As a symbol of free Lithuania, the yellow, green and red tricolour first crowned Gediminas Tower in Vilnius on January 1, 1919. It was raised by Lithuanian Volunteers, under the leadership of Kazys Škirpa. Five days later, when Vilnius was invaded by the Bolsheviks, it was taken down, to be replaced with an all-red flag. When the Lithuanian Army returned on August 26, 1920, the tricolour was raised again, but only until October 9 of that year, when Vilnius was taken over by the Želigovsky-led Polish.
When Lithuania reclaimed Vilnius, it flew over Gediminas Tower for the third time on October 29, 1939. The Soviet occupation soon followed and the flag was no longer allowed, except for June 23, 1941, when rebel soldiers raised it for one afternoon, and then Volunteers had it up from April 5, 1944, to May 15 of that year.
Finally, the tricolour flew once again on October 7, 1988 and has been there ever since. Considering its painful history it is to this day a familiar and very moving sight for every visitor to the Lithuanian capital.
