Juozas Urbšys (29 February 1896 – 30 April 1991) was a prominent

interwar In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period, also known as the interbellum (), lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days) – from the end of World War I (WWI) to the beginning of World War II ( ...

Lithuania Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, P ...

n diplomat, the last head of foreign affairs in independent interwar Lithuania, and a

translator Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. The English language draws a terminological distinction (which does not exist in every language) between ''trans ...

. He served in the military between 1916 and 1922 and then joined the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1938, Urbšys was named its head and served in that position until Lithuania's occupation in 1940. Urbšys was imprisoned by the

Soviet The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

authorities in 1940 and deported to

Siberia Siberia ( ; , ) is an extensive geographical region comprising all of North Asia, from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. It has formed a part of the sovereign territory of Russia and its predecessor states ...

, where he spent the next 13 years in various prisons. Urbšys died in 1991, having lived long enough to see Lithuania's independence restored, and was buried in

Petrašiūnai Cemetery Petrašiūnai Cemetery () is Lithuania's premiere last resting place formally designated for graves of people influential in national history, politics, arts, and science. Location Petrašiūnai Cemetery is located about south-east of the cent ...

Kaunas Kaunas (; ) is the second-largest city in Lithuania after Vilnius, the fourth largest List of cities in the Baltic states by population, city in the Baltic States and an important centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaun ...

Biography

Juozas Urbšys was born on 29 February 1896 in Šeteniai, a village north of

Kėdainiai Kėdainiai () is one of the oldest List of cities in Lithuania, cities in Lithuania. It is located north of Lithuania's second largest city Kaunas on the banks of the Nevėžis River. Kėdainiai were first mentioned in the 1372 Livonian Chronicle ...

.LR užsienio reikalų ministerija
Juozas Urbšys (1938 12 05 – 1940 06 16)
Retrieved on 2008-05-28 In 1907 Urbšys attended a school in

Panevėžys Panevėžys () is the fifth-largest List of cities in Lithuania, city in Lithuania and the List of cities in the Baltic states by population, eighth-most-populous city in the Baltic States. it occupies with 89,100 inhabitants. As defined by Eu ...

, graduating in 1914. Soon afterwards he pursued his education in

Riga Riga ( ) is the capital, Primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Latvia, largest city of Latvia. Home to 591,882 inhabitants (as of 2025), the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population of Riga Planni ...

Latvia Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to t ...

. The outbreak of

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

interrupted his studies, and he enlisted in the army in 1916.Juozas Urbšys
. Retrieved on 2008-05-28 A few years later, Urbšys completed his education at Chuguyevo Military School (, now

Chuhuiv Chuhuiv () or Chuguev () is a city in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. The city is the Capital (political), administrative center of Chuhuiv Raion (district). It hosts the administration of Chuhuiv urban hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine. Population ...

Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...

), returning to Lithuania in 1918 after Lithuania re-established its independence. He continued to serve in the Lithuanian military until 1922. After joining the foreign service, Urbšys worked in

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

, from 1922 and 1927. His next assignment was in

Paris, France Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

, a post he held until 1932. Urbšys was then named Lithuanian Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to

although he did not hold that position for long. In 1934, he was appointed the head of the political department in the Foreign Affairs Ministry. In 1938m he became the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Urbšys's service in this capacity coincided with significant international developments. Rumors arose in 1939 that

would attempt to recover the

Baltic Sea The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by the countries of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and the North European Plain, North and Central European Plain regions. It is the ...

port city of Memel from Lithuania (part of the Memelland region, the city and its surrounding area had until 1919 been part of the German province of

East Prussia East Prussia was a Provinces of Prussia, province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1772 to 1829 and again from 1878 (with the Kingdom itself being part of the German Empire from 1871); following World War I it formed part of the Weimar Republic's ...

), which Lithuania had illegally invaded in January 1923. Urbšys had been representing Lithuania during the coronation of

Pope Pius XII Pope Pius XII (; born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli; 2 March 18769 October 1958) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2 March 1939 until his death on 9 October 1958. He is the most recent p ...

in Rome on 12 March; while returning to Lithuania, he stopped in Berlin in an attempt to clarify the rumours. On 20 March Ribbentrop, the German Foreign Minister, met with Urbšys. Ribbentrop stated that the explosive situation in Memel could not continue "and suggested the Lithuanian Government send plenipotentiaries to Berlin in order to reach an agreement between the two countries on it." Urbšys said he "Would inform his government at once." Urbšys relayed relayed the conversation to the Lithuanian government the following day. While a clear deadline was not given, Lithuania was told to reach a speedy decision as soon as possible. Urbšys said "that minor clashes could occur at any time" and that he would like to have a definite time limit set. Ribbentrop replied that "matters in Lithuania were beyond our control" and that he could set no time limit but suggested that plenopotentiaries be sent to Germany as soon as possible. At 9 p.m. that night, the Secretary of State in the German Foreign Office,

Ernst von Weizsäcker Ernst Heinrich Freiherr von Weizsäcker (25 May 1882 – 4 August 1951) was a German naval officer, diplomat and politician. He served as State Secretary at the Foreign Office of Nazi Germany from 1938 to 1943, and as its Ambassador to ...

