Aušra JUREVIČIŪTö ORGANIZATIONS OF FORMER SOLDIERS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE INTERNAL POLICY OF LITHUANIA DURING THE PERIOD FROM 1923 TO 1940

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1 VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF LITHUANIAN HISTORY Aušra JUREVIČIŪTö ORGANIZATIONS OF FORMER SOLDIERS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE INTERNAL POLICY OF LITHUANIA DURING THE PERIOD FROM 1923 TO 1940 Summary of Doctoral Dissertation Humanities, History (05 H) Kaunas, 2009

2 Dissertation was prepared and will be defended in an external way. The doctoral study license is granted Vytautas Magnus University together with the Institute of Lithuanian History by resolution No. 926 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on the 15 th of July 2003 Supervisor: Doc. dr. Sigitas Jegelevičius (Vilnius University, Humanities, History 05 H) Scientific consultant: Doc. dr. Saulius Pivoras (Vytautas Magnus University, Humanities, History 05 H) The dissertation will be defended in the Council of History tendency of Humanities field of Vytautas Magnus University and Institute of Lithuanian History. The dissertation Defense Board: Chairman: Dr. Rimantas Miknys (Lithuanian Institute of History, Humanities, History 05 H) Members: Prof. dr. Zenonas Butkus (Vilnius University, Humanities, History 05 H) Doc. dr. Algirdas Jakubčionis (Vilnius University, Humanities, History 05 H) Dr. Egl Bendikait (Lithuanian Institute of History, Humanities, History 05 H) Doc. dr. Pranas Janauskas (Vytautas Magnus University, Humanities, History 05 H) Opponents: Doc. dr. Sandra Grigaravičiūt (Vilnius Pedagogical University, Humanities, History 05 H) Doc. dr. Jonas Vaičenonis (Vytautas Magnus University, Humanities, History 05 H) The official defense of the dissertation will be held at 14:00 on the 18 of December 2009, at a public sitting of the Defense Board at Vytautas Magnus University, in the Adolfas Šapoka lecture hall (No. 508) Address: K. Donelaičio street 52, LT-44246, Kaunas Lithuania Phone: ( ) This summary of the doctoral dissertation was sent on the 18 November 2009 The dissertation is available at the National M. Mažvydas library, at the Vytautas Magnus University library and the library of Lithuanian Institute of History.

3 VYTAUTO DIDŽIOJO UNIVERSITETAS LIETUVOS ISTORIJOS INSTITUTAS Aušra JUREVIČIŪTö BUVUSIŲ KARIŲ ORGANIZACIJOS IR JŲ VAIDMUO LIETUVOS VIDAUS POLITIKOJE M. Daktaro disertacija Humanitariniai mokslai, istorija (05 H) Kaunas, 2009

4 Disertacija ginama eksternu. Doktorantūros teis suteikta Vytauto Didžiojo universitetui kartu su Lietuvos istorijos institutu 203 m. liepos 15 d. Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausyb s nutarimu Nr Vadovas: Doc. dr. Sigitas Jegelevičius (Vilniaus universitetas, humanitariniai mokslai, istorija 05 H) Mokslinis konsultantas: Doc. dr. Saulius Pijoras (Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas, humanitariniai mokslai, istorija 05 H) Disertacija bus ginama Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto ir Lietuvos istorijos instituto Humanitarinių mokslų srities istorijos krypties taryboje Pirmininkas: Dr. Rimantas Miknys (Lietuvos istorijos institutas, humanitariniai mokslai, istorija 05 H) Nariai: Prof. dr. Zenonas Butkus (Vilniaus universitetas, humanitariniai mokslai, istorija 05 H) Doc. dr. Algirdas Jakubčionis (Vilniaus universitetas, humanitariniai mokslai, istorija 05 H) Dr. Egl Bendikait (Lietuvos istorijos institutas, humanitariniai mokslai, istorija 05 H) Doc. dr. Pranas Janauskas (Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas, humanitariniai mokslai, istorija 05 H) Oponentai: Doc. dr. Sandra Grigaravičiūt (Vilniaus pedagoginis universitetas, humanitariniai mokslai, istorija 05 H) Doc. dr. Jonas Vaičenonis (Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas, humanitariniai mokslai, istorija 05 H) Disertacija bus ginama viešame Humanitarinių mokslų srities istorijos krypties tarybos pos dyje, kuris įvyks 2009 m. gruodžio 18 d val. Vytauto Didžiojo universitete, A. Šapokos auditorijoje(508), K. Donelaičio g. 52, Kaunas Disertacijos santrauka išsiųsta 2008 m. lapkričio 18 d. Su disertacija galima susipažinti Lietuvos nacionalin je M. Mažvydo bibliotekoje, Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto ir Lietuvos istorijos instituto bibliotekose.

