Wilno District Explained

Conventional Long Name:Wilno District
Common Name:Vilnius
Native Name:Okręg wileński (Polish)
Nation:Civil Administration of the Eastern Lands and Provisional Administration of Front-line and Phase Territories
Subdivision:District
Event Start:Formation of 7 June
Date Start:15 September
Year Start:1919
Event1:Incorporation into Provisional Administration of Front-line and Phase Territories
Date Event1:9 September 1920
Event End:Incorporation into Second Polish Republic
Date End:20 December
Year End:1920
P1:Socialist Soviet Republic of Lithuania and BelorussiaLithuanian–Byelorussian SSR
Flag P1:Flag of the Lithuanian-Byelorussian SSR.svg
S1:Lithuania
Flag S1:Flag of Lithuania (1918–1940).svg
S2:Nowogródek District
Stat Year1:1919
Stat Area1:48466
Stat Pop1:1,633,504
Image Map Caption:Location within the Civil Administration of the Eastern Lands
Capital:Minsk
Political Subdiv:counties
Membership Title1:Civil administration
Membership1: Civil Administration of the Eastern Lands (September 1919 – September 1920
Provisional Administration of Front-line and Phase Territories (September 1920 – December 1920)

Wilno District was a district of the Civil Administration of the Eastern Lands from June 1919[1] to September 1920, and Provisional Administration of Front-line and Phase Territories from September 1920[2] to December 1920,[3] all of which were under the control of the Second Polish Republic. Its seat was located in Vilnius. In December 1919, it had an area of 48466km2, and was inhabited by 1,633,504 people.[4]

It was established on 7 June 1919 from the lands conquered from the Socialist Soviet Republic of Lithuania and Belorussia by Poland.[1] On 17 January 1920, it was incorporated into Provisional Administration of Front-line and Phase Territories.[2] On 20 December 1920, the civil administration was disestablished and the district was divided between Nowogródek District, Second Polish Republic and Lithuania.[3]

History

It was established on 7 June 1919 with the formation of Civil Administration of the Lands of Volhynia and Podolian Front, from the lands conquered from the Socialist Soviet Republic of Lithuania and Belorussia.[1] It was formed as a district of the civil administration under the control of Second Polish Republic, of the lands conquered by it during the Polish–Soviet War. Its seat was located in Vilnius. The region was governed by the Chief of District.[5]

It consisted of the counties of Wilno, Troki, Oszmiana, Święciany, Lida, Grodno and Nowogródek.

Between July and September 1919 was formed Wilejka County. 31 October 1919, Brasław County was incorporated into the district.[6] On 6 November 1919, Dzisna County was formed, with provisional seat in Hlybokaye.[7]

On 1 August 1919, from the part of Nowogródek County was formed Baranowicze County that was incorporated into Brześć District.[8]

On 9 September 1920, the district was incorporated into, then formed, Provisional Administration of Front-line and Phase Territories.[2] On 20 December 1920, the civil administration was disestablished and lands of the district were divided between Nowogródek District, Second Polish Republic and Lithuania.

Demography

In December 1919, the district was inhabited by 1,633,504 people, and had an area of 48466km2, having the population density of 33.7/km2. The biggest cities were: Vilnius with 128,954 inhabitants, Grodno with 28,165, and Lida with 11,365 . The territory also included 23,497 other settlements, from which 3 had population between 5 and 10 thousand people, and 48, between 1 and 5 thousand.[4]

Education

In the school year of 1919/1920, the district had 929 primary schools, 26 middle schools, 13 vocational schools, 4 teacher seminars and 56 courses. To all schools had attended 80,481 students and had taught 2173 teachers. In March 1920, there were 859 schools that taught in Polish language and 968 that taught in others.[9]

Subdivisions

Counties

Notes and References

  1. Dz. Urz. ZCZW z 1919 r. Nr 5, poz. 41
  2. https://www.sbc.org.pl/dlibra/show-content/publication/edition/12337?id=12337 Dziennik Rozkazów z 1920 r. Nr 35, poz. 753.
  3. http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU19201150762 Dz.U. z 1920 r. nr 115, poz. 762.
  4. Tablice ogólne in Zeszyt VII. Spis ludności na terenach administrowanych przez Zarząd Cywilny Ziem Wschodnich (grudzień 1919). Lviv–Warsaw: Książnica Polska T-wa Naucz. Szkół Wyższych, 1920. p. 25. series: Prace geograficzne by Eugenjusz Romer.
  5. Joanna Gierowska-Kałłaur, Zarząd cywilny ziem wschodnich. Warsaw. 2003.
  6. Dz. Urz. ZCZW z 1919 r. Nr 25, poz. 257
  7. Dz. Urz. ZCZW z 1919 r. Nr 26, poz. 275
  8. Dz. Urz. ZCZW z 1919 r. Nr 19, poz. 172
  9. Rozdział VII. Szkolnictwo na ziemiach podległych Zarządowi Cywilnemu Ziem Wschodnich by Joanna Gierowska-Kałłaur in Zarząd Cywilny Ziem Wschodnich (19 lutego 1919 – 9 września 1920) by Joanna Gierowska-Kałłaur. Warsaw.Wydawnictwo Neriton, Instytut Historii PAN, 2003, p. 243. ISBN 83-88973-60-6.