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69-600: Lithuanians have been documented as arriving in the US since 1918, when Lithuania re-established its independence from Imperial Russia . Although this is the first official record, Lithuanians began arriving at least two decades earlier; however, they were listed as Russian citizens. This is compounded by the fact that, prior to Lithuanian independence, most if not all official documents were written in Russian , Polish or German . Thousands of Lithuanians have since moved to Chicago, providing

138-850: A centuries-long tradition of statehood following the coronation of Mindaugas , the King of Lithuania . After the last Partition of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795, Lithuania was annexed by the Russian Empire . During the 19th century, both the Lithuanians and the Poles attempted to restore their independence. Lithuanians rebelled during the 1830 November Uprising and the 1863 January Uprising , but their first real opportunity arose when both Russia and Germany were weakened during World War I . In 1915, Germany occupied western parts of

207-521: A good source of labor for the growing city. The Lithuanian community in Chicago was most famously immortalized by Upton Sinclair in his 1906 novel about the treatment of workers in the Chicago stock yards , The Jungle , whose story revolves around telling the life of a Lithuanian immigrant named Jurgis Rudkus. The first and most prominent Lithuanian enclave in Chicago was called "Lithuanian Downtown" which

276-640: A museum. The Council first voted to approve the first part, the first two paragraphs up to the word drauge , of the Act. This section was approved unanimously. The second part, however, did not receive support from the four withdrawn members because they were not satisfied with the word " finally " in describing the duties of the Constituent Assembly (in "... the foundation of the Lithuanian State and its relations with other countries will be finally determined by

345-515: A non-profit organization, the museum began its collections from donations from within the community—such as limited antiques from the Balzekas family. Today, the museum offers a variety of exhibits for both children and adults. Every two years the museum organizes tours to Lithuania, where the groups visit the most well-known places in Lithuania. The Lithuanian Folk Art Institute of Chicago can be found at

414-687: A nonstop flight from New York City , United States to Kaunas , Lithuania – a total of 7,186 kilometres (4,465 mi), in a Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker airplane named Lituanica . After successfully crossing the Atlantic Ocean in 37 hours and 11 minutes, they crashed on July 17, at 0:36 am (Berlin Time), by the village of Kuhdamm, near Soldin , Germany (now Pszczelnik, near the Myślibórz area, Poland ), most probably because of difficult weather conditions combined with engine problems . Both aviators were killed in

483-577: A number of Lithuanian restaurants, bookstores, and other shops. The former president of Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus 1998-2003 and 2004–2009, is a former resident of the Chicago area as well. Chicago is home to the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania, and the city's large Lithuanian American community maintains close ties to what is affectionately called the Motherland. Chicago's Lithuanian heritage

552-781: A sister restaurant Old Vilnius located in Darien. There are a number of Lithuanian schools established in or near Chicago. At the Chicago Lithuanian Youth Center, the Lithuanian School of Chicago (Lith.: Čikagos Lituanistinė Mokykla ), a private school for Lithuanian immigrant children, was founded in 1992. Other Lithuanian schools include Maironis in Lemont , Gediminas in Waukegan and Rasa in Naperville . First published in 1903,

621-584: A sizeable Polish community as well (particularly Lemont and Homer Glen). There is a small enclave of Lithuanians around the Beverly Shores area in northwest Indiana at the southern coast of Lake Michigan , where there is an American-Lithuanian Club. Some Lithuanians moved on to work in Southern Illinois coal mines. Today "Little Lithuania" is the center of Lithuanian culture in North America. It has

690-543: A version to be released in Germany that would essentially repeat the Act of December 11. The Council decided to amend the first part of the Act of December 11. Petras Klimas included a sentence calling for the Constituent Assembly. Another important development was the statement that democratic principles would be the basis of the new state's governance, something that was declared by the Vilnius Conference, but omitted in

759-612: A while in the Jordan household prior to moving to Chicago. While living in Lithuania he actively promoted various sports. He initiated the building of the first stadium in Kaunas ; it was later named after him – the S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium . He played basketball , baseball , ice hockey , and practiced boxing and athletics , while also being an international footballer , having played for Lithuania national football team in its first competitive game against Estonia on June 23, 1923. He

