The Volunteer Union – creators of the Lithuanian army (1927–1940)

Abstract

The Volunteer Union to set up the Lithuanian army was the most numerous organization of combatants in Lithuania. It was organized on January 7–8, 1927, and in the year 1940 had around 4 thousand members and 35 departments throughout Lithuania. The aim of the Union was to protect and defend freedom and independence of the country, to raise and cherish national consciousness, to improve social welfare of its members and to take care of the eternal memory of the national heroes. The organization was active in the country’s political life. The volunteers ardently responded to the events critical for the homeland and took an active part or even acted as leaders in crucial situations. The government of that time, however, sometimes failed to respond constructively to their requests. In the year 1938 the congress of volunteers was summoned, which was expected since 1933. The number of participants was 6500 from all over Lithuania and not all of them were members of the Union. Following the Soviet occupation of 1940 the Union was dissolved. Most part of the money was transferred to the Communist Party of Lithuania. The Volunteer Union was then re-established in three places: Germany, the USA, and Lithuania (1994) and is still in force with the volunteers of 1990–1991. The author of the present article is the President of the Kaunas department of the Volunteer Union of the Lithuanian army creators.