The Republic of Lithuania was established when on February 16th, 1918 the Council of Lithuania declared Independence. During the struggles that occured, the country lost its Vlnius Region to Poland and the Klapaida Region to Germany.
After the German-Soviet invasion of Poland, the Soviets returend the Vilnius Region to Lithuania but occupied the whole country in June 1940. In 1941 Lithouania was occupied by German forces and in 1944 the Soviet Union 'liberated' the country. The Soviet Union enforced their political views to the Lihuanians and installed the Soviet State of Lithuania as part of the Soviet Union.