent Lithuanian state, with its future relationship with Germany to be determined by a democratically elected constituent assembly . Crucially, on September 21, 1917, the conference elected a 20-member body, the Council of Lithuania (Lietuvos Taryba), and charged it with the responsibility of achieving this goal . The Council was chaired by the renowned scholar and public figure, Jonas Basanavičius, later hailed as the "Patriarch of the Nation".
The Path to the Act: A Delicate Political Dance
The 20 men of the Council, representing a wide range of professions, ages, and political affiliations (from clergy to social democrats), faced an incredibly difficult task . They had to navigate between the powerful German military, which physically controlled their country, and the aspirations of the Lithuanian people for full, unencumbered sovereignty. The journey to the final Act of February 16th was marked by intense internal debate and external pressure, resulting in two key preliminary documents.
The Act of December 11, 1917
Under significant pressure from the German authorities, who were preparing for peace negotiations with Bolshevik Russia, the Council issued its first declaration on December 11, 1917. This Act did proclaim the restoration of the Lithuanian state. However, it also included a controversial second clause that called for "a firm and permanent alliance" with Germany, to be based on military, transport, customs, and currency conventions . This clause was a concession to the Germans, but it was deeply unpopular with many Council members and the wider Lithuanian public. They feared it would merely replace Russian domination with German control and violated the Vilnius Conference's mandate that a constituent assembly should decide on such fundamental matters. The Act was adopted by only 15 of the 20 members, sowing discord within the Council.
The Act of January 8, 1918
Tensions escalated when it became clear that Germany, despite the December 11th declaration, still refused to recognize Lithuania's independence or invite its representatives to the Brest-Litovsk peace talks . Feeling betrayed, the Council reconvened. On January 8, 1918, a powerful and symbolic date coinciding with U.S. President Woodrow Wilson's announcement of his Fourteen Points (which included the principle of national self-determination), the Council passed a revised declaration . This version completely omitted the clause about an alliance with Germany. Instead, it firmly stated that the future of the Lithuanian state and its relations with other countries would be "finally determined by the Constituent Assembly, convened on a democratic basis by all the inhabitants of Lithuania" . The German authorities, predictably, rejected this new version, leading to a crisis. Four members Mykolas Biržiška, Steponas Kairys, Stanisław Narutowicz, and Jonas Vileišis resigned from the Council in protest against the earlier, more conciliatory stance . Antanas Smetona, the chairman who supported the December 11 Act, also stepped down, and Jonas Basanavičius was elected to replace him.
The Act of February 16, 1918
The departure of the four members threatened to cripple the Council's legitimacy as a truly representative body. For several weeks, intense negotiations took place to find a way forward and bring the resigning members back. The key to reconciliation was to return to the principles of the January 8th Act. On the morning of February 16, 1918, at 12:30 PM, all twenty members of the Council gathered in the office of the Lithuanian Society for the Relief of Victims of War at 30 Didžioji Street (now Pilies Street) in Vilnius, a building now known as the House of the Signatories (Signatarų namai) . The atmosphere was tense but historic. The Council voted on the final text, which was a slightly edited version of the January 8th declaration. The first part of the document was approved unanimously. The second part, containing the word "finally" regarding the powers of the Constituent Assembly, caused some hesitation among the returning members, who feared it could be misinterpreted. However, after discussion, the document as a whole was adopted unanimously by all twenty signatories. The Act was read aloud by Jonas Basanavičius, who, as a mark of respect, was the first to sign . The other 19 members then signed, listed in alphabetical order. With these 20 signatures, the State of Lithuania was legally restored.
