Lithuanian–Soviet War: Difference between revisions

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The '''Lithuanian–Soviet War''' or '''Lithuanian–Bolshevik War''' ({{lang-lt|karas su bolševikais}}) was fought between [[Act of Independence of Lithuania|newly independent]] [[Lithuania]] and the [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic]] in the [[aftermath of World War I]]. It was part of the larger [[Soviet westward offensive of 1918–1919]]. The offensive followed the retreat of German troops and sought to establish [[Republics of the Soviet Union|Soviet republics]] in [[Ukrainian People's Republic|Ukraine]], [[Socialist Soviet Republic of Lithuania and Belorussia|Belarus]], [[Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (1918–19)|Lithuania]], [[Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic|Latvia]], [[Estonian War of Independence|Estonia]], [[Provisional Polish Revolutionary Committee|Poland]] and link up with the [[German Revolution of 1918–1919|German Revolution]].<ref>{{harvnb|Davies|1998|p=934}}</ref> By the end of December 1918 Soviet forces reached Lithuanian borders. Largely unopposed, they occupied one town after another and by the end of January 1919 controlled about two thirds of the Lithuanian territory. In February, the Soviet advance was stopped by Lithuanian and German volunteers, who prevented the Soviets from capturing [[Kaunas]], the [[temporary capital of Lithuania]]. From April 1919, the Lithuanian war went parallel with the [[Polish–Soviet War]]. Poland had territorial claims over Lithuania, especially the [[Vilnius Region]]; these tensions spilt over into the [[Polish–Lithuanian War]].