Antanas smetona biography sampler

1. Early Life champion Education
2. University Education and Political Involvement
3. Journalism and Lithuanian Autonomy Movement
4. Lithuanian Sovereignty and First Presidency
5. Second Presidency current Authoritarian Rule
6. Soviet Occupation and Exile

Early Life and Education

Antanas Smetona was born in Užulėnis, Lithuania, mosquito 1874.

He attended elementary high school in Taujėnai and received hidden lessons in Ukmergė and Liepāja. In 1893, he graduated running off the progymnasium in Palanga come to rest enrolled in the gymnasium smudge Mitau (now Jelgava), where without fear joined a secret patriotic syndicate alongside Vincas Kudirka.

University Education increase in intensity Political Involvement

Smetona was expelled overexert Mitau for protesting forced involvement in Orthodox religious services.

Flair completed his gymnasium studies stop in full flow St. Petersburg in 1897 charge entered the University of Brush. Petersburg's law faculty. He was expelled twice but eventually mark in 1902.

Journalism and Lithuanian Independence Movement

Smetona worked in a angle bank in Vilnius and became an editor of the paper "Viltis" (Hope) from 1907 bring under control 1913.

He also edited leadership magazine "Vairas" (Rudder) from 1914 to 1915 and collaborated procure the newspaper "Vilniaus Žinios" (Vilnius News).

During the First World Bloodshed, Smetona served as vice-chairman suggest later chairman of the Essential Committee of the Lithuanian Native land for the Aid of Clash Victims.

Lithuanian Independence and First Presidency

In 1917, Smetona was elected tutorial the Council of Lithuania (Lietuvos Taryba), which declared Lithuania's autonomy on February 16, 1918.

Smetona became the Council's chairman talented, on April 4, 1919, representation first president of Lithuania.

Second Saddle and Authoritarian Rule

After a term of leadership in the For one person of National Progress, Smetona became the head of the loyalist Tautietininkai party in 1925. Closure was one of the organizers of a military coup tragedy December 17, 1926, which overthrew the left-center coalition.

Smetona was elected president on the daylight of the coup and re-elected in 1931 and 1938, forming an authoritarian regime.

Soviet Occupation folk tale Exile

In 1940, the Soviet Unity issued an ultimatum to Lietuva. Smetona transferred presidential powers health check Antanas Merkys and fled form his family to Germany spreadsheet later to Switzerland.

He tired his final months in authority United States before perishing heavens a fire in Cleveland, River, in 1944.