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828-589: Is visible in the cityscape through its Lithuanian -named streets such as Lituanica Avenue and Lithuanian Plaza Court as well as an Art Deco monument in Marquette Park commemorating pilots Stasys Girėnas and Steponas Darius who died in the crash of the aircraft Lituanica in 1933. The area just east of Marquette Park features such institutions as Maria High School , Sisters of St. Casimir Motherhouse, Holy Cross Hospital , and Nativity BVM Catholic Church, which have been associated with Lithuanians. A number of

897-615: The Act of February 16th , also the Lithuanian Resolution on Independence ( Lithuanian : Lietuvos Nepriklausomybės Nutarimas ), was signed by the Council of Lithuania on February 16, 1918, proclaiming the restoration of an independent State of Lithuania , governed by democratic principles, with Vilnius as its capital. The Act was signed by all twenty representatives of the Council, which

966-522: The Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania , delivered on March 11, 1990, stated: The Act of Independence of February 16, 1918 of the Council of Lithuania and the Constituent Assembly (Seimas) decree of 15 May 1920 on the re-established democratic State of Lithuania never lost their legal effect and comprise the constitutional foundation of the State of Lithuania. This formulation emphasized

1035-592: The Draugas (Friend) is the first Lithuanian newspaper in the United States and is printed by the Lithuanian Catholic Press Society in Chicago. Other Lithuanian publications include Amerikos Lietuvis (Lithuanian American), Vakarai (The West), and Čikagos Aidas (Echo Chicago). These newspapers not only provide news and current events that involve Lithuanians living in Chicago, but also stories from around

1104-490: The German Revolution started and Germany lost the war in the fall of 1918 – it was no longer in a position to dictate terms. The Council of Lithuania adopted the first provisional constitution on November 2. The functions of government were entrusted to a three-member presidium, and Augustinas Voldemaras was invited to form the first Cabinet of Ministers of Lithuania. Complete international recognition took several years;

1173-633: The Kovno Governorate of the Russian Empire , Darius immigrated to the US with his family in 1907. In 1917 he joined the United States Army , after the United States entered World War I , and changed his name to Darius. He served as a telephone operator in the 149th Field Artillery Regiment, fought in France, was wounded and received the Purple Heart medal. In 1920, he returned to Lithuania and joined

1242-608: The Lithuanian Army , graduating from War School of Kaunas in 1921. He participated in the Klaipėda Revolt of 1923. While living in Lithuania he completed pilot training. In 1927 he returned to the United States and started working in civil aviation. He initially formed South Bend Airways in partnership with Carl G. Jordan of South Bend, Indiana . Their fleet consisted of a Pheasant H-10 and an Eaglerock Long Wing , both powered by OX-5 engines of World War I vintage. He lived for

1311-601: The Lithuanian National Prize , the hoisting of the three Baltic States ’s flags at Daukantas Square , dedicated concerts at Cathedral Square in Vilnius and at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society hall, and the lighting of 16 fires along Gediminas Avenue . In 1992, an award was established in honor of Jonas Basanavičius, who led the Council of Lithuania when the Act of February 16

1380-693: The Lithuanian Research and Studies Center , operates at the Lithuanian Youth Center (Lietuvių Jaunimo Centras, 5620 S. Claremont Ave.) The Museum is open and accessible when the Youth Center is open. Opened in 1966, the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture is located in south Chicago, at 6500 South Pulaski Road. The purpose of the museum is to celebrate and preserve the Lithuanian culture. As

1449-543: The Russian Empire . After the Russian Revolution in 1917, Germany conceived the geopolitical strategy of Mitteleuropa – a regional network of puppet states that would serve as a buffer zone – and agreed to allow the Vilnius Conference , hoping that it would proclaim that the Lithuanian nation wanted to detach itself from Russia and establish a closer relationship with Germany. However, this strategy backfired;

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1518-621: The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk . It declared that the Baltic nations were in the German interest zone and that Russia renounced any claims to them. On March 23, Germany recognized independent Lithuania on the basis of the December 11 declaration. However, in substance, nothing had changed either in Lithuania or in the Council's status: any efforts to establish an administration were hindered. This situation changed when

1587-515: The United States and are buried there. The Act of February 16, proclaimed the re -establishment ( atstatyti ) of the Lithuanian state, making it the successor to the Lithuanian historical state, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania . In this respect the Council deviated from the resolution adopted by the Vilnius Conference which called for establishment ( sudaryti ) of a Lithuanian state. However, it

