A time trip to Kaunas and Lithuania 100 years ago: what was it like in 1922? March? | Do you know?
Glacier in the rivers and the start of the navigation season
1922 March 1 Residents of Kaunas and other more convenient areas near the Neris River, as the relatively calm thaw began on the first day of spring.
According to Trimitas magazine (No. 11), the beginning of spring was expected with great fear of the predicted natural flood, but fortunately, with the onset of ice, no possible congestion occurred and the ice went out without much damage and without flooding.
Soon, on March 8, with the agreement of the owners of the steamers, the shipping season on the Nemunas started. At the time, the start of the season was set by the shipowners themselves by signing a contract and commitments.
They decided among themselves what the price of the ticket would be, what route and how often the steamers would sail. Authorities from the Ministry of Transport and Communications only supervised the organization of shipping, looked for violations, and tried to maintain order.
Photo of the funds of Kaunas City Museum / Spring ice cream on the bank of the Nemunas. XX a. first half.
1922 In the season that began in March, passengers and cargo were to be served by 18 steamers, mostly owned by local Jews.
Court, 1922 The first Lithuanian capital company of this kind, the Lithuanian steam company, also declared optimistic plans.
The famous public figures of the time were Saliamonas Banaitis, the signatory of the Act of Independence, Jonas Šliūpas, Martynas Yčas and others.
The press of that time (Laisvė, No. 40) provided information that the company operates not only in rivers, but also plans to sail in the Baltic and North Seas, although the port of Klaipeda does not belong to Lithuania at that time.
The company’s plans for maritime expansion included the acquisition of two coastal vessels, Jūratė and Kastytis, and a new, larger vessel for the Hamburg-London-Hamburg route.
As it shows again, this ship could not be obtained, and even after data failures in maritime shipping, the company withdrew and operates only in the Nemunas.
Outbreak of spotted fever
As today, a hundred years ago, the Lithuanian population was followed by news about the state of public health.
As today, a hundred years ago, the Lithuanian population was followed by news about the state of public health.
1921 Lithuania was plagued by cholera, which was under control for a long time. an outbreak of spotted fever has been announced again (Lithuania, No. 56). In January and February alone, 279 new cases of this disease were registered in Kaunas.
Readers were informed about the pathogen, the course, and how to protect themselves. The following were considered important in the fight against the disease: “Every suspected patient should preferably be taken immediately to a hospital where he will be washed in a vanilla, his hair will be shaved and the patient will be rigorously cleansed alive and dirty. All his clothes, laundry are cleaned, washed in a chamber with hot air at 110 ° C or evaporated in a sterilization apparatus. “
For this purpose, serious medical forces were mobilized in Kaunas, 7 sanitary doctors worked, the patients were transported to the hospital by a special carriage, and an ambulance was planned to be used. The city board, meanwhile, has set up a sauna for the sick.
![Photo of Kaunas City Museum funds / Inpatients in the patient's military hospital in Kaunas in 1935.](https://s1.15min.lt/static/cache/NjcweCwsNjI4NzMxLG9yaWdpbmFsLCxpZD02NDAwNzY2JmRhdGU9MjAyMiUyRjAzJTJGMzAsMTcwNzM4MzAzNw==/2-stacionarus-pacientai-karo-ligonineje-kaune-1935-m-kauno-miesto-muziejaus-fondai-6244291eac07a.jpg)
Photo of Kaunas City Museum funds / Inpatients in the patient’s military hospital in Kaunas in 1935.
Spotted fever was most prevalent, with favorable conditions for the spread of “lice” to the contagious, ie cleanliness was not maintained, and many people lived in cramped conditions, such as in the apartments of refugees returning from Soviet Russia, in cheap apartment colonies, and in shelters.
It was the returning compatriots from Soviet Russia who were considered to be one of the most potential carriers of the disease due to poor conditions.
Famine in Soviet Vilnius
At that time, returnees from the East fled not only from political terror but also from famine caused by the Bolsheviks in the Pavolgi and Ural regions. Using the pages of history today, it is hard to believe the scale of the tragedy that Russia, torn by political storms and disagreements, has gone through.