5 SUMMARY The organizations of former soldiers and their activities in the modern Republic of Lithuania during the period from 1923 to 1940 as well as their impact on the internal policy of the country chosen as the research object of the thesis have not yet received an individual integrated approach. The former combatants constituted an exceptional part of the society in the independent Lithuania. They distinguished not only by their military experience and the psychological trials of war but by their active participation in the fights for independence. For that reason, they deserved greater attention and respect. The consolidation of former soldiers was to a great extent triggered by the realization, which struck them after a few years of life in the independent country the only thing that many of them had were their military merits and they were left behind the scope of public attention. The understanding that their life was in their own hands drew their interests together in a very short term and encouraged former combatants to solve any encountered problems along with their brothers in arms. In a relatively short period of 17 years 7 organizations of former soldiers were established in Lithuania, which united former combatants by certain characteristics: the war invalids of the fights for independence united into the Fellowship of the Lithuanian War Invalids Vyčiai (later known as the Association of the War Invalids in the Fights for Independence of Lithuania (LLKID), the war invalids of World War I and the independence fights joined the Union of War Invalids of Lithuania (LKIS), reserve officers became members of the Union of Reserve Officers (the Union of Reserve Officers of the Lithuanian Army (LKAKS), volunteers contributed to the activities of the Union of the Lithuanian Army Volunteers (the Union of the Volunteer Founders of the Lithuanian Army (LKKSS), student reservists joined the Corporation of Student Reservists of Kaunas Vytautas Magnus University Ramov, the soldiers, who took part in the movement for independence from 1917 to 1920 within the Russian troops, joined the Union of Military Achievers (KPS); the organization based on the national belonging was founded as well: the Union of the Jewish Soldiers of the Fights for Independent Lithuania (ŽKS) was established. The establishment of such organizations in Lithuania echoed the processes of the entire Europe after World War I. Novelty and significance of the thesis. As mentioned before, the research of the organizations of former soldiers is a new topic in the Lithuanian historiography. Yet 5

6 another novelty along with this new historiographic approach is the attempted solution of the issues of terminology encountered in the research process within the limits of the thesis. Members of the organizations under discussion will be referred to as former soldiers or combatants. For the first time in the Lithuanian historiography the characteristic features of the establishment of the organizations of former soldiers in Germany and Poland will be presented. That enabled the comparison with analogue organizations in Lithuania, the presentation of their differences and similarities and allowed to prove the hypothesis, according to which Lithuania demonstrated the development of the same direction in this area thus contributing to the common context of the processes evolving in Europe. The chronological limits of the dissertation are the years from 1923 to 1940, i.e. the period of establishment, activities and liquidation of the organizations of former soldiers. The first organization of combatants was founded in 1923, whereas in the second half of 1940 all organizations of former soldiers were closed down. Research aim and objectives. This is the first scientific study in the historiography of Lithuania aimed at the analysis of the peculiarities of establishment and development of the organizations of former soldiers during the period from 1923 to 1940, the presentation of the characteristic features of that process and their role in the domestic policy of Lithuania. The research aim determined the following objectives: 1. to determine the impact of World War I, the fights for independence and the organizations of combatants of the neighbouring countries on the origin of the organizations of former soldiers in Lithuania. 2. to analyse the legal framework regulating the activities of organizations of former soldiers and to compare the development of their internal statutes, which reveal their internal structure and functions; 3. to reveal the genesis and evolution of the organizations of former soldiers from 1923 to 1940; 4. to determine their character and political orientation and to evaluate the significance of their accomplishments; 5. to evaluate the role of the organizations of former soldiers in the public and political life of the country; 6

7 6. to introduce the information about personalities, who represented combatant organizations and made impact on the political life of the country, into scientific circulation. Research methods. The thesis is the object of military history; however, military history is one of the disciplines of history, thus, the research methods and methodology applied to its research are identical to the methods of any studies of social development. The key methodological guideline highlights a close link between military matters and the general process of history. In practice, it is interpreted as the display of military reality in the context of different human activities thus making its understanding easier. The analysis of military history supplements the general process of social development with new facts and information. The aim and objectives of the thesis determined the application of the following research methods: descriptive analytical, comparative and partial prosopographic method. Sources and historiography. A broad base of archival and published sources used in the study can be divided into 5 groups: 1) archival documents directly related to the activities of the organizations of former soldiers stored in the Lithuanian Central State Archive (LCVA): membership forms, protocols of congresses and board meetings of LKKSS (F. 560), KPS (F. 1446), ŽKS (F. 593) and the Committee for the Support of War Invalids (KIŠK) (F. 1019); documents of the Ministry of the Interior (F. 402, 377, 1367), National Security Department (F. 378), Military Tribunal Prosecutor s Office (F. 483), Kaunas County Archive (KKA) and Kaunas City Council (F. 219); 2) verbatim reports of the Constituent Assembly, the Second Seimas and the Seimas of 1936, the Constitutions of the Republic of Lithuania and civil laws; 3) orders to the armed forces issued by the Ministry of Defence, university statutes and regulations; statutes of organizations; 4) periodical press of ; 5)memoirs. There were no separate funds of the Corporation of Student Reservists of Kaunas Vytautas Magnus University Ramov, LLKID and LKIS, whereas fragmentary documents of LKAKS could be found (F. 560). The thesis made use of numerous scientific literature sources on different topics of the national and foreign policy of the modern Republic of Lithuania. The historiography of the topic under analysis is rather scarce; V. Statkus and G. Surgailis 7

