On 16 February 1918 the Lithuanian state is restored; Moscow recognises the sovereignty of the former province of the Russian empire in a peace treaty of 12 June 1920.
On 23 August 1939 Vyacheslav Molotov, the commissar for foreign affairs of the USSR, and Joachim von Ribbentrop, the foreign minister of Nazi-Germany, sing an agreement on the partition of the Baltic states; the treaty assigns Lithuania to the „sphere of influence“ of Germany, but a later treaty of 28 September assigns Lithuania to the „sphere of influence“ of the USSR.
In June 1940 the USSR begins the submission and sovietisation of Lithuania; on 3 August 1940 it is officially announced that Lithuania would become part of the USSR as the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (Lithuanian SSR).
On 24 February 1990 in the elections to the Supreme Soviet the popular movement Sajūdis wins a majority.
On 11 March 1990 Lithuania declares itself independent.
On 25 March 1990 Soviet authorities send tanks to Vilnius in order to prevent Lithuania from seceding from the USSR.
On 18 April 1990 the USSR ends energy supplies to Lithuania.
On 13 January 1991 the military units of the USSR occupy the TV station and many other strategic objects in Lithuania. From the defenders of the TV tower 15 people die and many are injured.
In a referendum of 9 February 1990 90% of people support the independence of the Republic of Lithuania.
On 6 September 1991 the USSR recognises officially the independence of Lithuania, after this Western democracies also recognise Lithuania (Iceland has recognised Lithuania already on 22 August 1991).
On 3 March 1992 the departure of Russian armies begins. The last units leave in 1993.
In 1997 Lithuania signs a border treaty with Russia, the only Baltic state to date, which has done so.
In spring 2004 Lithuania becomes a full member of the European Union and NATO.