Development of identity of Latvians living in the Lithuanian–Latvian border region in 1918–1940 ; Latvių, Lietuvos–Latvijos pasienio gyventojų, tapatumo raida 1918–1940 m

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VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY THE INSTITUTE OF LITHUANIAN HISTORY Vilma Akmenyt÷ DEVELOPMENT OF IDENTITY OF LATVIANS LIVING IN THE LITHUANIAN–LATVIAN BORDER REGION IN 1918–1940 Summary of Doctoral Dissertation Humanities, History (05H) Kaunas, 2008 This dissertation was prepared in the period of 2004–2008 at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania. The doctoral study license is granted to Vytautas Magnus University together with the Institute of Lithuanian History by resolution No. 926 of the Government of the Republic thof Lithuania on the 15 of July, 2003. Scientific supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saulius Pivoras (Vytautas Magnus University, Humanities, History – 05H) The Board of defense of the dissertation: Chairman: Prof. Dr. Habil. Bronislovas Genzelis (Vytautas Magnus University, Humanities, History – 05H) Members: Dr. Egl÷ Bendikait÷ (Lithuanian Institute of History, Humanities, History – 05H) Prof. Dr. Habil. Zenonas Butkus (Vilnius University, Humanities, History – 05H) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sandra Grigaravičiūt÷ (Vilnius Pedagogical University, Humanities, History – 05H) Dr. Algimantas Kasparavičius (Lithuanian Institute of History, Humanities, History – 05H) Opponents: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saulius Kaubrys (Vilnius University, Humanities, History – 05H) Dr.

Sujets

• Border Region
• HIStory
• Identity
• Latvian people

Informations

• Publié par: vytautas_magnus_university
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2008
• Nombre de lectures: 46

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VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY THE INSTITUTE OF LITHUANIAN HISTORY             Vilma Akmenyt÷           DEVELOPMENT OF IDENTITY OF LATVIANS LIVING IN THE LITHUANIAN–LATVIAN BORDER REGION IN 1918–1940              Summary of Doctoral Dissertation Humanities, History (05H)                   Kaunas, 2008

This dissertation was prepared in the period of 2004–2008 at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania.   The doctoral study license is granted to Vytautas Magnus University together with the Institute of Lithuanian History by resolution No. 926 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on the 15 th of July, 2003.   Scientific supervisor:   Assoc. Prof. Dr.Saulius Pivoras(Vytautas Magnus University, Humanities, History – 05H)   The Board of defense of the dissertation:   Chairman:   Prof. Dr. Habil.Bronislovas Genzelis(Vytautas Magnus University, Humanities, History – 05H)   Members:   Dr.Egl÷Bendikait÷   (Lithuanian Institute of History, Humanities, History – 05H)   Prof. Dr. Habil.Zenonas Butkus(Vilnius University, Humanities, History – 05H)   Assoc. Prof. Dr.Sandra Grigaravičiūt÷   (Vilnius Pedagogical University, Humanities, History – 05H)   Dr.Algimantas Kasparavičius(Lithuanian Institute of History, Humanities, History – 05H)   Opponents:   Assoc. Prof. Dr.Saulius Kaubrys(Vilnius University, Humanities, History – 05H)   Dr.Jonas Vaičenonis(Vytautas Magnus University, Humanities, History –05H)   The official defence of the dissertation will be held at 2 p. m. On December 22, 2008 at a public sitting of the defense Board at Vytautas Magnus University, in auditorium of Adolfas Šapoka (No. 508) in K. Donelaičio Str. 52.   Address: K. Donelaičio Str. 52, LT–44244 Kaunas, Lithuania Phone: [phone]   This summary of the doctoral dissertation was sent out on November …., 2008.   The dissertation is available at the National M. Mavydas library, library of Vytautas Magnus University and library of Institute of Lithuanian History.

