Kaunas Soviet of Workers Deputies
The Kaunas Soviet of Workers Deputies (, ) was a soviet (council) in Kaunas/Kovno (then under German occupation) that sought to act as a communist government for the city and its surroundings. The Kaunas Soviet functioned between 18 December 1918 and 13 January 1919, but was disbanded in the wake of the defeat of the Spartacist Uprising in Germany. Preparations for the Soviet In late November and early December 1918, preparations for the formation of workers soviets took place in Kaunas, Šiauliai, and Panevėžys. On 17 December 1918 the Communist Party of Lithuania and Belorussia organized a strike and protest in Kaunas, calling for Soviet power. The Kaunas Soviet was established the following day. The Communist Party of Lithuania and Belorussia won 35 out of the 45 seats in the Kaunas Soviet. The other parties were the General Jewish Labour Bund with seven seats, the United Jewish Socialist Workers Party with two seats, and the with one seat. Per later Soviet histography, 'social patriotic' organizations wanted to take part in the election to the Soviet but were barred from participation. In parallel to the formation of the Kaunas Soviet, elections to a City Council were held on 18–19 December 1918. The communists called for a boycott of the City Council election, arguing for the Soviet as the sole form of government. The General Jewish Labour Bund and the United Jewish Socialist Workers Party participated in both the Soviet and City Council election. Inaugural session The first session of the Kaunas Soviet opened at the House of the People on 21 December 1918. A Presidium was elected, consisting of six communists and one Bundist. Viktoras Griškelis was the chairman of the Kaunas Soviet. The meeting declared the Kaunas Soviet as the sole authority of the city and the Kovno Governorate. The meeting sent greetings to the Council of People's Commissars of Soviet Russia, the Spartacists in Germany, and other revolutionary movements. Seeking to curb shortages, the Soviet banned the transport of food and industrial produce out of the city without its permission. The Kaunas Soviet resolved to adopt an eight hour work-day, and introduced work place protection for labourers. The Soviet issued a warning that officials refusing to heed to the instructions of the Soviet would face 'severe punishment' once Soviet power was established in Lithuania. A number of departments were set up under the Kaunas Soviet, including Food, Justice, Administration, and Labour. Tensions and negotiations with the Soldatenrat and City Council The City Council held its inaugural meeting the following day, 22 December 1918. Both the Kaunas Soviet and the City Council sought to build armed militias. The Kaunas Soviet approached the Soldatenrat ('Soldiers Council', of the German Army), requesting armaments. The Soldatenrat responded that it alone maintained order in the city. The Soldatenrat proceeded to arrest the Soviet chairman and six of its deputies, who were released after committing not to purchase firearms. At first, the Kaunas Soviet had declared the City Council disbanded. However, after a visit from