City in north-eastern Europe, now the second largest city in Lithuania, but occupied by the Germans during much of World War I.

A medieval city, Wilna was annexed to the Russian Empire in 1795 and remained so throughout the 19th century. Its population was part-Polish, part-Lithuanian, with some Russians, Belarusians, and Ukrainians, 41% being Jewish in 1897. From 1915 to 1918 Lithuania was occupied by Germany, after which it was declared an indepent state in 1918; but after a period of rival claims it was annexed to Poland in 1922. In 1940 the whole of Lithuania was annexed by the Soviet Union. However, Vilnius was captured by the Germans in 1941, its Jewish population being first gettoized then liquidated. Thereafter the country was absorbed into the Soviet Union until 1990 when it seceded and formed the Republic of Lithuania, of which Vilnius is now the second city.

Schenker's correspondent Walter Dahms while on military service was posted for a time in 1916 to "Wilna in the German administration" and put in charge of its libraries, archives, and museums. He wrote to Schenker from there, describing its climate as "swampy, with damp air" (OJ 10/1, [24]).

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Correspondence

• OJ 10/1, [20] Handwritten letter from Dahms to Schenker, dated June 15, 1916

  Dahms may be transferred to Wilna. — Has reviewed Op. 111 for the Kreuz-Zeitung.

• OJ 10/1, [21] Handwritten letter from Dahms to Schenker, dated June 30, 1916

  Dahms holds out hope for the position of music critic at Der Abend of Vienna, about which Schenker has inquired.— He reviews his past work; coming to Vienna is imperative.

• OJ 10/1, [22] Handwritten postcard from Dahms to Schenker, dated November [recte August] 9, 1916

  Dahms hopes to be going to Wilna.

• OJ 10/1, [23] Handwritten letter from Dahms to Schenker, dated August 27, 1916

  Dahms may be posted to Wilna, or may be discharged. He asks about the position of music critic at the Vienna Der Abend.

• OJ 10/1, [24] Handwritten letter from Dahms to Schenker, dated October 13, 1916

  Dahms reacts to the news that the music-critic position at Der Abend is taken; laments continued lack of opportunity to work.

• OJ 10/1, [28] Handwritten letter from Dahms to Schenker, dated April 20, 1917

  Dahms comments on the political situation and decries widespread corruption.

• OJ 10/1, [29] Handwritten letter from Dahms to Schenker, dated June 8, 1917

  Dahms hopes for a posting to Berlin; he is gaining strength from reading Kierkegaard.

Diaries

• Diary entry by Schenker for 13 August 1916

• Diary entry by Schenker for 17 October 1916

• Diary entry by Schenker for 31 March 1926