KVB – Kauno istorijos datos ir faktai

until 1795

Kaunas from its Origins to the Fall of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

History reveals about the self-governed city created by a multi-ethnic and multicultural community. The largest rivers in Lithuania – Nemunas and Neris – were the engine of the city's economic life, and the Hanseatic League witnessed close contacts of the merchants of Kaunas with Western Europe.

1795–1915

Under the Rule of Tsarist Russia

19th century Kaunas was the center of the periphery of the Russian Empire, the center of the Kaunas province and the Samogitian diocese and the city-fortress surrounded by a fortress ring. On the other hand, the provincial and row-rise city pretended to become the center of the new Lithuanity.

1915–1918

German occupation

Have been built over 30 years Kaunas fortress was occupied after 10-day battles in 1915. By the Kaiser’s German army occupied city became the part of Oberosto.

1918–1940

The First Republic of Lithuania

Interwar Kaunas was the Provisional Capital of Lithuania. It was the “golden age” of Kaunas, in 20 years the provincial city became a metropolis of Lithuania with modern architecture, even streets, active social and intellectual life. The diplomatic corps and the Parisian fashion gave Kaunas the features of the western capital.

1940–1941

The First Soviet Occupation

In the grip of the totalitarian system the residents of Kaunas experienced the scourge of the nationalization of property, deportations and other repressions. The Anti-Soviet resistance movement grew up in the city.

1941–1944

German occupation

1941 June Uprising briefly revived the hopes of independence, but they were quickly dissipated by the German’s occupation regime. During the Holocaust years the Jewish community of Kaunas was almost destroyed. The city became the center of Anti-Nazi resistance, here was founded and acted The Supreme Committee for the Liberation of Lithuania in 1943.

1944–1990

The Second Soviet Occupation

Kaunas retained the memory of the Provisional Capital and opposed the russification pursued by the Soviet system. Having lost the focus of the humanitarian culture, the university, Kaunas was being formed as a technocratic city. Never ceased hope of freedom (the events of All Soul’s Day in 1956, the Sacrifice of Romas Kalanta in 1972) brought the people of Kaunas to “Sąjūdis”.

1990–...

The Second Republic of Lithuania

Kaunas is a free and developing city. Combining its identity with the best traditions of the Provisional Capital, it is open to the contemporary innovations, active and visible in the world. The most important feature of Kaunas is the rich and diverse culture that opens the city for Europe and the world.

Until 1795
1795–1915
1915–1918
1918–1940
1940–1941
1941–1944
1944–1990
1990– ...

Overview of Kaunas History

Read the brief history of Kaunas, with a wealth of the important facts and statistics.

Evolution of
Kaunas

Detailed information on the evolution of Kaunas Self-Government Institutions.

Kaunas Views by Period

Take a look at Kaunas of the past centuries, admire the city's panoramas and other views.

About
directory

About the electronic directory, its authors and collaborators, information search, the copyright policies and more.

ABOUT DIRECTORY

Electronic directory “Kaunas: dates and facts”

In 2007, the Kaunas Studies Group of Kaunas County Public Library (KCPL) started developing an electronic directory, Kaunas: Dates and Facts. Its aim is to create an easily accessible e-directory, attractively presenting systematic textual and visual information about Kaunas* – from its origins to the present. The e-directory is being developed in collaboration with research institutions and experts, as well as museums, archives and owners of collections.

The e-directory is primarily targeted at those who have no direct access to the library, museum, or guide services. Its users represent different social groups and occupations, foreigners who come to Kaunas for studies or work, Lithuanian emigrants, etc. The e-directory is being regularly updated and supplemented with new textual and visual information, references; inaccurate facts are being corrected.

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