|
The
creator of Lithuanian Power |
Kaunas first
was mentioned in an old manuscript of 1361.
Situated in the valley of the two longest rivers
of Lithuania, the Nemunas and the Neris, the city became an example of a confluence of people and cultures,
an attractive blend of architecture and nature.
The city has seen many ups and downs, but has stayed a source of forces
for resistance, a guard of national identity, and once
was temporarily the capital
city of Lithuania.
Much earlier, until the beginning of the 15th
Century, Kaunas Old Castle was important resistance post against the
attack of the Teutonic Order. After the victory of Joint Lithuanian -
Polish forces in the Zalgiris (Grunwald) battle in 1410, during the reign
of Vytautas the Great, the Grand Duke of Lithuania (1392 - 1430), the
period of true prosperity started. At that time Lithuania had already
accepted Christianity. Kaunas was given the Magdeburg rights and enjoyed
the years of development in trade, crafts, culture, and extensive contacts
with Western Europe. In a stroll around the Old Town one may encounter
numerous fragments of late Gothics. They can be seen in fortification, e.g
the old Castle, religion and in public and dwelling buildings.
In many places Gothic's gave a way to later architectural trends.
Manifestations of the Renaissance can be found in the
architecture of
Holy Trinity Church and the Monastery. When Baroque style started to
dominate in the Lithuanian - Polish state, Lithuania lived through a
contradictory period. The splendid churches and monasteries marked a
victory of Catholicism over the Reformation movement. But an Evangelic -
Lutheran Church, a nice example of the late Renaissance period, survived
inside the Old town. The result of the hard wars with neighbouring
countries was the final division of the Lithuanian - Polish state in
favour of Russia, Prussia and Austria, in 1795. Kaunas and the largest
part of Lithuania were subordinated to the Russian Empire for more than one
century.
Nevertheless, during the 17th to 18th Centuries a lot of splendid Baroque
buildings were erected in Lithuania. A baroque interior is characteristic
of many Gothic churches of Kaunas. The city symbol of the white Town Hall
is mainly Baroque, possessing trends of the Gothics, Renaissance and
Classicism. As Kaunas itself, it accumulated the best features of Gold
Ages. World War I stopped the further development of Kaunas. There was a state
of war that dominated. A lot of "unwanted" people were moved to Russia. In 1915 Germans
and Russians plundered
occupied Kaunas, before leaving
the city. The
German ruling was very poor. But when German positions in the war weakened, Lithuanian life revived. Kaunas people were interested in
the possibility
of regaining independence more and more. Until 1919 Kaunas was ruled by
numerous representatives of different nations and authorities.
In 1919 Rusians occupied Vilnius, so the State Council, Ministers'
Cabinet, and other offices were settled in Kaunas.
In 1920 Poland broke
Suwalki Treaty and occupied Vilnius. Kaunas became the temporary capital
and the main city of the country.
At the beginning, in very complicated conditions, Kaunas (and the
whole state) gained from a lot of cultural, political and economic
achievements. In 1920-s and 1930-s Kaunas University (since 1930 -
Vytautas the Great University), 1936 - Academy of Veterinary. In 1933,
after the historical tragical flight
of S. Darius and S. Girenas over
the Atlantic on "Lithuania" plane, the remains of the pilots were
embalmed in the city cemetery.
Some publishing houses were established (about 10 newspapers and
magazines) a lot of cultural organizations. "Radiofonas", M.K.Ciulionis museum, Art museum,
War museum. Lithuanian
exhibitions, Song, Dance, Music festivals, Olympics were held in Kaunas.
In Kaunas were established
institutions of administration,
both civilian and
military.
During the independence years Kaunas grew and the population increased.
Buildings were being reconstructed; a lot of new ones were built. The
industry was rapidly growing. In 1924 buses started to run, in 1928 urban
water supply was provided, new bridges over the Nemunas and the Neris were built.
But this short period was stopped by the most brutal Soviet occupation.
The economics and culture suffered. The nation's
elite people first and later other Lithuanians were killed, tortured and
deported. During World War II when Germans dislodged Russians, Kaunas
people recovered a little bit. But Germans were trying to steal what
Russians had left. When it became clear that
Germans would not return Lithuania's independence, an
antifascist
movement was formed. When the
Soviet Army came back, a lot of Kaunas
people were forced to move to the West. In the battles in 1944 the Germans
and Russians destroyed everything that was left.
During the Soviet occupation, Kaunas was the second main city in
Lithuania, the capital again being Vilnius. After the war rebuilding was
started. In 1959 a hydroelectric power station started to work. Kaunas was
growing, but everything that could remind independence was being changed
or destroyed.
Only as from 1988, when
the movement towards freedom started, the revival work
started. The old names of streets and squares
were restored, the War museum orchard regained
its former look with the monuments from independence times. In 1996, in the
ex-president Court, statues of former presidents
were erected. In
spite of the very complicated conditions of that period,
economy has been reorganized, relations with foreign countries,
especially in the fields of economics, policy and culture are being
developed.
|