8 wrote about the organizations of former soldiers, whereas general topics related to military history, which are important to the thesis, were analysed by J. Vaičenonis and V. Lesčius. Terminology issues. The analysis of the organizations of former soldiers and their role in the internal policy of Lithuania during the period from to 1923 and 1940 raises the issue of terminology. This issue becomes relevant because the topic under analysis has not received a scientific and consistent approach until now, thus, the problem of terminology has not yet seemed relevant. Some refer to the organisations under analysis as military, others military-public organizations, yet others refer to them as paramilitary. The historians analysing similar organisations encounter similar problems. The organizations analysed in this paper will be referred to as the organizations of former soldiers or combatants. To justify this assertion, we will refer to the international conventions and military law, which describe the essence of the concept, as well as the example of other countries, where similar organizations functioned as well. Structure of the thesis is based on the combination of the problematic and chronological principle of presentation. Apart from the introduction, conclusions and list of literature sources, the paper consists of seven parts. The first part is devoted to the establishment and evolution of combatant organizations in Germany and Poland after World War I. The discourse is aimed at the analysis of the organizations of former soldiers, which functioned in the neighbouring countries. The analysis of their activities enabled the comparison between the combatant organizations in Germany and Poland and analogue organizations in Lithuania as well as the presentation of their differences and similarities. Thus, our choice was determined by the circumstances, which were relevant during the entire period of the modern Republic of Lithuania. Germany and Poland were the neighbours of Lithuania, which had territorial claims to Lithuania. The organizations of former soldiers in Lithuania did not maintain contacts with the combatants of those countries. The position was especially categorical in terms of Poland the combatants of Lithuania ignored the international events, which were attended by the Polish members. The attitude towards German combatant organizations was slightly more tolerant. The pioneer organization of former soldiers in Germany originated as far back as the late 18 th century. Three most numerous combatant organizations, which were founded 8

9 after World War I, are analysed in the thesis: The Kyffhäuser League (Kyffhäuserbund), The Steel Helmet the League of Frontline Soldiers (Stahelm Bun der Frontsaldaten) and the Young German Order (Jungdeutscher Orden). Their activities are analysed in separate stages taking into account the political situation in Germany at that time: , and The organizations of former soldiers in Germany did not become the primary factor of political life of the Weimar Republic. However, their contribution to the development of the oppositional public opinion cannot be disregarded. Through reckless criticism of reality they raised the idea of the Great Germany. By promoting public discontent, combatants undermined a highly vulnerable republic and created the foundations for the development of the NSDAP dictatorship. Their greatest achievement was that the combatant organizations saw Hitler s party as the political rise of youth movement the new generation. The first Polish organizations established in the former Polish territories Galicia and Lviv in the 1870s. The first organizations of former soldiers of the Polish armed forces were founded in 1920 following the fights for independence and borders. The most numerous organizations from 1920 to 1926 were the Organization of War Invalids (Inwalidów Wojskowych), the Union of Polish Reserve Officers (Oficerów Rezerwy RP), The Haller Army (Hallerczyków), The Dowbor Army (Dowborcyków) and the Organization of Polish Legionaries (Legionistów Polskich). Following the May Coup d'état, the organizations started consolidating. In 1927 the Legion of the Republic of Poland (Legion Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej) was founded, which united 300 thousand members. The Federation of the Defenders of Poland (Federacija Polskich Związkow Obrońców Ojczyzny (FPZOO) was established the same year. In 1934 the federation united 34 organizations. The activities of the organizations of former Polish soldiers during the period from 1918 to 1939 were aimed at the unity and integration in the major areas of life. The majority of the former soldiers maintained close contacts with governmental authorities, whereas the government used them as a platform for the promotion of different political and ideological concepts. Despite various achievements of organizations of former soldiers, it was a poorly organized and divided movement torn by the ambitions of its leaders, affected by the intrigues of the management elite and lacking the structure characteristic of parties. Thus, it could not become the primary decisive factor in the existing political system. 9

10 The second part of the thesis attempts to analyse the legal basis of the organizations of former soldiers: general legal acts, laws governing the activities of organizations and the statutes of organizations. The activities of organizations of former soldiers in the Republic of Lithuania were regulated by legal acts: first and foremost, the Constitution of Lithuania, second laws regulating the activities of associations and unions, third any other laws binding each and every citizen of the country and fourth internal statutes of organizations. Special attention is paid to those legal acts, which directly affected the activities of organizations. The thesis presents the analysis of the statutes of each organization and their development, which was directly related to the development of the legal framework of the country. The right to gather into associations was enshrined in the underlying principles of the Provisional Constitution of Lithuania as far back as 4 April 1919, whereas clause 17 of chapter II Citizens of Lithuania and their Rights of the Constitution of Lithuania adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 1 September 1922 stated: The citizens are vested with the freedom of joining into associations and unions if their goals and enforcement measures comply with penal laws. The Constitution of 1928 repeated the same formula, whereas article 25 of chapter III of the Constitution of 1938 defining the rights and duties of citizens cited as follows: The state shall protect the freedom of the public life of its citizens, especially in the press, associations and meetings, taking precautions against any occurrences, which would be harmful to the State. Activities of associations were regulated by a separate law on associations adopted on 10 October 1919 and a newly adopted law on 1 February According to the law of 1919, The association (union, party, etc) means the union of several persons having a clear goal of a joint activity and working altogether for that goal pursuant to certain statutes. All associations and their statutes were registered in the Ministry of the Interior. The organizations of former soldiers were attributed to associations defined by the law. A new law on associations adopted on 1 February 1936 replaced the previous law and introduced the requirement to re-register all existing associations and organizations on obligatory basis. Nevertheless, the adoption of the new law was not a final point. The entire mechanism of enforcement control was adopted, which was implemented by the Minister of the Interior, who invoked the regulations adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers. 10

