Socialist Soviet Republic of Lithuania and Belorussia

The Socialist Soviet Republic of Lithuania and Belorussia (; ; ; ) or simply Litbel ("Lit-Bel") was a Soviet socialist republic that existed within the parts of the territories of modern Belarus and eastern Lithuania for approximately five months during Lithuanian–Soviet War in 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 during the Polish–Soviet War.
Background.
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.
The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed on 16 December 1918 and the Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia was established on 1 January 1919. The two republics were weak, championed by the newly created Communist Party of Lithuania and Communist Party of Byelorussia respectively but enjoyed limited public support. Faced with military setbacks in the Polish–Soviet and Lithuanian–Soviet Wars, the Soviets decided to consolidate their efforts and the two republics were merged into Litbel on 17 February 1919. The communist parties were also merged into the Communist Party of Lithuania and Belorussia.
Short-lived state.
The merger of the Lithuanian and Belorussian Soviet Republics was not welcomed neither the leaderships of . In particular, Belarusians perceived the merger as annexation by Lithuania. Some Belarusian nationalists, like Zmicier Zhylunovich, resigned their posts. However, Moscow insisted and the merger was supervised by Adolph Joffe, who selected the members of the Litbel government. The new government was headed by Vincas Mickevičius-Kapsukas, Chairman of the Litbel Council of People's Commissars (corresponding to prime minister). The government was financed by loans from Russian SFSR.
Litbel's capital was initially Vilnius. In April it was moved to Minsk after Vilnius was seized by the Polish Army during the Vilna offensive. Soviet premier Vladimir Lenin hoped to start peace negotiations with Poland via Polish communist Julian Marchlewski and officially liquidated Litbel on 17 July 1919. By late July 1919, almost the entire territory of Litbel was occupied by foreign armies. Minsk was taken by the Polish Army on 8 August 1919 during Operation Minsk, thus the members of the now defunct Litbel government evacuated to Smolensk in August 1919.
Aftermath.
In September 1919, Soviet Russia had already recognized independent Lithuania and offered to negotiate a peace treaty. The Soviet–Lithuanian Peace Treaty was concluded on 12 July 1920. When the Polish–Soviet War turned to Soviet favor, the Soviet forces recaptured Minsk and recreated the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic on 31 July 1920. Despite diplomatic recognition and the peace treaty, the Soviets planned a coup to overthrow the Lithuanian government and re-establish the Soviet republic. However, Soviets lost the Battle of Warsaw and were pushed back by the Poles. Some historians credit this victory for saving Lithuania's independence from the Soviet coup. The border between the Poland and Belorussia border was determined by the Peace of Riga, which left territories with significant Belarusian populations on the Polish side of the border.
Members of the Council of People's Commissars.
Members of the Council of the People's Commissars (equivalent to a cabinet of ministers) as of 27 February 1919 were: