The project, which has been going on in Kaunas City Museum for several years,100 years ago“Encourages the time machine to move to December 1921 and compare the life of Kaunas and the whole of Lithuania, which was then transformed into a temporary capital.

Looking at the news of the month, we can say that St. The anticipation of Christmas, as it is these days, was distracted by political intrigue, but first shaken by a painful loss.

The death of Samogitia

December 7 The main state daily “Lietuva” reported an shocking message in its editorial – the writer Julija Beniuševičiūtė-Žymantienė, better known by her pseudonym Žemaitė, has died.

Although she began her career as a writer late – almost 50 years old, creating with great energy – she wrote over 400 larger and smaller works.

The writer was also famous for her active social activities, especially the fight for women’s rights. She was an exceptional personality of her era – still quite young in 1863. rebel struggles and ideals, and in 1883. After the appearance of “Aušra”, he actively joined the Lithuanian national movement and wrote in a Lithuanian publication.

The parents were taught to speak only Polish and, ashamed, the writer of the Samogitian dialect apparently chose such a nickname by accident.

Her works exposed the wounds of the Lithuanian village at that time, especially those related to women’s rights. This is perfectly illustrated by Žemaitė’s most famous work “Marti”.

The writer had an influence in society, so her death was met with great sadness. However, immortal works to this day attract more and more new readers.

The death of Samogitia was not the only loss in December of that year. 17 d. Jeronimas Ralys, a famous intellectual who translated into Lithuanian, died. It is December 19th. was buried in the old cemetery of Jonava.

The Saccharin Case with Cocaine Spices

As mentioned, there was no shortage of political intrigue in the late 2021s. December 15 The military publication Karys published a laconic message that on December 9. The Prime Minister Kazys Grinis was served with the resignation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Juozas Purickis.

Knowledge in Lithuania. Karys. 1921 December 15 593

Indeed, it was one of the most mysterious cases in Lithuania. Until 1918. February 16 J. Purickis, a young priest, was one of the most important people who acted as a mediator between the emerging Lithuanian politicians and Germany, which still controlled the country at that time.

He was famous not only for his persuasive speeches and influence in the Christian Democratic Party, but also for his beauty and popularity in female companies. Perhaps this is not surprising, as J. Purickis, though a priest, never held Mass.

Such rumors were circulating even in Berlin at the time. However, Puricki’s diplomatic J. was of a high standard. He was one of the main people who back in 1918. In the summer of 2006, he agreed with the influential German politician Matthias Erzberger, who was famous for his favor of Lithuania, that if Lithuania had to choose a German king, the best candidate would be Wilhelm von Urach, a Catholic and otherwise a good man.

It is no coincidence that J. Purickis soon became the Lithuanian ambassador to Berlin, and later, during a difficult period from 1920. in June, served as Foreign Minister.

After the occupation of Vilnius by units led by Lucian Zheligowski, J. Purickis was actively traveling around Europe in search of any help.

Unfortunately, in 1921. he got involved in the so-called “saccharin case”. December 3 customs officers searched a train carrying charity to Soviet Russia.

As this state was the only one to recognize Vilnius for Lithuania, relations between the countries developed quite a lot and the Soviets often manipulated it against the country.

Our diplomats did not shy away from doing the same. Taking advantage of their inviolability, they transported by train not only the then very expensive saccharin of the Soviets – almost 10 tons, but also 4 kg of cocaine!

There was a huge scandal. The worst thing was not that the Foreign Minister himself and high-ranking ministry officials sought to profit and manage personal affairs in this way, but the fact that such actions by the Soviets were not possible without the knowledge of the political police and military intelligence.

And this has already threatened the fragile security of Lithuania, which was defended during the struggle for independence.

Captain Kazys Svilas, the Lithuanian military attaché in Moscow, shared his suspicions with Juozas Polovinskas, the head of the Counter-Intelligence Division of the Lithuanian General Staff (Budrys since 1922).

When these determined men decided to prevent smuggling and rescue Lithuania, great pressure “from above” began against them and all honest employees.

Mr Purickis demanded that the Lithuanian intelligence chief immediately suspend the investigation. Mr Polovinsky was even summoned by Prime Minister Grinius himself, who apparently trusted his minister.

Despite the Prime Minister, the commander of the Lithuanian counter-smuggling school of the Russian Empire during the First World War did not give up and was guilty of convincing K. Return to allow the investigation to continue, risking his career if the investigation were not successful.

