How the January Events Led

to Lithuania’s Independence
 Thesis Statement
Between January 11-13 1991, a major protest took place in
Lithuania. In response, the Soviet Union violently put down the
opposition to its rule. As a result, international debate helped
lead to Lithuania’s independence and acceptance into NATO.
This movement towards independence would lead to the
downfall of the Soviet Union.
 What and Where is Lithuania?
Lithuania is a small Eastern European country. (Indiana by itself is 1.4 times bigger than
Lithuania [“Size of Lithuania Compared to Indiana”.]) Its capital is Vilnius, in the
Southeastern corner of the country. 80% of the country speaks Lithuanian as their first
language (“BBC - Languages - Languages”) although it’s considered a dead language by
some just because how small the country’s population is.
Lithuania is next to Latvia, Belarus, and of course, Russia.
In World War I, it was occupied and taken control of by Germany, but ultimately in 1918
it had gained independence.
From the beginning of the USSR era, it was heavily associated with the Soviet Union,
and in 1940, it was invaded and officially made a part of the Iron Curtain.
Unrest in Lithuania/Living Conditions in
the Iron Curtain
Around the 1980’s, Lithuanians were starting to get fed
up with living under the Soviet Union; especially since
they never actually decided to in the first place. With
state and post-war regulations, there wasn’t a lot of
personal freedom. There was an extreme limitation on
outside contact. In addition, if you didn’t join the
Communist Party of the Soviet Union, it was
guaranteed that you wouldn’t make it very far in your
career. Plus, there was the small problem of Lithuania
being invaded and forced to join. All things considered,
the citizens of Lithuania wanted independence. In
March 1990, there was finally a bill passed for
independence. But it wasn’t recognized, not by the UN
or Soviet Union. Over the year, they hosted protests,
and rallies, but all it did was make the USSR annoyed.
January 10th and 11th
On the evening of January 10th, 1991, “the
President of the USSR demanded that Lithuania
immediately and completely restore the validity
of the constitutions of the USSR,” (“Sausio
Tryliktoji”). The Lithuanian government officials
asked for confirmation the Soviet Union would
not bring armed soldiers, but there was no
reply. The next day, January 11th, there was
armed Soviet Union soldiers in Lithuania. They
took over the National Defense Departments in
two consecutive cities and blocked railway
traffic. By the end of the day, they had seized
the State House in Vilnius, with several civilians
wounded by bullets or other forces. Lithuanian
officials had attempted to make contact or
negotiate with the USSR’s military leader, but
they couldn’t get through.
 January 12th
On January 12th, the soldiers seized an offside branch of Special Purpose Police Unit, and attempted
to do the same with the main Police Academy in Vilnius, but failed. Upon moving towards the central
point of the city, a military truck crashed into a civilian's car. There was one casualty and three
wounded in the accident.

January 13th (Bloody Sunday)

At about 1 AM, USSR troops began to swarm and surround Vilnius’ TV tower; the technological
powerhouse of the city. Crowds of people are inside, and tanks begin to shoot blank rounds at
the hordes of civilians. When the crowds do not disperse, the lines of tanks start to ram into the
building, shooting real ammunition.14 people are killed from the attack, 2 from getting run over
by tanks, and the others shot by Soviet soldiers. The TV tower was eventually taken over.
However, the USSR didn’t stop there. They have another target; one with connections to the
outside world, the Radio and Television Committee.
It was about 2 AM when troops reached the Radio and Television Committee building. Crowds
had gathered, but the USSR managed to bypass the civilians protecting the building. They broke
in, and switched off all broadcasts.
List of Victims
(“Defenders of Freedom
of Lithuania, who died in
1991. January and the
traditions of honoring
Loreta Asanavičiūtė
them”)
Virginijus Druskis
Darius Gerbutavičius
Rolandas Jankauskas
Rimantas Juknevičius
Alvydas Kanapinskas
Algimantas Petras Kavoliukas
Vytautas Koncevičius
Vidas Maciulevičius
Titas Masiulis
Alvydas Matulka
Apolinaras Juozas Povilaitis
Ignas Šimulionis
Vytautas Vaitkus
Viktor Viktorovich Shatskikh
January 13th (Bloody Sunday) Continued
It was 2:30 AM when an unaffiliated, family-owned radio
station managed to get through to the air. With the help of
multilingual Lithuanians, they broadcasted to as many
possible stations as they could, telling of the USSR’s massacre
against unarmed civilians. At 4 AM, after two different threats
from the Soviet Union, a Swedish station picked up with the
confirmation they would spread the word.
The troops still in the city were desperate to make one last
effort to clamp the rebellion. Tanks and soldiers surrounded
the Supreme Council office, but the civilians were ready. They
had built massive anti- tank blockades, and completely
defended every possible entrance. The crowd sung and
shouted pro-independence songs and speeches. The Soviet
Union gathered its forces, but inevitably had to retreat.
 Short-Term Impact
The January Events caused Lithuania's
independence because the USSR's attempt to
quell the revolution did everything but. The
harm to its citizens only made the fire of
revolution burn brighter. Soon after the
events that fateful day, September 1991,
Lithuania finally got its well earned
Independence recognized. The January Events
launched Lithuania onto the world stage,
making Lithuania’s appeal for Independence
only more compelling to other, larger,
countries (the UN). With its independence
secured, Lithuianian did another history
changing thing, albeit commonplace for
former USSR countries. It joined NATO. The
military stability forever protecting it for the
USSR and now Russia.
Long-Term Impact
In 1991 Lithuania was first iron curtain
country to gain its freedom. Now, in 2022,
all of the Iron Bloc countries are currently
free, but there is another issue brewing.
Ukraine and Belarus are the only former
Iron Bloc countries that are not in NATO.
All the others- Russia’s borders,
essentially- are all protected. This means
that Russia is stuck; almost every country
around it (including Lithuania) is
univadable. That’s why Russia is so
bothered about Ukraine attempting to join
NATO. Russia could be completely
surrounded by backed up countries.
 Long-Term Impact (Ukraine)
In 1991 Lithuania was first iron curtain country to gain its freedom. Now, in 2022, all of the Iron Bloc
countries are currently free, but there is another issue brewing. Ukraine and Belarus are the only former
Iron Bloc countries that are not in NATO. All the others- Russia’s borders, essentially- are all protected.
This means that Russia is stuck; almost every country around it (including Lithuania) is univadable. That’s
why Russia is so bothered about Ukraine attempting to join NATO. Russia could be completely
surrounded by backed up countries.
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A Lithuanian man waves a Lithuainan flag in front of a Soviet tank (January 13, 1991)
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A crowd of Lithuanian civilians barricade Vilnius’ radio station
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A crowd protests for independence from the Soviet
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 “Thirty Years after Soviet Crackdown in Lithuania, Kremlin
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Two Lithuanian citizens plead with Soviet
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A crowd of Lithuanian civilians barricade Vilnius’ radio station against
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Several Soviet military vehicles drag up dust in a traffic accident. Bystanders look
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Mourners attend one of the 14 Lithuanian victim’s funeral.
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