Augustinas Voldemaras
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Augustinas Voldemaras (April 16, 1883-December 16, 1942) was a Lithuanian nationalist political figure, who served as the country's first Prime Minister in 1918, and again from 1926, to 1929.
[edit] Biography
In 1910, Voldemaras received his Master's Degree in History and Philosophy, at the University of St. Petersburg, and was awarded a gold medal for his dissertation. A scholarship fund was set up to enable him to further his studies, and eventually he achieved his PhD. During his years as a student, Voldemaras was greatly influenced by the spirit of ethnic pride, and nationalism which was sweeping Lithuania. Although the country was still under Russian domination, small groups in both Lithuania and outside of it, were forming to agitate for Lithuania's autonomy and independence. Voldemaras joined one of these student groups in St. Petersburg, and was elected as its representative to the Congress of Non-Sovereign Nations at Kiev in September, 1917. [1]
In 1926, a segment of the army that disagreed with the policies of President Kazys Grinius' administration, planned a military coup. They appealed to Voldemaras and Antanas Smetona to support them, and both agreed. A coup d'etat took place on December 17, and Smetona became President for the second time, and Voldemaras became Prime Minister. To assuage public opinion, in both Lithuania and the outside world, Grinius (after a Presidency of only six months), agreed to "appoint" Voldemaras Prime Minister, if the latter promised to uphold the constitution of 1922. Although Voldemaras made this promise, all of his actions moved the government, in a dictatorial direction. [1]
Meanwhile, disagreements and resentments between the various political parties of Lithuania were growing. Voldemaras was the head of an organization called Geležinis Vilkas (Iron Wolf), whose honorary head was President Smetona. Although he and Smetona had formerly worked closely together and shared similar ideologies, their association was soon to be brought to an end, partly because of Voldemaras' intense involvement with Geležinis Vilkas. The dynamic personality of Professor Voldemaras, continued to attract adherents among the younger nationalist officers who were favorably impressed by emerging fascism, and who were displeased with what they perceived as Smetona's more moderate course.[1]
Voldemaras was unpopular, in some quarters, and in 1929, he survived an assassination attempt in Kaunas[1]. Later that year, while attending a meeting of the League of Nations, he was ousted in a coup by President Smetona, who now ruled as dictator alone, until the Soviet invasion in 1940. Upon Voldemaras' removal from office, Geležinis Vilkas went underground and received aid and encouragement in its activities from Germany[1].
Geležinis Vilkas planned and executed a coup in 1934, flying Voldemaras in from Zarasai to take over as head of the government. However, the coup was unsuccessful, and Voldemaras was imprisoned for the next four years. During this time he wrote another major work, a historical account of the life of Christ, which was banned in Lithuania because of its controversial nature. [1]
In 1938, Voldemaras was pardoned and released from prison and exiled. He attempted to return in 1939, but was arrested, and sent back to Zarasai. He tried to return on several more occasions, but each time was sent back to his place of exile. In June 1940, a few days after the Soviet Union, invaded and occupied Lithuania, Voldemaras made an other attempt to return from exile. He was arrested at the border by the Bolsheviks, and was not heard from again. It was only learned much later, that he had died while in a Moscow prison on May 16, 1942.[1]
Voldemaras was a professor of philology, and a polyglot, who was familiar with sixteen different languages.
In 1929, Voldemaras acted as the Godfather, to the three year old, Valdas Adamkus, who later became the President of Lithuania, in 1997, and 2004.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g Kristina Vaičikonis. Augustinas Voldemaras. Lituanus, Vol. 30, No.3 -Fall 1984, ed. Antanas Klimas, ISSN 0027-5089
| Preceded by none |
Prime Minister of Lithuania 11 November 1918 – 26 December 1918 |
Succeeded by Mykolas Sleževičius |
| Preceded by Mykolas Sleževičius |
Prime Minister of Lithuania 17 December 1926 – 23 September 1929 |
Succeeded by Juozas Tūbelis |