11 The second section of this part presents the analysis and comparison of the statutes of the organizations of former soldiers, which were established from 1923 to The third section discusses the amendments to the statutes of organizations made pursuant to the Law on Associations adopted on 1 February 1936 and presents a comprehensive analysis of the statutes of the Union of Military Achievers founded in The third part of the thesis is devoted to pioneer organizations of former soldiers and their activities in Lithuania after the election of the Seimas for the term of office of Following the European example, the war-invalids were the first in Lithuania to unite to combatant organizations in 1923: the Fellowship of the Lithuanian War-Invalids Vyčiai and the Union of War Invalids of Lithuania. The Provisional Committee for the Support of Invalids, which commenced its activities in 1921, laid the foundations for the establishment of these organizations. Beside the honourable goal to defend the homeland by every possible effort, the war invalids tried to increase the number of their members, to guarantee at least minimal well-being of their members and to defend their rights by developing the legal framework call for the amendment to the Law on Pensions for the Victims and the Disabled Soldiers and Their Families. The law did not include any provisions on the invalids of World War I, who were represented by the Union of the Invalids of Lithuania. The law in favour of them was adopted in 1930 only. The Union of Reserve Officers, which was founded in 1924, attempted to unite reserve officers to a common family, to defend their rights, to maintain their good standing and to take care of economic, cultural and military matters of its members. They did not raise the goal to defend the country. The first stage of the activities of the Union of Reserve Officers is rather obscure. The union was not politically active and strived for the economic benefits of its members only. The Union of the Lithuanian Army Volunteers, which was founded in 1926, raised totally different goals. It could unite as many as 10 thousand members. Such force did not remain behind the scope of attention of the organisers of the coup d'état of December 17 th. The volunteers served as the main power-base of the Christian Democrats and the Nationalists. The Union of the Lithuanian Army Volunteers was the sole organization, the process of establishment of which was widely covered in the press and provoked numerous discussions. The constituent assemblies took place in as many as three locations on 9 September. The assembly of the members of organizational committees 11

12 of 7 November was attended by the delegates of 14 branch offices. They elected the Organizational Board for the organization of the congress of the Volunteers, which took place on 8-9 January The fourth part attempts to analyse the activities of the organizations of former soldiers during the period from 1927 to 1935 and their role in the enforcement of authoritarian regime. The period after the coup d'état was a hard time for Lithuania as well as combatant organizations. The Fellowship of the Lithuanian War Invalids Vyčiai, which celebrated its 10 th anniversary in 1933, did not prove to be very active since due to his political views its chairman J. Karutis did not get along with the governmental authorities very well. Another organization of war invalids was far more successful; however, both organizations encountered the shortage of financial resources and positive attitude towards them. They had to strive for the amendment to the Law on Pensions of Military Officers, which fell short of their expectations. A new political situation did not bring any changes to the Union of Reserve Officers as well. Its activities were still trivial and politically passive. To improve the situation, it was decided to open branch offices in lager towns. The passive character of the Union of Reserve Officers forced student reservists unite into Ramov (Lith. peaceful place) of Student Reservists of Vytautas Magnus University in This association, which soon became the Corporation of the Student Reservists of Vytautas Magnus University Ramov, manifested as the prophet of national ideology. In 1935 the Corporation of the Student Reservists of Vytautas Magnus University Ramov showed its initiative in implementing the key goal of its propaganda social work, which would contribute to the military awareness of the nation. By the initiative of the Corporation, the members of Ramov initiated the celebration of the day of civil and military convergence on the third weekend of May in commemoration of the first oath of the Volunteers on 11 May That should have raised the public awareness of the origins and continuity of the armed forces, which should be taken over by the young generation. The Union of the Lithuanian Army Volunteers took an active position in terms of political changes in the country. A number of soldiers of the union joined the new sport union of The Iron Wolf (Lith. Geležinis vilkas), which in the beginning was a secret organisation. Participation in this union had a long-term negative impact on the Union 12

