New Document about Lithuanian Citizenship

Abstract

Abstract. Diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Poland were established only on the eve of World War II (in March 1938). This resulted in the opening of the Polish Republic’s legation in Kaunas. The first envoy, Frantiszek Charwat (1881–1943), had a lot of work to do – not only managing inter-state relations but also looking after Polish citizens and the Polish community in Lithuania. An example of this concern is the published document, which records the activities of the Lithuanian citizenship institution from 1919 to 1939. The document was commissioned by the Polish envoy in Kaunas, who was interested in understanding who could become a Lithuanian citizen and on what legal grounds, as well as when citizenship could be lost, among other things. The published document is unknown in Lithuanian historiography. However, it is relevant for researching the social and political history of the Republic of Lithuania from 1918 to 1940.