Litbel

Lithuanian–Byelorussian SSR
Lietuvos–Baltarusijos TSR Літоўска–Беларуская ССР Литовско–Белорусская ССР
Puppet state of Soviet Russia
1919
Flag
Map indicating Litbel's intended borders (thick blue line) superimposed on state borders of 1920.
Capital		Vilnius Minsk Smolensk
Languages		Lithuanian · Belarusian Yiddish · Polish · Russian
Government		Soviet socialist republic
Legislature		Council of People's Commissars
Historical era		World War I
•	Established	February 17, 1919
•	Disestablished	July 17, 1919
Preceded by Succeeded by Belarusian People's Republic Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (1918–1919) Republic of Lithuania (1918–1940) Second Polish Republic Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic

Coordinates: 54°N 27°E / 54°N 27°E / 54; 27

The Lithuanian–Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (LBSSR; Lithuanian: Lietuvos–Baltarusijos Tarybinė Socialistinė Respublika; Belarusian: Літоўска–Беларуская Савецкая Сацыялістычная Рэспубліка; Russian: Литовско–Белорусская ССР; Polish: Litewsko–Białoruska Republika Radziecka) or Litbel (Lit-Bel) was a Soviet socialist republic that existed within the territories of modern Belarus and eastern Lithuania for approximately five months during 1919. It was created after the merger of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia. The republic was dissolved after the Polish Army took over its claimed territory of eastern Lithuania during the Polish–Soviet War.

After the end of World War I in November 1918, Soviet Russia began a westward offensive following the retreating German Army. It attempted to spread the global proletarian revolution and sought to establish Soviet republics in Eastern Europe. By the end of December 1918, Bolshevik forces reached Lithuania. The Bolsheviks saw the Baltic states as a barrier or a bridge into Western Europe, where they could join the German and the Hungarian Revolutions.