Sūduvos kraštas didžiojo karo ugnyje ir Lietuvos valstybės nepriklausomybės aušrose

LTGaivinant Sūduvos krašto, kuris ilgus šimtmečius kentėjo karų ir politinių dalybų padarinius, istorinę atmintį, autorius knygoje glaustai pateikia krašto civilizacinės kultūros ištakas, etnonimo Sūduva kilmės versiją ir remdamasis gausia statistine gyventojų tautinės sudėties analize, grindžia jo etnoso lietuvybės šaknis. Kartu knygoje pateikiama nemažai medžiagos apie lietuvybės gaivinimo sąjūdį Sūduvoje ir jos išskirtinių asmenybių indėlį į Lietuvos Nepriklausomos valstybės atkūrimą bei kovas už etninių žemių išsaugojimą.

ENThis study tries to comprehend the roots of the culture of our region, the efforts of our ancestry, grandparents, parents to retain and save their ethnic culture, their spiritual identity, to spiritually contribute in restoring national heritage which was being destroyed for almost 450/350 years since the times of the union of Lublin, its ethnic basis and in this context to come back to their motherland - Sudovia, while trying to find out the way it was after more than 600 years of isolation from its true motherland Lithuania in 1913 - on the eve of the Great war, what kind of trials, tortures it suffered when the war broke out and what losses accompanied it in the battles of the independence of Lithuania. The book consists of four parts containing eight chapters, perceptivities presented in it are supported by various sources, statistics, documents and maps of that time. More than 150 historical pictures, maps and military action schemes are presented in the book. The first chapter is devoted to the historical preface of the region of Sudovia. Recent studies assume that the formation of Pomeranian culture is considered to be the amber extraction, collection, manufacturing of jewelery and spreading of trading business. [...] Archaeological research synthesis has shown that the Pomeranian culture was more widespread than was thought until recent years. It included the territories by Vistula river in the west, Pripyat in the south, Dnieper basin in the east, and in the south it crosses Dauguva and even further. [...] Pomeranian culture is considered to be the rudiments of the Baltic tribes culture. In this culture in approximatelly 900-750 B.C. five areas of western Balts were distinguished: pomeranian, sembian, galindian, sudovian, curonian. [...] The second and the third chapters of the book are devoted to Sudovia situated in Suwałki Governorate.In this material of 14 articles a comprehensive process of governorate emergence and formation, natural environment, the composition of the population in accordance with nationality, distribution in the territory, living in urban and rural areas, residents' education is presented. Separate articles review the development of education, medical condition, urban economy and all economic situation in the governorate on the eve of war in 1914. [...] The fourth and the fifth chapters comprise the period of the region ravaged by the Great War and the wounds it left. The region of Sudovia boarded the Russian empire in the west together with the Kingdom of Prussia, which later became the German Empire outpost. This border with its lands historically formed by century-old struggles, fixed by the treaty of Melno in 1422, September 27. This is the border of Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Teutonic Order to which only after 400 years approached Russia influenced by historical power. This power has always been militaristic, economic and diplomatic, based on their own interests. [...] The third part "German occupation and the dawn of independence" consists of 11 articles: Under German occupation power, the German "war party" annexation plans and works, The breaking dawn of the state of Lithuanians, [...] Decisive steps from the twilight of Independence vision to its dawn, Heavy road to Independence, The territory of the state restored and its borders, The dawning epoch of free Lithuania and losses of Lithuanian ethnic lands in Sudovia. [...] In 1918, February 16 on Saturday, in the Great street No. 30, in the premises of Lithuanian Committee at 11 o'clock in an internal solemn spirit and unity the whole Lithuanian Council gathered, twenty of its members, to the fateful meeting for Lithuanian nation and its history [...].Declared act of Independence of Lithuania was fixed in our memory for ages to come, its fundamental provisions were established. [...] Each state is firstly defined by its territory and inhabitants. From this axiom the restorative political process of Lithuanian State started. [...] The creators of our country, as it was experienced, throughout the process of the state genesis did not use the description of the boundaries of western border established by Treaty of Melno in 1422. This treaty was newly initialed in 1529 in Vilnius. In this treaty Lithuania in the lands of Sudovia bordered Prussia in the Duchy of Mazovia, Raigardas lake, Preiviškiai - Prawdiska, Mėruniškiai up to the lake of Vištytis-Geisrytis. [...] German military leaders and politicians did not forget Suwałki Governorate which was given to Prussia in 1795 after the third partition of the state and they were trying to get it back. For those purposes in 1915 09 18 Germans separated Sudovian lands - Suwałki Governorate from the Jterritory of Congress Poland and established Suwałki military administration. [...] In 1919 December 8 the Supreme Council in Paris Peace Conference adopted the "Declaration on the temporary Polish eastern borders", which was named Kerzon (Curzon) line after the British foreign minister George Curzon Nathanill. Following his proposal, the eastern border of Poland and Soviet Russia was determined but at the same time it was extended as the Polish-Lithuanian border in Sudovia-Suvalkija. [...] Curzon line separated Grodno from Poland, but Suwałki, Seinai, Punskas and other nearby ancient lands and settlements of Lithuania were left on the Polish side. [...] Lit torch of freedom of homeland never died in the hearts of the people and in their spirit. It kept shining in their darkest times of occupation and freedom blazed new powerful light on the road of the Singing revolution, when the Baltic nations merged on the road of Baltic Liberty. [...].