Polish general who seized Vilnius in a staged 'mutiny' and set up Central Lithuania
An officer of the Russian imperial army who commanded Polish units in Russia in 1917, he joined the Polish army in 1919 and led divisions and an army in the Soviet-Polish War. When the Suwałki Agreement of 7 October 1920 left Vilnius on the Lithuanian side, he declared a 'mutiny' on 8 October, as arranged beforehand with Piłsudski, and led the 1st Lithuanian-Belorussian Division of about 14,000 men into Vilnius the next day. The 'Central Lithuania' he set up was incorporated into Poland in 1922, and the affair blocked diplomatic relations between Poland and Lithuania until 1938. He was minister of military affairs in 1925 and 1926, served on the National Council of the government in exile in the Second World War and died in London in 1947. He had asked to be buried in Vilnius; he was buried in Warsaw.
Related historical events
- 1918–1922The Civil War and Foreign InterventionPolish general who seized VilniusA former imperial Russian officer, he commanded Polish troops. In October 1920, in agreement with Piłsudski, he staged a mutiny, seized Vilnius and established Central Lithuania. He later served as Poland’s minister of military affairs.
- 1918.11–1920.10Baltic wars of independence and border settlementsPolish general who seized VilniusSeized Vilnius on 9 October 1920 in a 'mutiny' agreed with Piłsudski and set up Central Lithuania, incorporated into Poland in 1922.
- 1919–1921The Soviet-Polish WarPolish general who seized VilniusA former imperial Russian officer, he commanded Polish troops. In October 1920, in agreement with Piłsudski, he staged a mutiny, seized Vilnius and established Central Lithuania. He later served as Poland’s minister of military affairs.
Revolution and independence wars
A former imperial Russian officer, he commanded Polish troops. In October 1920, in agreement with Piłsudski, he staged a mutiny, seized Vilnius and established Central Lithuania. He later served as Poland’s minister of military affairs.