bolshevik forces advance following retreating german troops (red arrows). red line shows soviet front in january 1919.
lithuania became part of russian empire after final partition of polish–lithuanian commonwealth in 1795. during world war lithuania occupied germany , made part of ober ost. on february 16, 1918 council of lithuania declared independence both germany , russia. 3 weeks later, bolsheviks, encumbered russian civil war, sued peace central powers , signed treaty of brest-litovsk. renounced russian claims finland, estonia, latvia, ukraine, lithuania , poland. however, lithuanians allowed minimal autonomy , not establish de facto independence. changed when germany lost war , signed compiègne armistice on november 11, 1918. lithuania began organizing basic institutions, , established first government led augustinas voldemaras.
on november 13, 1918, soviet russian government renounced treaty of brest-litovsk, had assured lithuania s independence. bolshevik western army followed retreating german troops maintaining distance of 10–15 kilometres (6.2–9.3 mi) between 2 armies. demoralized germans left valuable armaments , other equipment soviets. soviets attempted spread global proletarian revolution , sought establish soviet republics in region. saw baltic states barrier or bridge western europe, join german , hungarian revolutions. end of december 1918, bolshevik forces reached eastern lithuania.
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