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VYTAUTO DIDIOJO UNIVERSITETAS LIETUVOS ISTORIJOS INSTITUTAS           Vilma Akmenyt÷         LATVIŲ, LIETUVOS–LATVIJOS PASIENIO GYVENTOJŲ, TAPATUMO RAIDA 1918–1940 M   .     Daktaro disertacijos santrauka Humanitariniai mokslai, istorija (05H)                           Kaunas, 2008

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Disertacija rengta 2004–2008 metais Vytauto Didioj universitete Doktorantūros teis÷ Vytauto Didiojo universitetui kartu su Lietuvos istorijos suteikta institutu 2003 m. liepos 15 d. Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausyb÷s nutarimu Nr. 926.   Mokslinis vadovas: doc. dr.Saulius Pivoras Didiojo universitetas, humanitariniai mokslai, (Vytauto istorija – 05H)   Disertacija bus ginama Vytauto Didiojo universiteto ir Lietuvos istorijos instituto  Humanitariniųmokslųsrities istorijos krypties taryboje.   Pirmininkas: prof. habil. dr.Bronislovas Genzelis Didiojo universitetas, humanitariniai (Vytauto mokslai, istorija – 05H)   Nariai: dr.Egl÷ Bendikait÷ (Lietuvos istorijos institutas, humanitariniai mokslai, istorija – 05H) prof. habil. dr.Zenonas Butkus(Vilniaus universitetas, humanitariniai mokslai, istorija – 05H) doc. dr.Sandra Grigaravičiūt÷ (Vilniaus pedagoginis universitetas, humanitariniai mokslai, istorija – 05H) dr.Algimantas Kasparavičius (Lietuvos istorijos institutas, humanitariniai mokslai, istorija – 05H)   Oponentai: doc. dr.Saulius Kaubrys universitetas, humanitariniai mokslai, istorija – (Vilniaus 05H) dr.Jonas Vaičenonis(Vytauto Didiojo universitetas, humanitariniai mokslai, istorija – 05H)   Disertacija bus ginama viešame Humanitarinųi mokslų istorijos krypties tarybos srities pos÷dyje, kuris vyks 2008 m. gruodio 22 d. 14 val. VDUAdolfo Šapokos auditorijoje, K. Donelaičio g. (auditorija 508). Adresas: K. Donelaičio g. 52, LT–44244 Kaunas, Lietuva Tel.: [phone]   Disertacijos santrauka išsiuntin÷ta 2008 m. lapkričio .... d.   Disertaciją galima periūr÷ti Lietuvos nacionalin÷je M. Mavydo, Vytauto Didiojo universiteto ir Lietuvos istorijos instituto bibliotekose.

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INTRODUCTION

    Each state has its borders. Emphasis on territorial integrity is one of the key components in a definition of a state. Therefore, borders represent a natural part of a state indicating what belongs to the state and what is outside the boundaries of its territory. It’s also a matter of jurisdiction. At the same time existing of a border poses both legal and ethnic problems to population of border regions. Though those problems are not specific to border regions and are faced by people living deeper inside a state, however, population of border regions experience consequences of these problems much more acutely and painfully than people living in the middle of a country. What does it mean to be an inhabitant of a border zone? What does it mean to be a “Lithuanian”? Who is “Latvian”? How did a “Latvian”become a “Lithuanian”? How citizenship is contrasted with nationality? What caused a decision to take Lithuanian or Latvian citizenship? What caused a decision to become a member of one nation or the other? All of that represents a multidimensional identity of border zone population or, in other words, their various identities: a Lithuanian living in Lithuania and having Lithuanian citizenship, a Latvian having Lithuanian citizenship, a Latvian having Latvian citizenship, to name just a few of the many combinations of citizenship and nationality. A religious affiliation and an identity determined by it are no less important. The question arises as to how definitions of citizenship shape what is in essence a quite closed community? What significance does the territorial separation attain? What is the meaning of a definition of a nationality and its extraterritoriality – i.e. spread of population of one nationality outside of nationality’s territorial boundaries matching state borders. Finally, what is a perception of a nation as an imaginary community. Object of the dissertation: Latvians living on the Lithuanian-Latvian border and development of their national identity. Purpose of the dissertation: to analyze identity development in population living on the Lithuanian – Latvian border (prior to 1918 – living in Kaunas and Curonian Government Regions), evaluating the relationship between a nationality and a state in this border region in 1918-1940. To achieve the purpose, the following objectives have been set:

