CHAPTER IV
THE COUP OF 1933 04 01
It was decided. The coup will take place at a favorable moment not to spur international reaction.
On 1933 march 30 Germany withdrew from League of Nations and instituted undemocratic reforms shocking the World.
All World was stunned by Germany's decision.
Lithuanian military quietly, in the night of 1933 April 1 began the coup. President Antanas Smetona was isolated and a new leader having support from the military, and political far right arrived from the Norteastern town of Zarasai
He was exiled former prime minister of Lituania Augustinas Voldemort'as.
He was an old firend of Antanas Smetona who fought together with him for the Independence of Lithuania. He was a Prime minister in 1918. He was a member of Lithuanian Nationalist Union founded in 1924. After the 1928 coup he used to be a prime minister in 1928-1929. Antanas Smetona's aim was to create unique style of goverment, not fascist regime, but a gentle authoritarian regime with one leader – himself as the President of Lithuania, who would nurture the nation of Lithuania into its own type of goverment - authoritarian democracy.
Augustinas Voldemaras a hard-headed individual had a different vision. He sympathysed with Italian fascists. Augustinas Voldemaras wanted more centralised state, more similar to Italy. In 1928-1929 he tried to minimise Antanas Smetona's power, to make himself, like Mussolini, the prime minister – ruler of Lithuania.
In this power strugle Augustinas Voldemaras lost to the old political fox Antanas Smetona. The latter forced the former out of prime minister's position and concentrated power in his hands. Former prime minister was exiled at first to Plateliai, later – to Zarasai, Northeastern border region of Lithuania.
While in exile he was a history teacher and remained to have lots of followers. Augustinas Voldemaras was the
de-facto leader of underground ,,Iron Wolf" organisation (banned in 1930 after pushing Augustinas Voldemaras from power).
It was pro-fascist organisation, most members – junior officers symphatetic to Italian fascism. With the support of Iron Wolf organisation the coup was possible and Augustinas Voldemaras, third time in his life, was granted power to rule Lithuania. This time he took the Presidency.
During the coup Antanas Smetona was forced to step down as the President of Lithuania due ,,health issues". In order to show the peacefull change of power none of the ministers' were changed, nominally Antanas Smetona was left as the Minister of Security, though in reality he was stripped of power, but remained with Presidential pension a private citizen. He was put under surveillance but was free to travel throughout Lithuania, although under strict eye of the new President. All this was done not to disturb domestic and international situation, to show the steady continuation of power.
In short - stubborn leader with the use of force pushed out the conservative politicion who tried to path his way with compromises.