Kaunas Soviet of Workers Deputies
The Kaunas Soviet of Workers Deputies (, ) was a soviet (council) in Kaunas/Kovno (then under German occupation) that sought to act as a communist government for the city and its surroundings. The Kaunas Soviet functioned between 18 December 1918 and 13 January 1919, but was disbanded in the wake of the defeat of the Spartacist Uprising in Germany. Preparations for the Soviet In late November and early December 1918, preparations for the formation of workers soviets took place in Kaunas, Šiauliai, and Panevėžys. On 17 December 1918 the Communist Party of Lithuania and Belorussia organized a strike and protest in Kaunas, calling for Soviet power. The Kaunas Soviet was established the following day. The Communist Party of Lithuania and Belorussia won 35 out of the 45 seats in the Kaunas Soviet. The other parties were the General Jewish Labour Bund with seven seats, the United Jewish Socialist Workers Party with two seats, and the with one seat. Per later Soviet histography, 'social patriotic' organizations wanted to take part in the election to the Soviet but were barred from participation. In parallel to the formation of the Kaunas Soviet, elections to a City Council were held on 18–19 December 1918.