Adutiškis

History

The first documented mention of Adutiškis is from the 14th century. From 1526 onwards, ownership of the town passed to Jerzy Radziwiłł (Jurgis Radvila). It subsequently became the possession of the Kiszka family (Kiška). In 1526, the town, which developed adjacent to the manor estate, was granted the privilege of holding markets and operating a tavern. In 1608, the town was bestowed upon the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vilnius. A Catholic church was constructed in the 16th century. In 1790, a parish school and an orphanage were established. In 1795, after the Third Partition of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth the area was subjected to incursions by Russian forces, and in 1811-1812 during the French invasion of Russia, it was raided by the French army. As a consequence of the 1863 Uprising, numerous families who had supported the rebels were deported to Siberia by Russian authorities. In the autumn of 1939, the Soviets crossed into the Vilnius region and Adutiškis. Many men were drafted into the Red Army, later Lithuanians were discharged from the army, but the local Belarusians were not. Soon the war reached Adutiškis. On 19 September 1939, the Red Army captured Vilnius, which it returned to Lithuania. The residents of Adutiškis anticipated the arrival of the Lithuanian army. However, they did not arrive, and the inhabitants soon learned that they were incorporated into Byelorussian SSR. The border between Lithuania and the USSR was located between Švenčionys and Švenčionėliai. Many young people fled to Lithuania. In Adutiškis, numerous Soviet troops were deployed. On 25 March 1940, the occupying Soviet government organised elections. However, few people voted, and those who did often destroyed their ballots. Soon Soviets deported 26 families from Adutiškis to…