Fights For Freedom in the Eastern Baltic Region after the First World War
international conference
Klaipėda University (Aula Magna, 90 Herkaus Manto St., Klaipėda)
5–6 October 2023
Conference programme
Thursday, 5 October 2023
Venue: Klaipėda University
10:30 Participant registration and coffee
11:00 Introduction and welcome address
Rector of Klaipėda University Prof Dr Artūras Razbadauskas
Chief of Defence of the Republic of Lithuania Gen Valdemaras Rupšys
11:20 First session
Moderator: Valdas Rakutis, Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania
11:20–11:40
Gediminas Vitkus, Vilnius University
Why the Lithuanian War of Independence of Lithuania in 1919–1920 does not reflect in the “Correlates of war” draft database?
11:50–12:10
Vytautas Jokubauskas and Mindaugas Sereičikas, Klaipėda University
Geographical space and intensity of the military operations of the Lithuanian war of independence
12:20–12:40
Algimantas Kasparavičius, Lithuanian Institute of History
The factor of German military support for the survival and geopolitical dynamics of the Lithuanian state in the first half of 1919
12:50–14:00 Lunch and coffee
14:00 Second session
Moderator: Jonas Vaičenonis, Vytautas Magnus University
14:00–14:20
Andrii Rukkas, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and Ruslana Martseniuk, State Archive of the Security Service of Ukraine
Formation of military units from Ukrainian POWs in Austro-Hungary and Germany in WWI
14:30–14:50
Igor Kopõtin, Estonian Military Academy
Baltic regiment in the Estonian war of independence: a question of loyalty
15:00–15:20
Jānis Šiliņš, National Archives of Latvia
Divided army: first six months of creation of Latvian Armed Forces (November 1918–April 1919)
15:30–15:50
Kari Alenius, University of Oulu
The role of the German Armed Forces in the Finnish War of Independence (1918)
16:00–16:20 Coffee break
16:00 Third session
Moderator: Vygantas Vareikis, Klaipėda University
16:00–16:20
Juris Ciganovs, Latvian War Museum
Formation of the West Russian Volunteer Army (1919 summer–autumn)
16:30–16:50
Jonas Vaičenonis, Vytautas Magnus University
In the fight against Bolshevik Russia: military actions of the Lithuanian and Polish armed forces in 1919
17:00–17:20
Marc Müller, independent historian (Germany Kassel)
1920: withdrawal of German military units from the Klaipėda Region and their new deployment in northern East Prussia
Friday, 6 October 2023
Venue: Klaipėda University
10:00 Fourth session
Moderator: Gintautas Jakštys, Klaipėda University
10:00–10:20
Valdis Kuzmins, National Defense Academy of Latvia
The 6th Reserve Corps Offensive (Tauwetter, Eisgang, Fruhlingswind) in March 1919: A Case Study of Mission Command
10:30–10:50
Krišs Kapenieks, Latvian War Museum
Lithuania and Latvia: cooperation and contradictions in northwest Lithuania during the Independence fights in 1919
11:00–11:20
Aiga Bērziņa-Kite, University of Latvia
Latvian Woman’s Relief Corps during Latvian war of independence
11:30–11:50 Coffee break
11:50 Fifth session
Moderator: Silva Pocytė, Klaipėda University
11:50–12:10
Karlis Dambitis, National Defence Academy of Latvia
Kurland 1919: Military and political aspects of the first stage of the Latvian war of independence
12:20–12:40
Aušra Jurevičiūtė, Lithuanian Military History Society
Representatives of national minorities in the Lithuanian Armed Forces in 1919–1920: experience of Jews and Belarussians’ service
12:50–13:10
Hektoras Vitkus, Klaipėda University
The image of the Lithuanian Armed Forces in the German Armed Force command in 1919–1920
13.20 Closing reflections
Moderator: Vygantas Vareikis, Klaipėda University
14:00 Lunch and coffee
ORGANISERS:
Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Institute of Baltic Region History and Archaeology at Klaipėda University
Patron of the conference: Chief of Defence of the Republic of Lithuania