1656-406: The Act of December 11. The second part, mentioning the "firm and permanent alliance with Germany", was completely omitted. Its final version was approved on January 8, 1918, the day that U.S. President Woodrow Wilson announced his Fourteen Points . In its essence, the Act of January 8 did not differ from the Act of February 16. However, Ober Ost , the German military administration, rejected

1725-452: The Act remained active in the cultural and political life of independent Lithuania. Jonas Vileišis served in the Seimas and as mayor of Kaunas , temporary capital of Lithuania ; Saliamonas Banaitis was involved in finance, opening several banks. Among the signatories were two future Presidents of Lithuania, Antanas Smetona and Aleksandras Stulginskis . Jonas Basanavičius , chairman of

1794-469: The Bridgeport neighborhood, a historically Lithuania community. The restaurant created an atmosphere that resembled Lithuania by decorating the place with a variety of traditional art. They were well known for making their meals "consistent, as mom used to make at home." The restaurant closed its doors in 2009. About a block away from the now-closed Healthy Food restaurant is Bernice's Tavern which has been in

1863-414: The Constituent Assembly ..."). They were afraid that this word would give a pretext for the Council to usurp the powers of the Constituent Assembly, while the majority argued that the word simply expressed the non-negotiable and non-appealable nature of the future Assembly's decisions. Therefore, the Act was unanimously approved en bloc but did not have full-fledged support from all twenty men. Note:

1932-596: The Council had overstepped its authority: the September resolution adopted by the Vilnius Conference clearly demanded that a constituent assembly decide these crucial matters of state. When peace talks started between Germany and Russia in 1918, German authorities asked the Lithuanian representatives to prepare two notifications of independence—one for Russia, in which Lithuania's ties with Russia would be denounced and nothing would be mentioned about an alliance with Germany, and

2001-587: The Council in protest. Chairman Antanas Smetona , who supported the Act of December 11, stepped down. Jonas Basanavičius, who would later be called the patriarch of independence, was elected chairman. Germany failed to recognize Lithuania as an independent state, and the Lithuanian delegation was not invited to the Brest-Litovsk negotiations that started on December 22, 1917, between the Central Powers and Russia in order to settle territorial claims. During

2070-408: The Council members sign the document. After the delegation returned to Vilnius, a session of the Council was held on December 11 in order to discuss the Act. It was adopted without any further changes. Fifteen voted in favor of the Act, three voted against it, one member abstained, and one did not participate. It is not entirely clear whether every member of the Council signed this document. The Act

2139-753: The Council of Lithuania, returned to an academic life, pursuing his research in Lithuanian culture and folklore. Five signatories died before World War II started; three died during the Nazi occupation . Those who did not emigrate to Western countries became political prisoners after Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union. Aleksandras Stulginskis and Petras Klimas were sent to prison in Siberia by Soviet authorities, but survived and returned to Lithuania; Pranas Dovydaitis and Vladas Mironas were also sent to Siberia but died there. Kazys Bizauskas disappeared during

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2208-516: The Council to proceed. The Vilnius Conference also resolved that a constituent assembly be elected "in conformity with democratic principles by all the inhabitants of Lithuania". The Act of December 11 was the second stage in the progression towards the final Act of Independence. The first draft, demanded by chancellor Georg von Hertling , was prepared by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 1. Further changes were jointly prepared by

2277-429: The German chancellery and by a delegation of the Council of Lithuania. The delegation's members were Antanas Smetona , Steponas Kairys , Vladas Mironas , Jurgis Šaulys , Petras Klimas and Aleksandras Stulginskis . After discussion amongst the parties, a compromise was reached on the document's text. The German representative, Kurt von Lersner, insisted that not one word be changed in the agreed-upon text and that all

2346-743: The German-language version of the February 16, 1918 document and the Act of December 11, 1917. The latter displays nineteen signatures (without that of Pranas Dovydaitis ). Germany confirmed the documents' authenticity on the following day and they were displayed publicly by two officials – Michael Roth , the German Minister of State for Europe , and Deividas Matulionis , Lithuania ambassador in Germany. On October 7, 2017, Lithuania Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius and Germany Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigmar Gabriel signed an agreement that

