During World War II, as the frontline shifted, the country was occupied by Nazi Germany only to fall back into the USSR's hands in 1944 once again.

Since then, the country sought to get its de facto independence back through armed guerrilla strife on the home front and with diplomatic measures among the diaspora.

On 15 February 1989, the Seimas made its first declaration that its goal was to restore the independent democratic Republic of Lithuania.

[3] Six months later, on 23 August 1989 – the 50th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact – the RML declared that Lithuania's annexation to the USSR had been committed illegally and without any legal power.

As the political atmosphere in the USSR became more relaxed, the first free and democratic election to the Supreme Council of the Lithuanian SSR took place on 24 February 1990.

[5] The third meeting adopted a set of five documents, including the provisional organic law that laid the foundation for the restoration of Independence.

On 18 April 1990, it enforced an economic blockade against Lithuania, cutting or grievously restricting the supply of raw materials.

Beginning with 1991, the Day of Restoration of Independence is marked with a solemn parliamentary meeting that usually takes place at the historical Hall of the Act of 11 March.