Lithuanian National Day 16 th of February

Gabrielė Bubnytė, Rima Beitnarienė Lithuanian National Day 16th of February

Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, situated along southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea,Vilnius is the capital. The first known record of the name of Lithuania is dated by 1009, in chronicles of Quedlinburg as – Litua. During the 14th century, Lithuania was the largest country in Europe. 1772 to 1795 Russian Empire annexed most of Lithuania's territory. Lithuanian language considered to oldest surviving Indo-European , some words even resemble words in Sanskrit and Latin.

Most strongs kings of Lithuania XIII-XV:Mindaugas,Gediminas and Vytautas.

Lithuanian soldiers volunteers in 1919.

Act of February 16 was signed by the Council of Lithuania, twenty representatives, chaired by Jonas Basanavičius - patriarch of a nation reborn 19th century.

The front page of Lietuvos Aidas with the text of the Act of Independence of Lithuania.

Act of Independence of Lithuania was signed on February 16, 1918, in Vilnius, Pilies street 26. The building has since been known as House of the Signatories, National Museum of Lithuania now.

20 members of the Council of Lithuania after signing the Act of Independence of Lithuania, 16 February 1918.Most of the signatories of the Act remained active in the cultural and political life of independent Lithuania.

In addition, the council has received 3 most important state‘s signs: the symbol- Vytis, a flag and nation‘s hymn. National flag • National coat of armsvytis

National anthem ”Tautiška giesmė”. The music and lyrics were written in 1898 by VincasKudirka, when Lithuania was still a part of the Russian Empire. The fifty-word poem was a condensation of Kudirka's conceptions of the Lithuanian state, the Lithuanian people, and their past.

The twenty-two years of inter-war Lithuanian independence constitute the first golden age in Lithuanian culture, art and science. In 1933, Stasys Darius and Steponas Girenas achieved world fame by setting out on a direct flight from New York to Kaunas. They perished in East Prussia, near the Lithuanian border 10 gold medals in the International Exposition in Paris in 1937 Lithuanian basketball Men's Team became the European Champions in 1937 and 1939

President A. Smetona, S. Rastikis in 1939. Antanas Smetona the first President of Lithuania ,one of the most important Lithuanian political figures between World War I and World War II. Stasys Raštikis was a Lithuanian military officer, ultimately obtaining the rank of General of the Lithuanian Army.

In 1940, Lithuania was occupied first by the Soviet Union in accordance with the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact then Nazi Germany.As World War II neared its end in 1944 and the Nazis retreated, the Soviet Union reoccupied Lithuania.Lithuania becameLithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Soviet dictatorship. During the Soviet dictatorship (1940 to 1954), Lithuania lost 780,000 of its citizens. The Soviet government killed or deported to Siberia a number of 120,000 to 300,000 people. 28,000 to 35,000 prisoners were killed, or died of the hardships in the penal camps or gulags. 21,500 Lithuanians lost their lives in the fight against Soviet oppression. Another 5,000 civilians were executed. A great number of Lithuanians chose to go into exile.

Romas Kalanta - May 14, 1972 Kaunas) was a Lithuanian political victim known for his self-immolation for political reasons. He is the subject of several books.

Hippies cultural movement of youth in 1960 against the Soviet ideologization.

Protest against the Soviet occupation -Columns of Gediminasor Pillars of Gediminas -one of the earliest symbols of Lithuania and one of its historical coats of arms. This form is the one usually seen in modern times, often drawn on walls and fences as protest against the Soviet occupation of Lithuania

Baltic way-“Heartbeat to Baltic”- people holding hands along the "Baltic Way" summer 1989. Baltic states Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia reunited on the historic Baltic Way in a twenty-four hour run, that began in Tallinn and Vilnius and finished on 23 August at 20:00 in Riga. It marked the 50th anniversary of the Molotov– Ribbentrop Pact between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. The pact and its secret protocols divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence and led to the occupation of the Baltic states in 1940

Lithuania declared unilateral independence and a joint declaration renewing on March 11, 1990, it has kept strong democratic traditions Lithuania . The Lithuanian head of state is the President Lithuania joined the United Nations in 1991, and the NATO in 2004. It was accepted as a member of the European Community on May 1, 2004 Lithuania's parliament is called the 'Seimas‘. V. Landsbergis, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Lithuania, 1990- 92 , elected president .

Soviet government tried to forcibly prevent the secession Lithuania up until August 31, 1991. In 1991, January 13, Soviet tanks attacked Vilnius television tower., plowing through crowds of unarmed people. Fourteen Lithuanians were killed.

The Angel of Freedom in Alytus. 1928,sculptor A. Aleksandravicius. Memorial to the partisans of the Dainava district who died for Lithuanian independence. Rebuilt in 1991.

Vilnius cathedralRestoration of Independence March 11.

Lithuanian National Day 16 th of February