It is estimated that about 16 million people were affected by hunger. people, of whom 5 million died, many of them children.
The Lithuanian press (Lietuva, No. 59) stated that 150 wandering and food-seeking children were found every day in Tsaritsyn (now Volgograd) alone.
Around 270,000 people went hungry throughout the Tsaristino region. children, their Soviet government planned to relocate to the territory of present-day Ukraine.
It should be mentioned that foreign countries, first of all the United States and European countries, have extended a helping hand to the starving Soviet population. Food, medicine, and medicine were sent to the disasters through the International Society of the Red Cross and the American Relief Administration.
The American relief administration alone fed about 10 million people every day. people. Helpers were also gathered in Lithuania, and special efforts were made to help the exiles of the Lithuanian villages of Pavolgis, who found themselves here after 1863, to return to Lithuania. uprising.
The main defense committee of Lithuania awarded 50,000 gold coins to the deportees, and the Farmers’ Union also set up its own committee to collect victims, chaired by Sofija Smetonienė.
The main defense committee of Lithuania awarded 50,000 gold coins to the deportees, and the Farmers’ Union also set up its own committee to collect victims, chaired by Sofija Smetonienė.
The Bank of Lithuania bought 8 wagons that were to be deported by Lithuanian deportees from Pavolgis.
Today, Russia is attacking Russia, and a hand of help from both the Ukrainians and other countries a hundred years ago could remind the people of present-day Russia to think about the future, forgetting such episodes of the past.
Factory workers strike
The difficult economic and social situation in Lithuania in 1922 the March was reflected in a workers’ strike that mainly involved an urban factory.
Rising food prices, low wages, difficult working conditions and a lack of social guarantees have led to workers’ dissatisfaction.
After starting at the Kaunas factory, the strike later spread to another place in Lithuania.
In the official government newspaper Lietuva on March 18. it was stated that only the workers of the largest Kaunas sawmill were on strike. Other sawmills have agreed with employers.
The workers demanded a 25% increase in their salary, as well as reduced prices for food: flour and sugar, and to be able to pick up a piece of wood from the sawmill on their way home.
The workers demanded a 25% increase in their salary, as well as reduced prices for food: flour and sugar, and to be able to pick up a piece of wood from the sawmill on their way home.
It should be mentioned separately that the issue of the establishment of the state health insurance fund was raised and was very relevant at that time in the fight for their rights.
During tsarist Russia, workers’ benefits were paid by factory owners. German industrialists Schmidt stood out here, paying solid benefits.
However, after the proclamation of Independence, German industrialists Tilmansai, owners of the metal factory Vailokaičiai and other employers had to find a new compromise with the workers in order to improve their social guarantees in the newspaper Lietuva on March 21.
Establishment of a sports league
Despite the economic and social challenges, public life in Lithuania flourished. Active state actors have taken initiatives in an attempt to revitalize cultural and sporting life.
One such initiative was the creation of an organization that would unite all the clubs in the country. On March 22, a message will appear in the newspaper “Lietuva” calling for 5 p.m. to come to the Minister of Education, where the founding meeting of the Lithuanian Sports League will take place.
Later, the magazine Sportas (No. 4) announced that the Lithuanian Sports League had set goals to unite the Lithuanian sports club and organization, represent Lithuania in international tournaments, establish and approve the rules of sports competitions, and build a Lithuanian stadium.
![Photo of Kaunas City Museum funds / Oak grows from the antenna mast of Kaunas radio station. The first stadium is visible. XX a. first half](https://s1.15min.lt/static/cache/NjcweCwsNjI4NzMxLG9yaWdpbmFsLCxpZD02NDAwNzYwJmRhdGU9MjAyMiUyRjAzJTJGMzAsMjQ4MjYwOTQ2Nw==/5-azuolynas-zvelgiant-nuo-kauno-radijo-stoties-antenos-stiebo-matomas-pirmasis-stadionas-xx-a-pirma--6244291de9c6f.jpg)
Photo of Kaunas City Museum funds / Oak grows from the antenna mast of Kaunas radio station. The first stadium is visible. XX a. first half
At the founding meeting, J.Bulota was elected the Chairman of the Presidium, S.Garbačiauskas, his assistants, and E. Kubiliūnaitė-Garbačiauskienė, the secretary, was elected.
