Issuing authority for Vilnius internal and foreign passports

[Russell A Maurer rrmmaur@gmail.com]

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In a recent message, LitvakSIG announced the completion of the Vilnius foreign
passports (over 17,000 records) and at the same time reminded that we had
previously completed the internal passports project (over 150,000 records for all
of Lithuania, including some 40,000 for Vilnius). We generally lump all these
records together under the heading of Lithuanian passports, e.g., in the
All-Lithuania database(ALD). Unfortunately, doing so obscures the true origin of
the passports from Vilnius.

Both the internal (identity) and foreign (travel) passports were issued during the
interwar years. In those years, Vilnius and adjoining areas were under Polish
administration, the Lithuanian government having relocated to Kaunas at the end of
1918. Passports issued in Vilnius were issued by the Polish administration.
Recipients of such passports were recognized as Polish citizens. There were no
Lithuanian passports issued in Vilnius in this time period.

The Vilnius foreign passport project includes two fonds, over 900 records combined,
that relate to passports that were NOT issued in Vilnius after all. These records
are for Lithuanian foreign passports. They can be recognized in the ALD by their
archival signature. Records with a signature beginning LCVA/377 were issued by the
Lithuanian Interior ministry. Recipients of these passports lived in all areas of
independent Lithuania. Records with a signature beginning LCVA/383 were issued by
the Embassy of Lithuania in Riga. Most recipients of these passports lived in
western Lithuania or were Lithuanian expats living in Latvia.

Any questions can be directed to me.

Russ Maurer
Records Acquisition & Translation Coordinator, LitvakSIG
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