Antanas Smetona and his Lithuania : from the national liberation movement to an authoritarian regime (1893-1940) / by Alfonsas Eidintas ; translated and edited by Alfred Erich Senn.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Eidintas, A. (Alfonsas), author.

Contributor:

Senn, Erich, translator, editor.

Series:

On the boundary of two worlds ; Volume 42.

On the Boundary of Two Worlds : Identity, Freedom, and Moral Imagination in the Baltics, 1570-7121 ; Volume 42

Standardized Title:

Antanas Smetona ir jo aplinka. English

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Presidents--Lithuania--Biography.

Presidents.

Lithuania--Politics and government--1918-1945.

Lithuania.

Lithuania--Foreign relations--1918-1940.

Smetona, Antanas, 1874-1944.

Smetona, Antanas.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (506 p.)

Place of Publication:

Leiden, Netherlands ; Boston, [Massachusetts] : Brill : Rodopi, 2015.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This biographical overview of the life of Antanas Smetona (1874-1944), his importance in the Lithuanian national movement, his central role in the emergence of modern Lithuania (1918-1920), and the development of the various groups of nationalists in Lithuania, offers a picture of the creation of a national state in XXth century Europe. Twice the president of Lithuania (1919-20 and 1926-40), the authoritarian ruler of the state from 1926-1940, Smetona established his role as a capable and needed politician in Lithuania’s political life, a middle person between the political left and right. The study characterizes Smetona’s closest and most important associates, who helped him to formulate legislation for his model of presidential regime, the nationalistic ideology, and the development of national economy. Despite its authoritarian tendencies Smetona’s rule surprisingly continued to be for many Lithuanians a symbol of Lithuanian independence and national freedom through the years of Soviet occupation.

Contents:

Preliminary Material

Introduction

The Pupil Antanas Smetona and the Teacher Jonas Jablonskis

With Father Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas at Viltis

Petras Klimas – Between Smetona and Steponas Kairys

Smetona and the Lithuanian Monarchists

Smetona’s Conflict with Juozas Gabrys-Paršaitis

Baron Stasys Šilingas and the President

“The Man of Greatest Compromise” – Ernestas Galvanauskas and Smetona

Jonas Lapenas and the Tautininkai: Why the lts did not Become a Party

Antanas Smetona and Foreign Diplomats

Smetona and Izidorius Tamošaitis: The Justification of the Coup

His Wife Sofija Chodakauskaite-Smetoniene

The Smetona-Voldemaras Tandem

The Split with Voldemaras

Smetona’s Daily Routine

The Ideologist Izidorius Tamošaitis

Tumas-Vaižgantas, the Priests, and the Church

The Creation of National Culture, Vincas Kreve and the President

Lithuania’s Poles and Smetona, “King of the Jews”

Smetona, Adolf Hitler, and the Nazis

Smetona’s In-Laws: Juozas Tubelis and Jadvyga Chodakauskaite

A Quick Succession of Prime Ministers in Crisis

The Intriguer: Stasys Raštikis, the Army and the President

Antanas Merkys, Broken and Apathetic

With General Musteikis and into the Diplomatic “Swamp”

Povilas Žadeikis and Smetona in America

The Fates of Smetona’s Family and Friends

Conclusion

Notes

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Includes index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

90-04-30204-2

OCLC:

910861205

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789004302044 DOI