The Act of February 16, 1918: The Text and Its Meaning
The document they signed is remarkably short and direct—a mere 102 words in the original Lithuanian, but its impact has been immeasurable . The full text of the resolution reads:
English Translation| LIETUVOS TARYBA | THE COUNCIL OF LITHUANIA |
| savo posėdyje vasario 16 d. 1918 m. vienu balsu nutarė kreiptis: į Rusijos, Vokietijos ir kitų valstybių vyriausybės šiuo pareiškimu: | in its session of February 16, 1918, decided unanimously to address the governments of Russia, Germany, and other states with this declaration: |
| Lietuvos Taryba, kaipo vienintelė lietuvių tautos atstovybė, remdamos pripažintąja tautų apsisprendimo teise ir lietuvių Vilniaus konferencijos nutarimu rugsėjo mėn. 18–23 d. 1917 metais, skelbia atstatanti nepriklausomą demokratiniais pamatais sutvarkytą Lietuvos valstybę su sostine Vilniuje ir tą valstybę atskirianti nuo visų valstybinių ryšių, kurie yra buvę su kitomis tautomis. | The Council of Lithuania, as the sole representative of the Lithuanian nation, based on the recognized right of national self-determination, and on the resolution of the Lithuanian Vilnius Conference of September 18–23, 1917, proclaims the restoration of an independent state of Lithuania, founded on democratic principles, with its capital in Vilnius, and declares the termination of all state ties which formerly bound this state to other nations. |
| Ir drauge Lietuvos Taryba pareiškia, kad Lietuvos valstybės pamatus ir jos santykius su kitomis valstybėmis privalo galutinai nustatyti kiek galima graičiau sušaukiamas Steigiamasis Seimas, demokratiniu būdu visų jos gyventojų išrinktas. | The Council of Lithuania also declares that the foundation of the Lithuanian State and its relations with other countries will be finally determined by the Constituent Seimas, to be convened as soon as possible, elected democratically by all its inhabitants. |
| ...to the Government ... | ...to the Government ... |
| Dr. Jonas Basanavičius, Saliamonas Banaitis, Mykolas Biržiška, Vilhelmas Storosta-Vydūnas, Kazys Bizauskas, Pranas Dovydaitis, Jurgis Šaulys, Steponas Kairys, Petras Klimas, Donatas Malinauskas, Vladas Mironas, Stanisław Narutowicz, Alfonsas Petrulis, Kazimieras Steponas Šaulys, Jokūbas Šernas, Antanas Smetona, Jonas Smilgevičius, Justinas Staugaitis, Aleksandras Stulginskis, Jonas Vailokaitis, Jonas Vileišis. | Dr. Jonas Basanavičius, Saliamonas Banaitis, Mykolas Biržiška, Vilhelmas Storosta-Vydūnas, Kazys Bizauskas, Pranas Dovydaitis, Jurgis Šaulys, Steponas Kairys, Petras Klimas, Donatas Malinauskas, Vladas Mironas, Stanisław Narutowicz, Alfonsas Petrulis, Kazimieras Steponas Šaulys, Jokūbas Šernas, Antanas Smetona, Jonas Smilgevičius, Justinas Staugaitis, Aleksandras Stulginskis, Jonas Vailokaitis, Jonas Vileišis. |
The Act is a masterpiece of political and legal precision. Its core principles are:
Sovereignty and Legitimacy: It declares the Council as the "sole representative of the Lithuanian nation," grounding its authority in the popular will expressed at the Vilnius Conference.
Right to Self-Determination: It explicitly invokes the "recognized right of national self-determination," anchoring its claim in the emerging international norms of the post-World War I era.
Restoration, Not Creation: The use of the word "restoration" (atstatanti) is legally crucial. It establishes the continuity of the Lithuanian state with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, meaning the 1918 state was not a new creation but a revival of a sovereign entity that had been illegally occupied. This principle of state continuity would later be the cornerstone of Lithuania's re-establishment of independence in 1990.
Democratic Foundations: The state is to be "founded on democratic principles," a clear rejection of both Tsarist autocracy and the authoritarian monarchy of the German Empire.
Territorial Integrity: Vilnius is declared the capital, asserting a claim to the historic capital, even though the city and region were ethnically mixed and would soon be contested.
Supremacy of the People: The final decision on the state's structure and international relations is reserved for a democratically elected Constituent Assembly (Steigiamasis Seimas). This established the principle that the ultimate power resides with the people, not the Council itself.
Immediate Aftermath and the Long Road to a De Facto State
The signing of the Act was a monumental step, but it was only the beginning. The German authorities immediately banned its publication. The text had to be distributed illegally, often smuggled or printed in underground newspapers . The Council's work was severely hampered, and the German military remained in de facto control of the country. For most of 1918, the "independent" Lithuania existed only on paper.
The situation changed dramatically only with Germany's defeat on the Western Front in November 1918. As the German army began to retreat, the Council finally had room to maneuver. On November 2, it adopted the first provisional constitution. On November 11, 1918, the very day the armistice was signed in Compiègne, the Council formed the first Cabinet of Ministers, with Augustinas Voldemaras as Prime Minister . The monumental task of building state institutions, including an army, had begun in earnest, just as the country was about to be engulfed in the Lithuanian Wars of Independence against invading Bolshevik, Bermontian, and Polish forces.
The story of the Act itself is also shrouded in mystery. The original signed document disappeared shortly after its signing. For decades, its fate was unknown, fueling numerous legends—that it was hidden in a beehive, buried in a cemetery, or burned . A duplicate copy was kept in state archives until the Soviet occupation in 1940, after which it also vanished . In a remarkable twist of history, the original Lithuanian-language and German-language copies of the Act, signed by all twenty council members, were discovered in 2017 by Professor Liudas Mažylis of Vytautas Magnus University in the diplomatic archives in Berlin, finally solving a century-old mystery.
Restoration of the State Day: A Living Tradition of Celebration
The significance of February 16th has ensured that its commemoration has been a powerful and enduring tradition, evolving through times of freedom, occupation, and renewed independence.