13 of the Volunteers and its individual members until the very Soviet occupation and afterwards. During that period, LKKSS continued to solve important economic issues related to volunteers and immediately reacted and expressed its opinion towards topical political issues of the country: the pogrom of Jews in Vilnius in 1931, the lawsuit of Neumann and Sass, the putsch of officers on 7 June Two organizations took a more prominent role in the society during this period: the Union of Volunteers and the Corporation Ramov. LKKSS did not express very deep loyalty in respect of the governmental position and took a much more democratic approach in its activities, whereas Ramov was a true trumpet of the authoritarian regime of Antanas Smetona and the armed forces. The first and sole organisation, which united its members on the basis of nationality, i.e. the Union of the Jewish Soldiers of the Fights for Independent Lithuania, was established in Its establishment was triggered by the political situation in Europe at that time: Hitler s rise to power in Germany. Though the establishment of the union was attempted as far back as 1927, the organization of Jewish soldiers tried to draw all the Jewish soldiers together, develop the affection towards the native land and fortify the foundations of the state among the members of the organization and the entire Jewish community. The fifth part discusses the changes in the activities of combatant organizations after re-registration. In 1936 all the existing unions and associations had to be reregistered. As a result of the order of the Ministry of the Interior, a number of organizations, whose activities violated the political views of the Nationalists, were closed down. Each organization of former soldiers was re-registered by making certain amendments to their statutes. Individual branch offices were not re-registered but closed down due to various reasons. Two organizations changed their names: the Fellowship of the Lithuanian War Invalids Vyčiai became the Association of the War Invalids in the Fights for Independence of Lithuania, whereas the Union of Reserve Officers became the Union of Reserve Officers of Lithuania. Following the re-registration, combatant organizations started a new stage of activities, which was impeded by strict legal regulations. Until the very 1938 they neither organized nor took part in any political disobedience campaigns. That was a comparatively peaceful period in their activities. It corresponded to the political situation of that time, when the authoritarian regime of 13

14 Antanas Smetona reached its peak. The allegiance of the organizations of former soldiers to the government reflected in their activities as well. Members of the Nationalists or their followers were elected chairmen of organizations. Several combatant organizations the Union of War Invalids and the Union of Volunteer Founders participated in international activities. They took part in the meetings and activities of the International Union of Former Combatants (CIAMC) and the International Federation of Veterans of the Allied Countries (FIDAC). The period between 1938 and 1940 was marked by a remarkable involvement and extraordinary activities of the organizations of former soldiers in defending the independence of Lithuania. The ultimatum of Poland of 1938 promoted a more active reaction of the former soldiers. The Union of Volunteers was particularly dissatisfied with the act of Poland and drew-up a memorandum, which was to be delivered to the President. Following the discussion, the Volunteers signed the declaration approving the decision of the government, which was published in press, and the memorandum remained undelivered to the President. Five years after the first application concerning the permission to call the congress, the Union of Volunteers was permitted to call the Volunteer Congress in 1938, which was also supported by the grant of 20 thousand litas. The congress was attended by 6.5 thousand Volunteer Founders. LKKSS expressed its position after the incorporation of the Klaip da Region. By the initiative of the Volunteers, on 1 April 1939, active part of the society was called into the meeting concerning the establishment of the Patriotic Front, which was attended by 24 members of different oppositional movements and the Nationalists. The branch offices of the Union of Volunteers should serve as its main initiators. The government saw the threat in the idea of establishing a single front, according to which all the parties should be eliminated, therefore, the idea was suppressed. The Corporation Ramov remained faithful to its own views during that period as well. It supported any initiatives that contributed to the enhancement of the governmental authority. They took an active part in the activities of the Weaponry Fund and the Union for the Support of the Armed Forces; they organized different publicity events and campaigns. The re-registration did not make the Union of Jewish Soldiers change the direction of its activities. The maintenance of good relations with the members of the government 14

15 and attention to the well-being of its members remained its priorities. However, the union raised an important issue of establishing the Jewish community in Kaunas. To solve the problems of its community, the Union actively participated in the national holidays and events. They had been collecting donations for the Weaponry Fund for a number of years and were not indifferent towards the events of in Lithuania. The seventh combatant organization the Union of Military Achievers was established in the final stage of activities of the organizations of former soldiers in It united the members of military and national movement of the Russian army during The idea to establish the organization rose in the commemoration event of the 20 th anniversary of the movement. The Organisational Committee was elected, which distributed membership forms willing to find out how many potential members could join the organization. A number of high-ranking officers took part in its activities, thus, the medal was introduced and its statute was successfully adopted. By the achievements of its members the organization competed with the Volunteer Founders, though part of the Achievers were actually the Volunteer Founders. A conflict emerged due to the status of the medals of the Volunteer Founders and the Achievers which medal should be considered number-one. On 4 May 1940, the Statute of the Medal of the Achievers was adopted and the privileges for Achievers were approved. At the same time, amendments to the Statute of the Volunteer Founders of the Lithuanian Army were adopted. Both statutes provided for certain privileges to the holders of the medal. The Volunteers had been waiting for them for 13 years, whereas the Achievers got them in 2 years. The sixth part is devoted to the analysis of the press of the organizations of former soldiers: onetime and periodical publications. Five Lithuanian combatant organizations had their publications. Their periodicity was different: one periodical paper and one periodical supplement to the paper of another organization, one periodical annual magazine and one-time publications and books. The Union of War Invalids of Lithuania published the annual magazine Lietuvos karo invalidas ( ). The Fellowship of the Lithuanian War Invalids Vyčiai (the Association of War Invalids in the Fights for Independence of Lithuania) published one-time publications: Vyties ženklas , No. 1, Vyties ženklas , No. 2, Vyčio ženklas 16 February 1935, No. 3 and Vyčio ženklas The book 15