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 of the Latvian national minority in theTo review formation border region of Kaunas and Curonian Government Districts;    process of setting of the Lithuanian-LatvianTo analyze the border in 1920-1921;    To discuss manifestations of state power in the Lithuanian- Latvian border region in 1918-1940 (laws regulating activities of population of border regions);    To analyze manifestations of national identity of Latvians living on the Lithuanian-Latvian border. Chronological boundaries: years 1918 through 1940. This period has been selected because the most important moment in formation of national and citizen identity was emergence of the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Latvia and setting of the administrative boundary between these two republics in 1921. Identity as such is not finite; therefore it is important to evaluate factors, which in time had determined decisions of people living in the border region to take Latvian or Lithuanian citizenship, and to analyze the relationship between a citizenship and a nationality. As it is difficult to locate a breaking point for formation of identity in the 20 th century, the year 1918, when Lithuanian and Latvian republics had announced their independence, becomes the initial chronological point, while the final chronological point is 1940, the year of occupation of the independent republics of Lithuania and Latvia, when citizenships of the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Latvia had ceased to exist. Methods: Pursuing the aim of the dissertation and the objectives of the research the following methods of scientific research were used: descriptive, analysis and statistic-mathematical.   Lithuanian-Latvian border region: it is a region in the territory of Lithuania stretching along the Latvian border. According to the definition of a border zone adopted in 1919, it is a 10 kilometres-wide strip along the state border. Prior to adoption of this law a border zone was considered to be an area going some forty kilometres into a country. Border police instructions of that time state that a border zone is a 7 kilometres-wide strip along the state border. As back in those times various widths of a border zone were used, in the present dissertation the term “border zone” is used in a wider sense.

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Studies of border regions focus on border, communication, and language aspects, analyze changes in identity of those living in border regions, and what state exerts stronger influence on a population of such zone. Th. Ludén suggested that border zones should be studied using such concepts as “power” and “market”, as these concepts are better in revealing the significance of the “border” as such for individual people as well as helping to reveal the whole range of factors determining behaviour of population in border regions (language problems, state institutions, economy, and culture). Changes are revealed by changing significance of the administrative line. In 1918, prior to declaration of independence of Lithuanian and Latvian states that same line had been separating two administrative units –Kaunas and Curonian Government Districts – belonging to the same state – the Russain Empire. After the World War I, this line came to separate two states. At the end of the 19 th century and beginning of the 20 th  centuryborder region of the Kaunas Government District had population of the been travelling more freely to the Curonian Government District to markets, on church business, and even to doctors for treatment. After emergence of the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Latvia, border was guarded much stricter and administrative formalities limited possibilities to travel to the territory of Latvia on economic business. States had started guarding their interests – primarily economic, but also cultural -more clearly and strictly. For residents of the border region and for all others wishing to travel to Latvia this raised issues of visas and foreign passports. A range of problems was caused by absence of border crossing points, when residents had to make detours of as many as 40 kilometres to reach their destinations in Latvian territory, which were in their vicinity. Population of the border region faced hassles on a daily basis, thus their attitudes towards the state border were much more pragmatic. Texts of governmental institutions open a whole different discussion. The border was conceived as a very far and very abstract thing, clearly separating “domestic” from “foreign”. Thisis particularly characteristic of speeches of members of the Government given in a public space. However, cross-border cooperation of local officials was freer. Governors of Bauska or Jelgava counties attended festivals promoting closer ties, which took place in Birai or Šiauliai. Officials from Birai went on return visits to Bauska and Jelgava. Though the press published in 