S. Darius, who was elected to the committee, is also in charge of this organization.
The organization existed for a decade (1922–1932), during which it shaped and developed the life of Lithuanian sports. 1932 the Chamber of Physical Culture was established, to which the sport became dependent and ceased to exist on its own.
Kaunas City Museum and Preservation of Cultural Heritage
1922 On March 26, a sharp text by A. Pagielažis about the preservation of cultural heritage in Lithuania appeared in the newspaper Lietuva. The author pointed to the overthrow in the preservation of artistic and cultural values.
This situation is due to the lack of responsible bodies. Although it is stated that art values are collected by the Lithuanian Scientific Society, the Lithuanian Art Society, the State Archaeological Commission, and the Lithuanian Society of Art Creators, the forces of this organization undertake research work.
In the whole country only Kaunas City Museum and in 1921. The Military Museum, established in 1941, presents the main functions of the museum’s working kitchen at that time: it preserved the exhibits and their research work.
Among other things, these health problems with a variety of problems: a narrow, specific activity bar, unsuitable storage and display facilities, and an overly amateurish approach to work. The exhibition of fine arts was not particularly peaceful for the authors.
![Photo of the funds of Kaunas City Museum / Opening of the exhibition of personal works of the artist Petras Kalpokas to mark his 25th year of creative work. Kaunas, 1928](https://s1.15min.lt/static/cache/NjcweCwsNjI4NzMxLG9yaWdpbmFsLCxpZD02NDAwNzYyJmRhdGU9MjAyMiUyRjAzJTJGMzAsMjAwMDUyNjQwNg==/6-dailininko-petro-kalpoko-personaline-darbu-parodos-atidarymas-skirta-jo-25-eriu-metu-kurybiniam-da-6244291e3876c.jpg)
Photo of the funds of Kaunas City Museum / Opening of the exhibition of personal works of the artist Petras Kalpokas to mark his 25th year of creative work. Kaunas, 1928
Dar 1921 In December, the MKČiurlionis Gallery was established, which was to preserve and research works of fine art. However, due to lack of funds, the activities of this museum were initially empty and lacked premises.
Only in 1925 An exhibition of the artist’s works was held in the gallery, which has not been completed yet, on September 24–29, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of MKČiurlionis’ birth.
1936 After the reorganization of the MKČiurlionis Gallery into the Vytautas the Great Museum of Culture and the completion of the construction of the Vytautas the Great Museum Palace, there were more opportunities to exhibit and preserve the values of fine arts.
Solar Eclipse
At the end of March (28), the Lithuanian population witnessed a rather dangerous natural phenomenon, as part of the solar eclipse.
A short message appeared in Trimitas magazine (No. 12): “There will be a solar eclipse on March 28th. Only one edge will be obscured and will only be partially visible to us. Starts at 11 a.m. morning and will end at 5 p.m. 10 min. afternoon ’.
This solar eclipse was much better seen in the countries of South America and Africa: Peru, Brazil, the people of present-day Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Algeria, Libya, and Egypt.
It seems that no more attention was paid to this natural phenomenon in Lithuania.
On the other hand, it was one of the 1921–1924. semester solar eclipses recurring approximately every 177 days. The first took place in 1921. April 8, 1922, and another. on September 21st.
Interestingly, the solar eclipse of March 28 was the 50th since the beginning of the twentieth century.
What events flashed in the press pages in 1922. in April, you will find out in a month. And those who would like to immerse themselves more in the events of the century, we invite you to follow the project “100 years ago“Website and On behalf of Facebook. In it you will find every day a new one from the past.
According to the material of the project “100 years ago”, the Kaunas City Museum was prepared by dr. Gediminas Kasparavičius