2415-540: The Lithuanian World Center, which is located in Lemont . The museum contains a variety of wood carvings, amber jewelry, Lithuanian national clothing pieces, sculptures, and many other traditional folk art. The Lithuanian cuisine options in Chicago are widespread. Opened in 1938, the Healthy Food restaurant was one of the first well-known Lithuanian restaurants in Chicago located on Halsted near 32nd street, in

2484-406: The US affirmed it on July 28, 1922. Two copies of the Act were signed: the original and a duplicate. The original was given to Jonas Basanavičius to safeguard and protect. The original was never published or used in any public matters; its existence was first mentioned in the press in 1933. The duplicate was used in day-to-day business and was stored in the president's archives until June 15, 1940,

2553-485: The basic constitutional principles that were and still are followed by all Constitutions of Lithuania . The Act itself was a key element in the foundation of Lithuania's re-establishment of independence in 1990 . Lithuania, breaking away from the Soviet Union , stressed that it was simply re-establishing the independent state that existed between the world wars and that the Act never lost its legal power. Lithuania had

2622-687: The care of the Badauskas family for just over 50 years. To this day it is one of the few places you can find Švyturys beer in Chicago. The namesake of the bar passed away in 2017. A more recent Lithuanian restaurant Grand Duke’s opened in 2005 located on Harlem Avenue. Grand Duke’s has created a special medieval Lithuanian environment. They are known for their traditional comfort food and the entertainment as well. Grand Duke’s has been featured on Check, Please!, PBS, ABC news Hungry Hound and Chicago’s Best. In 2019, they were replaced with Thirsty Pig BBQ & relocated to Downers Grove. In 2012, Grand Duke’s opened up

2691-470: The changes. On January 26, in compliance with the earlier request, the two versions of the notification were approved, but they did not include the changes of January 8. The texts were prepared based on the Act of December 11. These concessions to the Germans created tensions among the council members. Four members – Mykolas Biržiška , Steponas Kairys , Stanisław Narutowicz and Jonas Vileišis – resigned from

2760-565: The city during the 20th century, including in Bridgeport , Brighton Park , Marquette Park area , and the Back of the Yards . The adjacent near-western suburb of Cicero had an enclave of Lithuanians in the 20th century, especially around St. Anthony's Parish. The most recent wave of immigrants has settled in the western Chicago suburbs of Lemont , Darien , Homer Glen and Woodridge , towns which all have

2829-453: The colors of the functional sections correspond to the colored lines in the original text above. Soon after the signing, the Act was taken to Germany and handed to parties in the Reichstag . On February 18, the text was reprinted in German newspapers, including Das Neue Litauen , Vossische Zeitung , Tägliche Rundschau  [ de ] and Kreuzzeitung . In Lithuania a text of

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2898-449: The conference, held on September 18–23, 1917, adopted a resolution that an independent Lithuania should be established and that a closer relationship with Germany would be conditional on Germany's formal recognition of the new state. On September 21, the 214 attendees at the conference elected a 20-member Council of Lithuania to codify this resolution. The German authorities did not allow that resolution to be published, but they did permit

2967-488: The continuity of the two legal Acts. The Act of February 16, 1918, and its successor, the Act of March 11, 1990, are regarded as two of the most important developments of Lithuanian society in the 20th century. February 16 in Lithuania is an official holiday. On this day various ceremonies are hosted all across Lithuania. The 2014 commemoration included laying flowers at the signatories’ graves in Rasos Cemetery , awarding

3036-416: The country. Even though not addressed directly, the Act renounced any attempt to resurrect the former Polish–Lithuanian union . The Act of February 16, 1918, is the legal basis for the existence of present-day Lithuania, both during the interwar period and since 1990. The Act became one of the key elements during the restoration of Lithuania's independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. A paragraph in

3105-402: The day when Lithuania received an ultimatum from the Soviet Union and lost its independence. After that date the document disappeared. Both the original and the duplicate were missing for decades; historians and adventurers hunted for them. In 2006, a team of engineers searched the walls of the former house of Petras Vileišis . Two facsimiles of the duplicate were produced, one in 1928 and

3174-409: The demands of the Lithuanian people. The immediate effects of the announcement of Lithuania's re-establishment of independence were limited. Publication of the Act was prohibited by the German authorities, and the text was distributed and printed illegally. The work of the Council was hindered, and Germans remained in control over Lithuania. The situation changed only when Germany lost World War I in