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Kaunas was writing a lot about promotion of closer ties and starting from the 1930’s diplomats of both countries would not forget emphasizing in their speeches brotherly relationship between the two countries, however, in reality closer ties were mostly promoted by residents of the border region and by organizations operating in the border region (they were organizing joint events and sporting competitions). Closer ties were not limited to official visits. Jelgava Theater went on tour on the Lithuanian side. This tour was intended to promote closer ties between the two nations and all residents of the border region and symbolized good cross-border relationships. However, it also promoted national identity of Lithuanian Latvians. In the period between the two World Wars Latvians constituted one of the smallest ethnic groups in Lithuania. In 1918-1940 Latvians constituted about 0.73% of all Lithuanian population. In Lithuania Latvian national minority formed at the turn of the 20 th  as a result of intensified migration from the Curonian Government century District. Formation of the Latvian national minority was strongly influenced by determination of the Lithuanian-Latvian state border and formation of national states. What did it mean to find oneself in the border region, represent a culture of a neighboring state, but obey interests of the country of residence? Due to limited areas they inhabited, Latvians were not well known to a wider Lithuanian society. Lithuanian Latvians and their organizations withdrew from Lithuanian public life during the years of Soviet occupation and they are not as visible as in the Lithuania of 1918–1940. The reference basis of the present dissertation consists of archive documents, publications appearing in Lithuanian and Latvian press between the two World Wars, and historiographic works. Quite a wide basis of archive references has been used to examine this topic. The present dissertation is substantially based on documents held at the Lithuanian Central State Archive (LCSA) and the Latvijas Valsts Vēstures (LSHA – Latvian State History Archive). These include Government and ministries documents, correspondence, bilateral agreements, documents of the Lithuanian-Latvian Border Determination Commission, and statistical data on disputed territories. Also analyzed was correspondence of Lithuanian Latvian societies taking place between local and Latvian societies and Lithuanian and Latvian institutions. Another group of documents were documents related to activities of Latvian Evangelic-Lutheran Consistory seeking to form Lithuanian Evangelic-Lutheran Consistory in the interests of Latvian church

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institutions, as well as to circumstances related to transfer of parish registries to the Lithuanian state. The materials held at the Lithuanian Central State Archive are qualitatively supplemented by materials held at the Latvian State History Archive in Riga, because they enable to examine the same situation from positions of Lithuanian and Latvian governmental institutions. Archive materials are supplemented by articles and reports appearing in press of the time, which provide for better understanding of priorities and circumstances of determination of the state border between Lithuania and Latvia. Comparison of archive materials to information appearing in periodical publications enables evaluation of the public opinion formation process and national interests. There were few reports in the Lithuanian press about activities of Lithuanian Latvians. Usually they are briefly mentioned when writing about Latvia or its relationship with Lithuania. Periodicals contain abundance of articles about cultural exchanges, but there are very few articles reflecting influence of international relations on the public life of Lithuanian Latvians. It is significant that in mid-1920’s Lithuanian Latvians tried themselves to publish a newspaper in Latvian language „Lietavas Latvis“ (Lithuanian Latvian). Articles and letters published in Latvian press („Brīvā Zeme“, „Rīgas ZiĦas“, „Zemgales Balss“, „Svētdienas Rīts“, „Kristīga Balss“) were used. Latvians living in Lithuania were geographically close to Latvia, thus they had access to newspapers, journals, and books published there. Therefore, it is not surprising that small articles reporting the condition of Lithuanian Latvians appeared regularly in Latvian press. There reports were written by Latvian and Lithuanian Latvians reflecting, sometimes in a controversial manner, the condition of Lithuanian Latvians. More bias is seen from the side of Latvian authors, who were critical of incoherent cultural activities of Lithuanian Latvians or of indifference of government officials towards local Latvians.