16 Savanoris by the Central Board of the Union of the Volunteer Founders of the Lithuanian Army was published in On the occasion of the 5 th anniversary of the LKKSS, a one-time publication Savanoris kūr jas was published in 1932, which was followed by the anniversary publication Savanoriai kūr jai in 1938 devoted to the Congress of Volunteers. From 1934 to 1935 this organization published a periodical supplement Savanoris kūr jas, later known as Savanoris , to the weekly paper T vų žem ( ) of the Association of National Revival. The Union of the Jewish Soldiers of the Fights for Independent Lithuania published a periodical weekly paper Apžvalga ( ) in the Lithuanian language. In 1934 the Kaunas branch of the Jewish union (ŽKDLNAS) published a one-time bilingual publication almanac Skydas. The texts were printed in two languages: Lithuanian and Yiddish. Three organizations of former soldiers LKAKS, the Corporation of Student Reservists of Vytautas Magnus University Ramov and the Union of Military Achievers did not publish any newspapers or other publications. It should be mentioned that the Kaunas branch of LKAKS published a bulletin in 1938, which provided information on the branch office and its activities 1. According to the information in Kardas, 4 publications of that bulletin had already been published by 2 April However, it was not possible to locate those publications. Thus, we can suppose that it was published for the needs of the union and in small circulation only. The treasurer of the Kaunas branch Colonel Romualdas Burokas was its editor and regular correspondent. The information of the Corporation of the Reservists of Vytautas Magnus University Ramov was published in a semi-monthly illustrated magazine Akademikas of the corporation of the Nationalists Neo-Lithuania, which was edited by S. Povilavičius, V. Naus das, A. Valiuk nas, M. Jas nas, J. Čiuberkis, as well as in other student periodicals. The information of all the organizations of former soldiers was published and their activities were discussed in the military press: Kardas, Karys and the magazine of the Riflemen Union Trimitas. Semi-official and other papers did not include much information of this type. The autumn period of 1926 could be treated as an exception, when the newspapers of different types wrote about the establishment of the Union of the Lithuanian Army Volunteers. Other organizations of former soldiers did not receive so much attention in the press. Thus, it may be concluded that for that 1 Meeting of Reserve Officers. // Kardas, No. 3, 1 February Rom. B. Bulletin of the Union of Reserve Officers. // ibid, No. 8, 15 April

17 reason they tried to publish their own publications, magazines and newspapers, which would elaborate on the activities of organizations, remind the merits of their members to the state, raise topical issues of the current members and attract the new ones. The final seventh part covers the decisive year of 1940, which witnessed pompous congresses of combatant organizations and their liquidation a few months later. The fact of the retrieval of Vilnius and the dislocation of USSR military troops was treated differently among the Lithuanian combatant organizations. Nevertheless, they contributed to public euphoria in Vilnius by organizing pompous congresses in 1940 in Vilnius, which were attended by high-ranking governmental and military officers. That was the expression of the national solidarity. Only three organizations of former soldiers did not call their congresses that year either in Kaunas or Vilnius: The Association of War Invalids in the Fights for Independence of Lithuania, the Union of Military Achievers, which where liquidated on 31 July 1940, and the Union of War Invalids of Lithuania closed down on 20 September Pompous congresses in Vilnius were organized by LAKS, LKKSS, ŽKDLNAS (ŽKS) and the corporation Ramov. They opened their branch offices in Vilnius. The following organizations were liquidated: The Union of Reserve Officers of Lithuania in the summer of 1940, the Union of the Volunteer Founders of the Lithuanian Army and the Union of the Jewish Soldiers of the Fights for Independent Lithuania on 26 August, the Corporation of Student Reservists of Kaunas Vytautas Magnus University Ramov on 29 July. 17

18 CONCLUSIONS 1. World War I followed by the liberation movement and independence fights in East-Central Europe created preconditions for the establishment of numerous organizations of former soldiers, which brought moral and economic benefit to their members. Combatant organizations were established in Lithuania following the European tradition, a year or two later, though. The process in other countries started straight after the fights or in the process of them. 2. The first organizations of former soldiers, which united the people of common military experience, were founded in Lithuania after the fights for independence, i.e. in Traditionally, war invalids were the first to unite into organization. Their complicated situation forced to look for support by joint effort. This process continued for nearly the entire period of the modern republic until 1937, when the Union of Military Achievers was established. During the period from 1923 to 1940 seven organizations of former soldiers pursued their activities. Combatant organizations were established by uniting the former soldiers of certain type: war-invalids, reserve officers, volunteer founders, student reservists, Jewish soldiers and military achievers, who started building Lithuanian units in the Russian army. Their major goals were to defend Lithuania, if required by circumstances; to promote patriotism not only among their members but within the entire society, to take care of commemoration of war victims as well as moral and material well-being of the members. 3. Combatant organizations functioned pursuant to the valid legal base: Constitutions, the Law on Associations as of 1919, the Law on Associations and Regulations for the Enforcement of the Law on Associations as of 1936 and the internal statutes of organizations. The established combatant organizations had to be registered in the Register of Associations; following the adoption of the Law on Associations in 1936 they had to be re-registered on compulsory basis. By this act, the government attempted to close down any parties and organizations, who were opposing the governmental policy. All existing organizations of former soldiers were re-registered with minimal losses; several branch offices of the union of Jewish soldiers, which failed to submit information on the composition of their management bodies, were closed down. 18