3243-505: The entire world, such as economic, political and social trends relevant to Lithuanian-speaking peoples. These publications can most often be found in local stores in which Lithuanians shop at, some examples are Brookhaven in Darien, Peter’s Deli in Lemont , and Lassak Deli in Willowbrook and these are also found online. Naujienos was printed from 1914 through the 1980s, Vilnis was printed from 1920-1989, Liaudies Menas (The People's Art)

3312-580: The ethnic group most familiar from their European homeland, the Poles , a pattern consistent with most other immigrant groups in Chicago, the Lithuanian community today is found all over the Chicago metropolitan area ; as of 2023 there are 27,547 people of Lithuanian ancestry living in Cook County alone, with another 8,545 in DuPage County. Lithuanian immigrants established enclaves on the Southwest Side of

3381-451: The fall of 1918. In November 1918 the first Cabinet of Lithuania was formed, and the Council of Lithuania gained control over the territory of Lithuania. Independent Lithuania, although it would soon be battling the Wars of Independence , became a reality. The laconic Act is the legal basis for the existence of modern Lithuania, both during the interwar period and since 1990. The Act formulated

3450-428: The first and final official joint session between the Council and the German authorities, it was made clear that the Council would serve only as an advisory board. This situation gave additional backing to those Council members who were seeking independence without any ties to other countries. The prime concern at this point was to invite back those members who had left the Council. Negotiations were undertaken that led to

3519-412: The key centers of Lithuanian activity throughout the United States. A large number of the early buildings of this district were built by the first prominent Lithuanian community leader, Antanas Olšauskas , circa 1910. Centered on Thirty-third and Halsted, Bridgeport was Chicago's leading Lithuanian neighborhood from the 1890s through the 1950s. Although Lithuanians initially settled in areas adjacent to

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3588-658: The meaning of a legal document. The Council, including the withdrawn members, was invited to return the next day for its finalization. On the next day, February 16, 1918, at 12:30 pm, all twenty Council members met in the room of the Lithuanian Committee for Support of the War Victims, at 30 Didžioji Street in Vilnius. The building has since been known as the House of the Signatories ( Lithuanian : signatarų namai ) and houses

3657-464: The most architecturally significant churches of the Archdiocese of Chicago were built as national parishes by Lithuanian immigrants such as Holy Cross , Providence of God, Nativity BVM which is dedicated to Our Lady of Šiluva , and the now demolished St. George's in Bridgeport . Opulently decorated with a proclivity towards Renaissance and Baroque ornamentation, Lithuanian churches were designed in

3726-539: The original Act of Independence will be displayed for five years in the House of the Signatories where it was originally signed, making it the main symbol of the Lithuania's Centenary of the Restoration of the State celebrations. On December 22, 2017, experts from the Lithuanian Police Forensic Research Center after a thorough analysis announced that the hand-written act was written by one of

3795-423: The other in 1933. The 1928 facsimile is a closer reproduction of the Act in its original state. It contains spelling errors and the background is visually "noisy", while the 1933 facsimile shows the Act in an "improved" condition. In 2017, Lithuanian businessman Darius Mockus offered a 1-million- Euro reward to anyone who could find the original document and give it to the State of Lithuania. The offer's deadline

3864-416: The proclamation was prepared for printing in newspapers, particularly in Lietuvos aidas , the Council's newspaper established by Antanas Smetona; but the German authorities prohibited this publication. Although the majority of the copies of the issue were confiscated, the newspaper's editor, Petras Klimas , managed to hide about 60 of them. On March 3, 1918, Germany and the now- Bolshevik Russia signed

3933-519: The reformulation of previous versions of the Act. The four withdrawn members demanded that the Council return to the Act of January 8 and omit the mention of any alliance with Germany. After heated debates that lasted for several weeks, on February 15, at 10 am, the new revision of the Act was ready. It included, with minor stylistic changes, the wording of the Act of January 8 and promulgation and notification, drafted on February 1. Promulgation and notification do not carry legal weight and do not change

4002-414: The signatories Jurgis Šaulys hand. On December 22, 2017, yet another version of the Act of Independence of Lithuania was found by historian Darius Antanavičius in the Vatican Secret Archives that was sent to the Holy See . This version of the Act was printed in German language and signed by Antanas Smetona , Jonas Vileišis , Jurgis Šaulys and Justinas Staugaitis . Most of the signatories of

