The Drawing of borders in occupied territories of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth as an instrument of implementation of German special policies

ENThe aim of German occupation policy in the former territories of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania occupied during World War I was to achieve total political and economic dominance by exploiting the political ambitions of Lithuanian and Belarusian leaders. From December 1915, the Germans consistently supported all educational and cultural initiatives of Lithuania and Belarus in Vilnius. The announcement of the first Lithuanian proclamation of independence (December 11) was part of the long-term goals of German policy. The Lithuanians skillfully forced the second proclamation (16 February 1918) on the Germans during the debates in Brest, which was the implementation of exclusively Lithuanian national goals. On the other hand, Belarusian politicians throughout 1915–18 did work that benefited the Germans. Consistently supported by the occupation authorities, the Belarusian Conferences (at least eight during the meetings in Brest) brought the Germans the expected result. The Belarusians sent an “ordered” petition to the authorities in Berlin demanding the disarmament of the Polish Dowbor-Muśnicki Corps stationed in “Belarus”. Despite the signifi cant contribution of Belarusian leaders to the implementation of German policy, the Memorandum of the BPR government of 5 April 1918 to the German Chancellor with a request for recognition of independence was rejected. Keywords: Lands of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Germans, Poles, Lithuanians, First World War, Ober-Ost, borders, “special policy”.