19 4. The role of the state in the establishment of combatant organizations was trivial. They were founded on their own initiative and had to pursue their activities following the applicable laws and their internal statutes. Very few organizations were granted any support from the state, irrespective of moral support and praise during various events. Organizations had to strive for social guarantees, draft laws and seek for benefits at their own effort. The organizations of war-invalids, which submitted a few proposals to the parliament concerning the amendment to the Law on Pensions of Military Officers and adoption of the Law on Pensions of the Invalids of World War I, proved to be most active in this area. Despite the opposition of the Ministry of National Defence, the law was adopted in Not very numerous in their members, the organizations of war-invalids and reserve officers, which were founded during the parliamentarian period, declared apolitical views in their statutes; nevertheless, they openly declared their good will and support in respect of one or the other party. On their part, parties tried to conciliate with organizations or used to declare their support in the manner of phrase-mongering. The Union of Volunteers of the Lithuanian Army, which commenced its establishment processes during the last moments of existence of the parliamentarian rule in the autumn of 1926, received extraordinary attention of the parties. Both the right and left parties competed for the support since the organization could involve over 10 thousand members. The would-be members of this organization participated in the plotting of the coup d'état on December 17 th. 6. Following the coup d'état of December 17 th, the combatant organizations became more politically biased in terms of the Nationalists and supported the authoritarian regime of Antanas Smetona.The first president was a great authority to former soldiers. Public discontent started only after the dismissal of Prime Minister Augustinas Voldemaras, who was a popular figure among combatants. Part of the former soldiers were members of the Iron Wolf organization, later became the supporters of Voldemaras, whereas others sympathized with the Christian Democrats. The majority of Voldemaras supporters were members of the Union of Volunteer Founders of the Lithuanian Army and the Union of War Invalids. A number of their members were convicted and imprisoned or deported. 19

20 7. The most numerous and influential organization of former soldiers was the Union of Volunteer Founders of the Lithuanian Army. It made most remarkable impact on the processes of the country; besides, the attention of the government to its members and activities was also exclusive. That was a large patriotic group of persons always determined to join a life-and-death fight for the independence of Lithuania. The organization never doubted to express its opinion on every important issue of internal or foreign policy of the country in the resolutions and declarations submitted in the congresses of its members, even if that opinion did not always coincide with the official position of the government. Members of the union were always ready to defend the country in the battle field, actively contributed to the activities of the Weaponry Fund and tried to draw together all the patriotic forces in the establishment of the Patriotic Front for the Defence of the Country in The idea of the Patriotic Front was actively supported by the students of Lithuania, who organized rallies and were the first to establish the branch of the front in Vytautas Magnus University. 8. The organizations uniting reserve officers proved to be exceptionally loyal to the government. The Corporation of Student Reservists of Kaunas Vytautas Magnus University Ramov supported and promoted the ideology of the Nationalists unconditionally and with youthful spirit. It was not only active in the Students Representation, its activities and among the students of the Nationalist-oriented university corporations, but in organizing various ideological events aimed at the support of the military forces and the governmental policy. As opposed to students, the other organization of reserve officers the Union of Reserve Officers did not prove to be very active and was always criticized by the members for its passiveness. Usually, they tried not to involve in politics and did not express their opinion even on the key issues of interior and foreign policy. They restricted their activities to the satisfaction of the social needs of its members. 9. The Union of the Jewish Soldiers of the Fights for Independent Lithuania was the sole organization based on the national belonging. Its establishment in 1933 was connected to Hitler s rise to power, thus, the organization sought to defend the rights of Jews in Lithuania by supporting the governmental policy and establishing closer relations between Lithuanians and Jews as well as seeking to establish a united Jewish community in Lithuania. The community of the Lithuanian Jews was not established 20

