Lietuvos Respublikos generalinis konsulatas Vilniuje (1939 m. rugsėjis–spalis): veikla, darbuotojai ir jų likimai

Abstract

Based on archival and historiographic material, the article offers an insight into the activities of the diplomatic institution of Lithuania in Vilnius in September-October of 1939 and the reactions of the citizens towards the establishment of such institution. The author also dwells on the candidates to become the Consul General and fates of the employees of the institution. The Consulate General in Vilnius was opened in line with the bilateral Lithuanian-Polish agreements with regard to the opening of consulates. Due to changes in the political circumstances (loss of Klaipėda region), the establishment of the Consulate in Vilnius was delayed. The first steps in this direction were made already in the summer of 1939. On 22 August 1939, by the decree of the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Dr Antanas Trimakas was appointed the Consul General and in six days received the exequatur of the President of the Republic of Poland. The Head of the Consulate in Vilnius was a seasoned diplomat. The choice served the purpose as his term in office was politically difficult. Dr Trimakas’ diplomatic experience and personal characteristics helped him in representing Lithuania’s interests. In the first stage of its activities (11/09/1939–18/09/1939) the Consulate was mostly preoccupied with consular functions (visa issuance), whereas in the second stage (19/09/1939–01/11/1939) it was for the most part involved in the advocacy for the rights of Lithuania and its citizens (property protection, interventions with regard to Vilnius citizens, provision of information). The Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania was a rather small institution which at first employed two and later three people. All of them later became victims of forced migration – the Consul General emigrated to the West, whereas his secretary V. Čečeta was imprisoned by the Soviet authorities and later deported to Kazakhstan. He returned to Lithuania 38 years later. Former employee of the Consulate B. Verkelytė-Federavičienė moved to Kaunas in 1940, started a family there and later worked in cultural and academic institutions.