Apart from these references, dissertation is also based on monographs and articles. Lithuanian historiography gives very little attention to the northern Lithuanian border to Latvia and a gives a lot of attention to issues related to the border with Poland, i.e. Vilnius Region and southwestern border of the Republic of Lithuania. Even though the border region has been studied with the regard to the ethnographic territory of Lithuanians, little attention has been given to peculiarities of the border region as such. The border region is indirectly touched upon in studies in the field of history of police

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and customs. There are just a few studies examining border regions of Lithuania and these are mostly field studies-based works on peculiarities of national identity of people living in border regions today. More attention to studying borders and border zones is given internationally. Objects of contemporary territorial disputes (cities belonging to two states, newly established states) attract especially great attention of researchers. Mexican-American border is probably the one, which has been studied the most. The condition of Lithuanian Latvians between the two World Wars has been examined in works of Lithuanian and Latvian historians. Their works reveal a picture of the Lithuanian Latvian community between the two World Wars, analize the condition of Lithuanian Latvian schools, and contains a cursory review of participation of Latvians in Lithuanian church structures (Evangelic-Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist churches). The structure of the work:The work is composed form three principal chapters, introduction and conclusions. The first chapter is dedicated to introduce circumstances of determination of the stare border between the Republic of Lithuania ant the Republic of Latvia, to analyze background of territorial pretension, to analyse the relationship between political, economical and ethnographical interests, also to analyze the role of propaganda in border regions. The second chapter is dedicated to analyze the relationship between citizenship and nationality, conditions of economic activity at the frontier, the relation between centre and periphery, the role of the control and possibility of mobility at the border regions. The third chapter is dedicated to research the identity of Latvian minority in Lithuania, which formation was directly related to determination of the state border between Lithuania and Latvia.     DETERMINATION OF THE STATE BORDER BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA IN 1920-1921     Historiography contains several theories concerning migration of Latvians to Lithuania. These are the following: Latvians settled in the Lithuanian territory on the run from crusaders in the 13 th results of changes in borders separating differentcentury; government districts and states; escapes during the serfdom period (including participants in the 1831 uprising); estates bought/leased by Curonian barons; land

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acquired by peasants; religious prosecution, i.e. communities established by Baptists; professionals were moving due to the lack of Latvian teachers in Latvian schools in the independent Lithuania (Latvian citizens); Curonians found themselves in Lithuania in the 18 th century by chance. It may be seen that some quite romantic theories exist: that Latvians moved here back in the 13 th got lost in the sea and or that Curonians  century settled on the Curonian Spit by chance. Some representatives of neighboring nations got into Lithuania as a result of changing international borders. Corrections of borders between government districts and nation states resulted in Latvians and Lithuanians finding themselves on the other side of the territory inhabited by Lithuanians or Latvians. Concentration of Latvian immigrants in certain counties of the Kaunas Government District was determined by geographic circumstances (i.e. geographic proximity to the Curonian Government District) and purely administrative factors: distance of how far away from the boundaries of Baltic government districts one could settle, as indicated in local passports. According to the Population Census of 1897, concentration of Latvians in the Panev÷ys County was – 6.78%, Šiauliai County – 4.89%, Telšiai County – 2.33%, and Zarasai County –1.80%, all these counties being on the border with the Curonian Government District. Most of the people born in the Curonian Government District settled in the Šiauliai District – 29.24%, Panev÷ys District – 27.95% and in Zarasai and Telšiai distrcits. Compared to 1897, in 1923  reduction of the proportion of Latvians may be seen in all counties. When preparing for negotiations with Latvia concerning determination of the international border in 1920, the Government gave an instruction to the delegates going to the Mintauja meeting with Latvian representatives. According to this instruction Lithuania proposed former administrative line between the Kaunas Government District and Curonian Government District to be a point of reference for determining the international border. Protection of Lithuanian international borders has been declared at the end of 1918, when German occupation government was moving out of the country and the local government was not capable of organizing protection of borders. The main motive was control of transportation and food resources and a desire to prevent spreading of anarchy. Border issues became important after introduction of restrictions on moving of agricultural products, primarily food out of the territory of Lithuania. A

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