21 due to the inability of the Jews to agree among themselves; thus, one of the key goals of the Union of Jewish Soldiers was not implemented. Thanks to this organization, the relations between Lithuanians and Jews were improved by publishing the only Jewish paper in Lithuanian Apžvalga, supporting the Weaponry Fund by generous amounts and the governmental policy as well as defending the members of the organization and the interests of the entire Jewish national minority. 10. The Union of Military Achievers united the soldiers in the Lithuanian units of the foreign Russian army. Due to this reason, their activities involved active service and reserve officers. Other organizations involved only reserve officers. Due to its high ranking military and governmental members, this organization managed to adopt the flag and the Achiever s medal, which was meant to be awarded to all members of the union. A number of disputes rose in the Seimas between the Volunteers and the Achievers due to the adoption of the medal, who argued about what happened earlier and whose merits were more important. 11. The organizations of former soldiers did not play a primary political role in the country; nevertheless, their members were highly respected in the society for their merits in the fights for independence. Their opinion on important issues in Lithuania was regarded; on certain occasions, they were asked to support and approve the policy or decisions adopted by the government. They had a great moral authority in the society; however, a poor material base undermined active and full-fledged involvement and participation in international organizations. Nevertheless, links with European combatant organizations were established. 12. The attention of the government to the organizations of former soldiers manifested in the participation in their congresses and festive events as well as in the expression of high esteem for their merits in the fights for independence and the promotion of the governmental policy. However, combatant organizations did not receive actual material support. They pursued their activities at their own expense and efforts. Most prosperous among the organizations of former soldiers were the Union of War Invalids of Lithuania and the Union of the Volunteer Founders of the Lithuanian Army, which had real estate and resources in bank accounts. 13. Four out of seven organizations of former soldiers published their periodical and one-time publications. The Union of Jewish Soldiers was the only to publish a 21

22 weekly paper Apžvalga. Organizations of war-invalids published annual magazines or individual commemorative publications only. The Union of Volunteer Founders of the Lithuanian Army was the only to publish two-volume memoirs of volunteers Savanorių žygiai ( The Volunteer Campaigns ) and several one-time publications. The press of former soldiers was not widely known; it was mostly distributed among the members of organizations. All the publications were published at the expense of organizations themselves. 14. The expectations of the organizations of former soldiers were not satisfied to the full. They did not receive as much attention from the government as expected: their social demands were not met; they were not granted priority rights in employment; the respect and attention of public officials were lacking and, what is most important, their members were not awarded the opportunity to implement their expressed or implied wish and determination to defend their native land, if needed, since political authorities of the country failed to provide this chance. 15. The evaluation of the activities of organizations of former soldiers is a complex issue since they were not liquidated by their own initiative but closed down by occupational government. This circumstance prevents a thorough understanding of evolution of combatant organizations until the moment of their natural closedown, when the members withdraw from organizations upon their free will. 22

23 Buvusių karių organizacijos ir jų vaidmuo Lietuvos vidaus politikoje m. Santrauka Disertacijos tyrimo objektu pasirinkome iki šiol dar atskirai kompleksiškai nenagrin tas buvusių karių organizacijas ir jų veiklą modernioje Lietuvos Respublikoje metais bei jų įtaka šalies vidaus politikai. Nepriklausomoje Lietuvoje buvę karų dalyviai sudar išskirtinę visuomen s dalį. Iš kitų gyventojų tarpo juos skyr ne tik kovin patirtis ir kare patirti išgyvenimai, bet jų aktyvus dalyvavimas iškovojant Nepriklausomybę. D l tos priežasties jie buvo verti didesnio d mesio ir pagarbos. Nemažą įtaką buvusių karių jungimuisi tur jo po kelerių metų pragyventų laisvoje valstyb je at jęs suvokimas, kad daugelis jų be karinių nuopelnų daugiau nieko neturi ir yra palikti likimo valiai. Supratimas, kad jie turi patys savimi pasirūpinti, labai greitai suartino jų interesus ir vert buvusius karius visas iškylančias problemas spręsti organizuotai kartu su ginklo draugais. Per neilgą 17 metų laikotarpį Lietuvoje susikūr ir veik 7 buvusių karių organizacijos vienijusios buvusius karius pagal tam tikrą požymį: Nepriklausomyb s kovų karo invalidai Lietuvos karo invalidų Vyčių brolija (Lietuvos laisv s kovų invalidų draugija (LKID), Pirmojo pasaulinio ir Nepriklausomyb s kovų karo invalidai Lietuvos karo invalidų sąjunga (LKS), atsargos karininkai Atsargos karininkų sąjunga (Lietuvos kariuomen s atsargos karininkų sąjunga (LKAKS), savanoriai Lietuvos kariuomen s savanorių sąjunga (Lietuvos kariuomen s kūr jų savanorių sąjunga (LKKSS), atsargos karininkai studentai VDU studentų atsargos karininkų korporacija Ramov, kariai metais dalyvavę lietuvių sąjūdyje Rusijos kariuomen s sud tyje Kariuomen s pirmūnų sąjunga (KPS) ir net pagal tautybę Žydų karių, dalyvavusių Lietuvos nepriklausomyb s atvadavime, sąjunga (ŽKS). Tokių organizacijų atsiradimas Lietuvoje buvo atspindys tų procesų, kurie vyko visoje Europoje po Pirmojo pasaulinio karo. Darbo naujumas ir reikšm. Kaip jau min ta, buvusių karių organizacijų tyrimai yra nauja tema Lietuvos istoriografijoje. Visiškai nauja ir tai, kad tyrimų metu iškilusią terminijos problemą bandysime išspręsti šio darbo r muose. Nagrin jamų organizacijų narius vadinsime buvusiais kariais arba kombatnatais. Pirmą kartą lietuvių istoriografijoje trumpai pristatysime buvusių karių organizacijų kūrimosi ir veiklos Vokietijoje ir Lenkijoje bruožus. Tai leido tų šalių organizacijas palyginti su Lietuvoje 23