Prancūzijos karinių misijų veikla Lietuvoje 1919-1920 metais

Abstract

The article focuses on the activities of the French military missions in Lithuania in 1919–1920. The investigation of the relevant documents and sources aims to evaluate to what extent the information about political events in Lithuania influenced the pattern of relationships between France and Lithuania, and what ways of problem solving were suggested to the Lithuanian government. In March 1919, a French military mission under Lieutenant-Colonel Constantin Reboul arrived to help build the Lithuanian Army. The mission established significant French ties with Lithuania, and this was seen as a means of preventing Britain from establishing a position of influence in Lithuania. However, France’s pro-Polish attitude undermined the good impression generated by Reboul, and the Lithuanians sent the mission home. As regards General Henri-Albert Niessel’s mission, he oversaw the withdrawal of German troops who had entered Lithuania as part of Pavel Bermondt-Avalov’s West Russian Volunteer Army. His mission helped Lithuania to build up important political relations with the Allied Powers and introduced the name of Lithuania into international politics.