Celebrations in Independent Lithuania (1918-1940)
In the interwar period, February 16th was firmly established as the principal state holiday. Celebrations were widespread and vibrant, involving official military parades, solemn speeches by state leaders, and religious services. Schools, churches, and public buildings were decorated with the Lithuanian tricolor. It was a day for patriotic demonstrations, folk song concerts, and theatrical performances celebrating Lithuanian history and culture . The date also became a symbolic one for other state acts, such as the opening of the Vytautas the Great War Museum in Kaunas in 1921 and the founding of the University of Lithuania (later Vytautas Magnus University) on February 16, 1922.
The Diaspora: Keeping the Flame Alive During the Soviet Occupation (1940-1990)
The Soviet occupation in 1940 and the subsequent decades of repression made the public celebration of February 16th impossible in Lithuania. The holiday was banned, and flying the national flag or singing patriotic songs could lead to arrest or deportation by the KGB . However, the flame of February 16th was kept burning brightly by the large Lithuanian diaspora communities, primarily in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe.
For exiled Lithuanians, the day was not just a celebration but a political act of defiance and a powerful symbol of hope. As one historian notes, it was considered "undignified for a Lithuanian not to commemorate independence" . Commemorations in diaspora communities were elaborate and deeply meaningful. They included:
Patriotic and Religious Events: Masses were held for the volunteers of the 1918 independence wars and for the partisans fighting in Lithuania. School children performed plays, sang folk songs (dainos), and recited poetry.
Political Advocacy: The celebrations became a platform to remind the free world of the Baltic States' occupation. They were often attended by local U.S. and Canadian politicians, including mayors, members of Congress, and Senators, who would offer speeches of support . The Lithuanian diplomatic legations, which continued to operate in Washington D.C. and elsewhere as the sole representatives of the still-sovereign Lithuanian state, hosted formal receptions.
Symbolic Acts: A key tradition was the raising of the Lithuanian flag. In cities with large Lithuanian populations like Chicago, the mayor would raise the tricolor over City Hall on February 16th, a visible act of solidarity that resonated powerfully behind the Iron Curtain.
Modern-Day Celebrations in Reborn Lithuania (1990-Present)
With the restoration of independence on March 11, 1990, February 16th returned to its rightful place as the preeminent national holiday. While honoring the pre-war traditions, modern celebrations have also evolved, blending solemnity with civic pride and joy.
The day's events are centered in the capital, Vilnius, but are mirrored in towns and cities across the country . The key elements of the modern celebration include:
| Event | Description | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Honoring the Signatories | The day begins with solemn commemorations at the Rasos Cemetery, where many of the 20 signatories are buried |
| . Wreaths are laid, and flames are lit at their graves. | Connects the present-day nation to the founding fathers. |
| Flag-Raising Ceremony | At noon, the flags of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are raised in a formal military ceremony in Simonas Daukantas Square, outside the Presidential Palace, followed by a nationally televised address by the President of Lithuania |
| . | Symbolizes Baltic unity and shared destiny. |
| State Awards | The President also presents state decorations to distinguished Lithuanian citizens and foreigners who have contributed to Lithuania's welfare and international recognition |
| . | Acknowledges contributions to the state. |
| Youth March | Thousands of students from across Lithuania participate in a march "On the Path of the State of Lithuania," walking from the monument to Gediminas, the Grand Duke, to the Rasos Cemetery |
| . | Ensures the transmission of historical memory to the next generation. |
| Public Concerts and Festivities | Central Vilnius, particularly Gediminas Avenue and Cathedral Square, becomes a hub of activity. There are concerts, food stalls, and family-friendly activities, including face-painting in the colors of the national flag |
| . | Fosters a spirit of communal celebration. |
| National Unity | Similar events—flag hoisting, concerts, and processions—take place in all major cities, including Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, and Panevėžys, ensuring the entire nation participates in the celebration |
| . | Reinforces the national scope of the holiday. |
| Global Observance | The diaspora continues its tradition, and many foreign landmarks, such as the Chicago City Hall, are illuminated in the yellow, green, and red of the Lithuanian flag on February 16th |
| . | Showcases the global Lithuanian community. |
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of February 16th
Restoration of Lithuania's Statehood Day is far more than a date on a calendar. It is the culmination of centuries of yearning for freedom, the product of a delicate and courageous political struggle, and the bedrock of Lithuania's modern identity. The 122-word Act of 1918 established the foundational principles of democracy, national sovereignty, and legal continuity that have guided the nation through its most triumphant and its most tragic moments.
As Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė noted, the Act was a "feat of 1918 saved us from the oblivion of history". In the modern era, the day serves as a potent reminder that "freedom and independence are not a gift taken for granted," but are values that must be actively preserved and defended . Especially in the context of renewed Russian aggression in Europe, February 16th resonates with profound meaning, connecting the struggles of the past with the responsibilities of the present. It is a day for Lithuanians everywhere to honor their history, celebrate their nation, and reaffirm their unwavering commitment to the ideals for which those twenty men put their names on a piece of paper over a century ago.
Photo from: Dreamtimes
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