George Matulaitis Journal

1919 As the New Year dawned, Vilnius was in a state of turmoil. Although the Germans were leaving, there were still three major contenders for control of the city: the Bolsheviks, the Polish Legionnaires, and the Lithuanians. The Red Army had already taken Latvia and the Belorussian area around Mi<sk and established Soviet Republics. The Red Army was converging on Vilnius from several directions. The Polish Legionnaires, a local force put together by a secret Polish military organization, attempted to take and defend the city, but held out only for a few days. The Lithuanian government had barely established itself in the historic capital when it was forced to leave because of the Bolshevik threat. Bishop Matulaitis had to govern his diocese 1 in the midst of all this unrest. Although the war was officially over, Vilnius remained in a state of war throughout 1919. Both the people and their bishop were suffering from hunger, uncertainty, and harassment. Matulaitis’s main worry was to meet the spiritual needs of his flock, to defend the rights of the Church, and keep it functioning as various governments came and went. January 2 At five o’clock in the afternoon of New Year’s Day, the Polish Legionnaires took charge of the defense of the city. At Varnai Street they surrounded the Bolshevik Workers’ Council. 2 Several Lithuanian Bolsheviks and many Jews were arrested. On January 2nd, surrounded and under heavy fire, the Workers’ council was forced to surrender. Realizing that they would have to surrender, some of the men, I think it was six, committed suicide. There is unrest in the city—constant gunfire can be heard. General Mokrzecki, Commander of the Legionnaires, has declared a state of war. 167 1 The Diocese of Vilnius covered about 80,600 sq. km. and included over a million Catholics. Part of it was in Lithuania; part, in Poland. Up to 1921, it was under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan of Mogilev; from 1921-1926 it was under the Metropolitan of Warsaw. The people were of three major ethnic groups: Lithuanian, Polish, and Belorussian. 2 The headquarters were surrounded while elections were being held. The leaders escaped, but many of the other members died. Six men shot themselves, but one remained alive and was taken prisoner. The Polish high command had decided to liquidate this Bolshevik center used for meetings and recruiting men for the Red Army.