Monument for the 10th Anniversary of the Independence of Lithuania in Joniškis

Monument for the 10^th Anniversary of the Independence of Lithuania in Joniškis

The Monument was built in 1928 to commemorate the 10^th anniversary of the Independence of Lithuania. On 18 November of the same year, the unveiling ceremony was attended by Lithuanian President Antanas Smetona. After the Second World War, when the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania, Soviet soldiers were buried in this square and a bronze sculpture of a soldier was erected. For some time the Monuments stood together, but the Lithuanian Independence Monument was stripped of its symbols of statehood. In 1969 the Independency Monument was demolished. In 1989, when the Reform Movement of Lithuania began, the Monument for the 10^th anniversary was re-erected with the funds of Joniškis’ residents; it was precisely the same as the one during the interwar period. For some time both Monuments stood together again. Later, the remains of Soviet soldiers were reburied elsewhere and the Soviet monument was demolished.

GPS:56.242100, 23.615829

4 Žagarės St, Joniškis