It is necessary that the Christian Democrat Party of Purickis had a majority in the Seimas at that time, and then the response of Stepon Kairis, the signatory of the February 16 act to the opposition, the leader of the Social Democrats, on saccharin and cocaine was not even remembered.

However, such a political background did not help Mr Puricki to hold office. Prime Minister K. Grinius granted the resignation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Exotic fruits in Kaunas

Not only politics man alive, but especially during the festive Christmas period. And in those days, everyone wants to put something more interesting on the holiday table, taste something more sophisticated.

Photo of Kaunas City Museum funds / Photographer Kazimieras Dudėnas with friends at a table loaded with fruit and drinks at the Red Cross Sanatorium. Kaunas, 1935

December 11 The newspaper Vilnietis, edited by Mykolas Biržiška, a signatory to the February 16th Act and reflecting the position of Lithuanians in Vilnius, published information:

“Currently, a lot of different warm earth fruits are brought to Kaunas and still are transported: grapes, oranges, nuts, peaches, apricots, pomegranates, coconuts, etc. The prices are very high. Up to 20 gold is paid for a larger type of grenade, up to 10 gold for a coca head. etc. Despite their high cost, they are highly bought by the public. ”

Thus, we see that exotic fruits, usually nowadays, were once very looted in Kaunas. Holidays always remain a holiday.

Robbery of an armed bank

Unfortunately, the holidays did not bring a good mood to everyone. The bank’s employees, who were released on 9 December, were particularly unlucky. were attacked by armed robbers. In a few days, Lietuvių balsas described the message as follows:

“December 9 2 p.m. vac. Eight armed people, two of them in militia uniforms, came to Svirskis and Černes money exchange office and asked for all the counterfeit banknotes they knew to be here. When one of the directors protested, everyone pulled out the revolvers, ordered them to open the closet, and took everything that was there. A total of 200,000 gold coins were stolen. “

Photo of Kaunas City Museum funds / L. Čarniai and A. Svirskiai own houses in the present-day Vilnius and St. At the junction of Gertrūdos streets. 1964

It is true that at that time the Lithuanian police (also known as the militia until 1924) reacted with lightning and detained seven criminals and killed one who had the courage to resist.

At that time, few people knew that a more serious investigation was awaited by Svirskis and Černes, the main money law firm. 1924 revealed a number of serious financial events, it was closed.

Establishment of MKČiurlionis Gallery

Culture was not undermined by the late 1921s either. December 14 The Law on the MK Čiurlionis Gallery was adopted by the Constituent Seimas. signed by Aleksandras Stulginskis, Speaker of the Constituent Assembly acting President.

Photo of Kaunas City Museum funds Artists Rimas Kalpokas, Adomas Varnas and others at the temporary MK Čiurlionis Art Gallery. Kaunas, XX c. 3–4 Dec

The purpose of this law was to preserve the paintings of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, who already had Lithuanian culture at that time.

They were recovered due to the 1920s. July 12 Lithuania signed an agreement with Soviet Russia. Later, they were taken care of by the famous public figure Sofija Kymantaitė-Čiurlionienė.

White Ball Restaurant

What is the end of the year without the holiday itself? Of course, it is great if the holiday is meaningful and you can not only have fun, but also help your loved one.

Photo of Kaunas City Museum funds / Hotel “Metropolis” XX century. 3 dec. Laisvės Alley, Kaunas.

The last one wrote about it in 1921. Lithuanian number. It describes the second St. On Christmas Day, the luxurious Metropolis Restaurant hosted a celebration called “White Balinese.”

It was prepared by the public organization Women’s Care Committee, headed by Doma Sleževičienė, the wife of a dentist, the famous politician and then former and future prime minister Mykolas Sleževičius.

The funds raised were used for children’s shelters maintained by this organization. Of course, Santa Claus himself helped to collect the donations and entertained the little ones on the occasion of the fate of the destitute little ones …

This marked the dramatic and varied end of 1921. For Lithuania, they were troubled, but the country established itself in the platoon of independent states.

Kaunas, which suddenly became the capital, developed and grew rapidly. What challenges awaited in 1922? We will talk about this more than once next year.

According to the material of the project “100 years ago”, the Kaunas City Museum was prepared by dr. Simonas Jazavita