4071-473: The spirit of the architecture of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth 's heyday. Like Chicago's Polish Cathedrals , these churches were statements meant to recall an era when the Grand Duchy of Lithuania spanned from the Baltic to the Black Sea , having been built at a time when Lithuania was under Russian occupation and incorporating Lithuanian imagery in its decor such as the Vytis to invoke pride in Lithuanian culture . The Lithuanian Museum, owned by

4140-449: The summer of 1941 while being transported to a Soviet prison in Minsk ; he is presumed to have been shot along with a number of other prisoners. Donatas Malinauskas was deported to Russia on June 14, 1941, during the massive June deportation . Several of the surviving signatories emigrated. Jurgis Šaulys and Kazimieras Steponas Šaulys died in Switzerland . Antanas Smetona , Mykolas Biržiška , and Steponas Kairys emigrated to

4209-426: Was also part of Lithuania's squad for the 1924 Summer Olympics , but he did not play in any matches. Since he was the first to publish booklets about basketball and baseball, he is considered to have brought those sports to Lithuania. He was also the first chairman of Lithuanian Physical Education Union, and a founder of Sporto Žurnalas ( Sports Magazine ). On July 15, 1933, along with Stasys Girėnas , he attempted

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4278-415: Was chaired by Jonas Basanavičius . The Act of February 16 was the result of a series of resolutions on the issue, including one issued by the Vilnius Conference and the Act of January 8. The path to the Act was long and complex because the German Empire exerted pressure on the Council to form an alliance. The Council had to carefully maneuver between the Germans, whose troops were present in Lithuania, and

4347-431: Was founded by Lithuanian emigrants in 1956, and presents operas in Lithuanian . Lithuanian operas were sometimes held at Maria High School in Chicago, a school that has been associated with Lithuanians, and such operas are now sometimes held at Morton East High School in Cicero . Act of Independence of Lithuania The Act of Independence of Lithuania ( Lithuanian : Lietuvos Nepriklausomybės Aktas ) or

4416-402: Was located along Halsted street in Bridgeport and founded by Lithuanians who settled nearby their Old World neighbors, the Poles, who were located in a Polish Patch in the vicinity of St. Mary of Perpetual Help . It was here that the Lithuanian church of Saint George was founded as the first Lithuanian parish in the Midwest, foreshadowing the prominence that Bridgeport would play as one of

4485-464: Was made clear that the new state would be quite different from the old Duchy: it was to be organized only in ethnic Lithuanian lands (except for the Vilnius region which was majority Polish) and was to be governed by democratic principles, as opposed to the multi-ethnic Duchy that had been ruled by an aristocracy. The termination of the ties binding Lithuania to other states was addressed to Germany, Russia, and Poland, all of which had their own plans for

4554-465: Was printed 1950–1951. Years ago, the Lithuanian Song festival ( Dainų Šventė ) and Dance Festival ( Šokių Šventė ) have been held at the now-demolished International Amphitheatre , originally near the Stockyards on the south side of Chicago. In 2015, the Song Festival has been held at the UIC Pavilion a couple of times and the Dance Festival held in the suburb of Rosemont , not far from Chicago O'Hare Airport . The Lithuanian Opera Company of Chicago

4623-419: Was set to February 16, 2018, when Lithuania will commemorate the 100th anniversary of its declaration of independence. On March 29, 2017, Vytautas Magnus University professor Liudas Mažylis announced he had found the original document in the Federal Foreign Office Political Archive in Berlin , Germany , hand-written in the Lithuanian language and signed by the twenty. He also announced that he had found

4692-480: Was signed. The Jonas Basanavičius Prize is bestowed for distinguished work within the previous five years in the fields of ethnic and cultural studies. Steponas Darius Steponas Darius (known as Stephen Darius in the US; born Steponas Jucevičius-Darašius ; January 8, 1896 – July 17, 1933) was a Lithuanian American pilot , who died in a non-stop flight attempt in the Lituanica from New York City to Kaunas , Lithuania, in 1933. Born in Rubiškės , in

4761-521: Was written in German , and apparently no official Lithuanian translation was prepared. Therefore, different sources provide slightly different translations. The Act of December 11 pronounced Lithuania's independence, but also asked the German government for protection (clause 2) and called for "a firm and permanent alliance" with Germany. Since the Act specified that the alliance was to be formed based on conventions concerning military affairs, transportation, customs, and currency, many Lithuanians argued that

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