14^th Century Under the reign of Vytautas the Great (1316-1430), Lithuania is the largest
country in Europe occupying present-day Belasrus, Ukraine, and parts of Poland and
Russia.

1569 Lithuania and Poland form a new state, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth under the Lublin Union of 1569.

1772-1795 The Commonwealth is dismantled by neighboring countries and the Russian Empire annexes most of Lithuania’s territory.

1918 On February 16, 1918, Lithuania’s Act of Independence is signed declaring the re-establishment of a sovereign state.

1940 Vilnius is established as the capital of Soviet Lithuania.

1940-1944 The Soviet Union occupies Lithuania. Nazi Germany occupies the country soon after. Over 780,000 Lithuanian residents are killed during this period.

1944 World War II is ending and the Nazis retreat. The Soviet Union then reoccupies
Lithuania.

1944-1952 Approximately 100,000 Lithuanians Participated in partisan fights against the Soviet system and the Red Army. The period is considered a war of independence against the Soviet Union.

1988 Sajudis political organization is established on June 3, 1988 under the leadership of Vytautas Landsbergis. Its goal is to reclaim Lithuania’s independence.

1990 Due to pro-independence activities of Sajudis, Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev visits Lithuanian capital, Vilnius. The event provokes a pro-independence rally of around 250,000 people.

February 7 The Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party agrees to give up its monopoly of power. The USSR’s constituent republics begin to assert their national sovereignty over Moscow. A “war of laws” starts with the central government, which involves the governments of the constituent republics repudiating all-union legislation where it conflicted with local laws, asserting control over their local economies and refusing to pay tax revenue to the central Moscow government

March 11 Lithuania, led by Chairman of the Supreme Council Vytautas Landsbergis, declares itself an independent nation.

The Soviet Army continues its strong presence in Lithuania.

The Soviet Union initiates an economic blockade keeping troops stationed “to secure the rights of ethnic Russians.”

1991 During his radio and television address on January 8^th, Supreme Council Vytautas Landsbergis asks independence supporter to gather around and protect the main governmental and infrastructural buildings. Special Soviet military units fly into Lithuania including the famous counter terrorist Alpha Group and paratroopers of the 76^th Airborne Division of the VDV based at Pskov.

January 10 Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev addresses the Supreme Council, demanding restoration of the constitution of the USSR in Lithuania and the revocation of anti-constitutional laws.

January 11 Supreme Council Vytautas Landsbergis and Prime Minister Albertas Simenas are presented with an ultimatum from the “Democratic Congress of Lithuania” demanding that they comply with Gorbachev’s request.

Soviet military units seize the National Defense Department building and the Press House building in Vilnius. The Soviet military takes control of the regional buildings of the National Defense Departments in Alytus and Siauliai. A TV re-translation center in Nemencine also falls under attack.

January 12 Supreme Council Landsbergis announces that he has called Mikhail Gorbachev three times, but was unsuccessful. People from all over Lithuania begin to surround the main strategic building: the Supreme Council, the Radio and Television Committee, the Vilnius TV Tower and the main telephone exchange.

January 13 Soviet tanks and soldiers encircle the Vilnius TV tower to suppress free media, and begin firing live ammunition overhead and into the civilian crowds gathered around the building. Tanks drive through lines of people. 14 people are killed in the attack. Soviet military then seizes the Radio and Television Committee building, again firing into civilian crowds. The live television broadcast is cut off.

A small TV studio from Kaunas goes on air unexpectedly, and calls for anyone who can help to broadcast around the world that the Soviet army and tanks are killing unarmed Lithuanians. A news station in Sweden finally sees the broadcast, and makes known this news to the world.
Following the attacks, independence supporters gather around the Supreme Council building, and start to build barricades and defense points. People prayed, sang, and shouted pro-independence slogans. Soviet military forces began retreating.

February 4 Iceland becomes the first county to recognize Lithuanian independence. Sweden is the first to open an embassy in the country.

March 17 In a Union-wide referendum, 78% of all voters vote for the retention of the Soviet Union in a reformed form.

June Direct elections are held for the post of president of the Russian SFSR. Populist candidate, Boris Yeltsin, who was an outspoken critic of Mikhail Gorbachev wins 57% of the vote, defeating Gorbachev’s preferred candidate, former Premier Nikolai Ryzhkov who won 16 % of the vote.

September 17 Lithuania joins the United Nations.

December 8 Leaders of the Russian, Ukranian, and Belarusian republics meet in Belavezhskaya Pushcha to issue a declaration that the Soviet Union is dissolved and replaced by the Commonwealth of Independent States.

December 25 Gorbachev resigns as President.

December 31 By now, all Soviet institutions have ceased operations. Individual republics have assumed the central government’s role. The Soviet flag was lowered for the last time over the Kremlin.

1992 On October 25^th, Lithuania holds its first general elections after declaring independence.

1994 On January 4^th, Lithuania becomes the first of the Baltic states to apply for NATO membership.

2001 On May 31^st, Lithuania becomes 41^st member of the World Trade Organization.

2004 On March 29^th, Lithuania becomes a NATO member.

May 1 Lithuania joins the European Union.

2005 On November 14^th, Vilnius, Lithuania is officially declared European Capital of Culture for 2009.