, summarised the Ribbontrop-Urbšys conversation in a telegram to the German Legation at

and instrucedg the Minister there to "request toward noon tomorrow, Tuesday, you call on the Foreign Minister referring to this conversation, and ask him point blank when the plenopotentiaries will arrive in Berlin." The following day he telephoned Minister Zechlin at Kaunas saying "there is absolutely no time to lose. Developments might otherwise take a serious turn. We expect the Lithuanian delegation to come here by special plane tomorrow during the day. This will be in everyone's best interests." On March 21, the Lithuanian Council of Ministers advised the parliament of its decision to settle the Memel problem by ceding the territory to Germany. That day, the Lithuanian delegation left Kaunas for Berlin at 2 p.m, led by Urbšys. On March 22, a false additional statement was added to the conversation communiqué by Urbšys, which had been read to the Lithuanian Council of Ministers, regarding the conversation of March 20th. That night, Weizsacker telephoned Minister Zechlin at Kaunas and saud that "this very night the government must retract the statement it has just issued; it must disclaim it" and stick to the official version. Without any material international support, Lithuania had no choice but to cave in. On March 23, the Lithuanian delegation signed the Treaty returning the Memel Territory to German sovereignty.German Documents, 1953, p.530. Some Lithuanians characterized the acceptance as a "necessary evil" that preserved its independence and hoped it was merely a temporary retreat. Another major diplomatic development occurred during in 1939. During the course of a visit to the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

, Urbšys met with

Vyacheslav Molotov Vyacheslav Mikhaylovich Molotov (; – 8 November 1986) was a Soviet politician, diplomat, and revolutionary who was a leading figure in the government of the Soviet Union from the 1920s to the 1950s, as one of Joseph Stalin's closest allies. ...

Chairman The chair, also chairman, chairwoman, or chairperson, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the gro ...

of the

Council of People's Commissars The Council of People's Commissars (CPC) (), commonly known as the ''Sovnarkom'' (), were the highest executive (government), executive authorities of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR), the Soviet Union (USSR), and the Sovi ...

and the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs.

Joseph Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (born Dzhugashvili; 5 March 1953) was a Soviet politician and revolutionary who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until Death and state funeral of Joseph Stalin, his death in 1953. He held power as General Secret ...

joined the group soon afterwards.

Lituanus ''Lituanus'' is an English language quarterly journal dedicated to Lithuanian and Baltic languages, linguistics, political science, arts, history, literature, and related topics. It is published by the non-profit Lituanus Foundation, Inc., and ha ...

Lithuania and Soviet Union 1939-1940
. Retrieved on 2008-05-28 During the discussion a draft of a mutual assistance pact was presented, which resulted in the stationing of

Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Republic and, from 1922, the Soviet Union. The army was established in January 1918 by a decree of the Council of People ...

troops in Lithuania. The city of

Vilnius Vilnius ( , ) is the capital of and List of cities in Lithuania#Cities, largest city in Lithuania and the List of cities in the Baltic states by population, most-populous city in the Baltic states. The city's estimated January 2025 population w ...

and its surrounding region, which had been annexed by

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

in 1920, were returned to Lithuania. However, after about one year, the Soviet authorities presented an ultimatum that ended Lithuania's independence. Urbšys's career as foreign minister ended in 1940. Soviet authorities sent him initially to a prison in

Tambov Tambov ( , ; rus, Тамбов, p=tɐmˈbof) is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and the administrative center of Tambov Oblast, Central Federal District, central Russia, at the confluence of the Tsna River (Moksha basin), Tsna ...

; he was later moved to prisons in

Saratov Saratov ( , ; , ) is the largest types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and administrative center of Saratov Oblast, Russia, and a major port on the Volga River. Saratov had a population of 901,361, making it the List of cities and tow ...

, Ivanov and elsewhere. Of his 13 years in prison, 11 were spent in solitary confinement. He was released in 1954 without the right to live in what was now the

Lithuanian SSR The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (Lithuanian SSR; ; ), also known as Soviet Lithuania or simply Lithuania, was '' de facto'' one of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union between 1940–1941 and 1944–1990. After 1946, its terr ...

. He was allowed to return to Lithuania in 1956. Urbšys continued to make his living by translating French works into Lithuanian. He regained notability after publishing his memoirs in 1988, a work described as one of the first to address Lithuanian history under Soviet rule. After Lithuania again regained its independence, Urbšys was named an honorary citizen of

(in 1990) and

(1991). His health was frail, preventing him from fully participating in the political process of independence, but he enjoyed the authority and respect of the Lithuanian people. Urbšys died on 30 April 1991. After lying in state at the city of Kaunas' War Museum, he was entombed in

. His last political action was performed on 23 August 1988, when his speech, recorded in a

tape recorder An audio tape recorder, also known as a tape deck, tape player or tape machine or simply a tape recorder, is a sound recording and reproduction device that records and plays back sounds usually using magnetic tape for storage. In its present ...

, was played during a

Sąjūdis The Sąjūdis (, ), initially known as the Reform Movement of Lithuania (), is a political organisation which led the struggle for Lithuanian independence in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was established on 3 June 1988 as the first oppositi ...

rally. In the speech he narrated about the

Soviet–Lithuanian Mutual Assistance Treaty The Soviet–Lithuanian Mutual Assistance Treaty (, ) was a bilateral treaty signed between the Soviet Union and Lithuania on October 10, 1939. According to provisions outlined in the treaty, Lithuania would acquire about one fifth of the Vilnius ...

signing in

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

. Close to his death, Urbšys was interviewed by a Swedish diplomat, who visited him on 9 September 1990 in his poor Soviet era flat that was located in the outskirts of the

city (soon after the declaration of the

Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania The Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania or Act of 11 March () was an Declaration of independence, independence declaration by Lithuania adopted on 11 March 1990, signed by all members of the Supreme Council – Reconstituent Se ...

on 11 March 1990). When asked about the possible Lithuanian military resistance against the Soviet invasion in 1940, he said that it would have been impossible and that there was no reason to compare Lithuania's situation with

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

, which fought the

Winter War The Winter War was a war between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet invasion of Finland on 30 November 1939, three months after the outbreak of World War II, and ended three and a half months later with the Moscow Peac ...

because it had a much better geographical position,

Karelia Karelia (; Karelian language, Karelian and ; , historically Коре́ла, ''Korela'' []; ) is an area in Northern Europe of historical significance for Russia (including the Soviet Union, Soviet era), Finland, and Sweden. It is currentl ...

and the Mannerheim Lines. He also noted that the resistance might have made the horrific occupation conditions of the state even worse. Two schools have been named for Urbšys: Kaunas 29th Secondary School and a school in Tiskūnai.

Awards

Order of Vytautas the Great The Order of Vytautas the Great () is the Lithuanian Presidential Award.''Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucija. 84 straipsnis''. Priimta 1992 It may be conferred on the heads of Lithuania and foreign states, as well as their citizens, for distinguish ...

(Lithuania), Officer's Cross *

Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas The Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas is the Lithuanian Presidential Award which was re-instituted to honour the citizens of Lithuania for outstanding performance in civil and public offices. Foreign nationals may also be awarded this O ...

(Lithuania), Commander's Grand Cross and Officer's Cross *

Royal Order of the Polar Star The Royal Order of the Polar Star ( Swedish: ''Kungliga Nordstjärneorden''), sometimes translated as the Royal Order of the North Star, is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I on 23 February 1748, together with the Order o ...

(Sweden), Commander 1st class (1935)

Works

Juozas Urbšys translated works by Georges Duhamel and

Pierre Beaumarchais Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (; 24 January 1732 – 18 May 1799) was a French playwright and diplomat during the Age of Enlightenment. Best known for his three #Figaro plays, Figaro plays, at various times in his life he was also a watc ...

from French to Lithuanian, among others. His

memoir A memoir (; , ) is any nonfiction narrative writing based on the author's personal memories. The assertions made in the work are thus understood to be factual. While memoir has historically been defined as a subcategory of biography or autob ...

, ''Lithuania During the Fatal Years, 1939-40'', was published in 1988.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Urbsys, Juozas 1896 births 1991 deaths People from Kėdainiai District Municipality Ministers of foreign affairs of Lithuania Lithuanian people of World War II Lithuanian people imprisoned in the Soviet Union Inmates of Vladimir Central Prison Burials at Petrašiūnai Cemetery Lithuanian Army officers Lithuanian military personnel in the Imperial Russian Army of World War I