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On the Threshold of the Holocaust: Anti-Jewish Riots and Pogroms In
Geschichte - Erinnerung – Politik 11 11 Geschichte - Erinnerung – Politik 11 Tomasz Szarota Tomasz Szarota Tomasz Szarota Szarota Tomasz On the Threshold of the Holocaust In the early months of the German occu- volume describes various characters On the Threshold pation during WWII, many of Europe’s and their stories, revealing some striking major cities witnessed anti-Jewish riots, similarities and telling differences, while anti-Semitic incidents, and even pogroms raising tantalising questions. of the Holocaust carried out by the local population. Who took part in these excesses, and what was their attitude towards the Germans? The Author Anti-Jewish Riots and Pogroms Were they guided or spontaneous? What Tomasz Szarota is Professor at the Insti- part did the Germans play in these events tute of History of the Polish Academy in Occupied Europe and how did they manipulate them for of Sciences and serves on the Advisory their own benefit? Delving into the source Board of the Museum of the Second Warsaw – Paris – The Hague – material for Warsaw, Paris, The Hague, World War in Gda´nsk. His special interest Amsterdam, Antwerp, and Kaunas, this comprises WWII, Nazi-occupied Poland, Amsterdam – Antwerp – Kaunas study is the first to take a comparative the resistance movement, and life in look at these questions. Looking closely Warsaw and other European cities under at events many would like to forget, the the German occupation. On the the Threshold of Holocaust ISBN 978-3-631-64048-7 GEP 11_264048_Szarota_AK_A5HC PLE edition new.indd 1 31.08.15 10:52 Geschichte - Erinnerung – Politik 11 11 Geschichte - Erinnerung – Politik 11 Tomasz Szarota Tomasz Szarota Tomasz Szarota Szarota Tomasz On the Threshold of the Holocaust In the early months of the German occu- volume describes various characters On the Threshold pation during WWII, many of Europe’s and their stories, revealing some striking major cities witnessed anti-Jewish riots, similarities and telling differences, while anti-Semitic incidents, and even pogroms raising tantalising questions. -
Gidas EN.Pdf
MAP OF THE LEFT AND RIGHT BANKS OF NEMUNAS 1 Kaunas Cathedral 8 Gelgaudiškis 2 Kaunas Vytautas Magnus Church 9 Kiduliai 3 Raudondvaris 10 Kulautuva 4 Kačerginė 11 Paštuva 5 Zapyškis 12 Vilkija 6 Ilguva 14 Seredžius 7 Plokščiai 15 Veliuona 1 2 3 THE ROAD OF THE SAMOGITIAN BAPTISM A GUIDE FOR PILGRIMS AND TRAVELERS LITHUANIAN CATHOLIC AcADEMY OF SCIENCE, 2013 4 5 UDK 23/28(474.5)(091)(036) CONTENTS Ro-01 Funded by the State according Presenting Guide to the Pilgrimage of the Baptism to the Programme for Commemoration of the Baptism of Samogitia of Samogitia to the Hearts and Hands of Dear and the Founding of the Samogitian Diocese 2009-2017 Readers Foreword by the Bishop of Telšiai 7 The project is partly funded Kaunas Cathedral 15 by THE FOUNDATION FOR THE SUPPORT OF CULTURE Kaunas Vytautas Magnus Church 20 Raudondvaris 23 Kačerginė 27 Zapyškis 30 Texts by mons. RImantas Gudlinkis and Vladas LIePUoNIUS Ilguva 33 Project manager and Special editor Vytautas Ališauskas Plokščiai 36 Assistant editor GIeDRė oLSeVIčIūTė Gelgaudiškis 39 Translator JUSTINAS ŠULIoKAS Kiduliai 42 editor GABRIeLė GAILIūTė Kulautuva 45 Layout by VIoLeta BoSKAITė Paštuva 47 Photographs by Vytautas RAzmA, KeRNIUS PAULIUKoNIS, Vilkija 50 TOMAS PILIPONIS, Arrest Site of Priest Antanas Mackevičius 52 also by ARūNAS BaltėNAS (p. 119), VIoLeTA BoSKAITė (front cover, Seredžius 54 p. – 105, 109 top, 112 top, 113 bottom, 114, 125, 128, 129, 130, 133 bottom, 134 top, 141), Klaudijus Driskius (p. 85 bottom), Veliuona 57 PAULIUS SPūDyS (p. 48 bottom), AntanAS ŠNeIDeRIS (p. 37), Gėluva. Birutkalnis 60 SigitAS VarnAS (p. -
Bronislovas Genzelis. Politikos Laisvamanio Užrašai
2016 UDK 329.7(474.5)(091) Ge252 Knygą elektroniniu formatu išleido „Versmės“ leidyklos Elektroninių knygų rengimo centras. Vilnius, 2019-08-28 ISBN 978-609-8148-42-8 (popierinė kn.) ISBN 978-609-8148-85-5 (elektroninė kn.) © Bronislovas Genzelis, 2016 © „Versmes“ leidykla, 2016 PRATARMĖ I dalis. ĖJIMAS Gyvenimo pradmenys / 14 Kelionės po imperiją ir už jos ribų / 46 Leidybinė veikla / 53 Laikas – nesustabdomas / 74 Sąjūdžio desantas Maskvoje / 110 Sumaištis LKP / 140 Aukščiausiojoje Taryboje / 154 Po 1992 m. spalio 25 d. rinkimų / 165 Grįžimas į savo vietą / 177 II dalis. ASMENYBĖS Ištikimo Bičiulio netekus / 191 Merkio fenomenas / 200 Meilė Lukšienė išėjo amžino poilsio / 210 Antanas Karoblis / 213 Justinas Marcinkevičius / 216 Nepaveikta laiko tėkmės / 219 Marcelijus Martinaitis išėjo... / 231 Monsinjoras Alfonsas Svarinskas / 233 III dalis. PALIKIMAS Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto atkūrimo peripetijos / 240 Versijos ir tikrybė / 250 Įstatymai, teisėtumas, teisingumas ir pilietinė atsakomybė / 267 Kultūrinis paveldas ir jo problemos atkurtoje Lietuvos valstybėje / 274 Istorikai Lietuvos istorijoje / 283 POST SCRIPTUM Bronislovas Genzelis POLITIKOS LAISVAMANIO UŽRAŠAI SOVIETMETIS. SĄJŪDIS. NŪDIENA | 7 PRATARMĖ Ne kartą teko susimąstyti apie nueitą kelią, ksuoti įvykius, bandyti juos paveikti, apmąstyti, įvertinti, dalintis mintimis. Nie- kada nesvajojau apie politiko karjerą. Vaikystėje perskaitęs Mato Šalčiaus „Svečiuose pas 40 tautų“, troškau būti toks kaip jis. Šios viltys greitai subliūško. Pats kaltas. Patyriau traumą, tad profe- sionalus keliautojas būti negalėjau. Tačiau po pasaulį keliavau. Atsitiktinai vaikystėje perskaityta Platono „Sokrato apologija“ nukreipė mano gyvenimą keliu, kuriuo ir žengiau. Niekada nerašiau dienoraščių. Iki Nepriklausomybės – dėl dviejų priežasčių: pirma, nebuvau įsitikinęs, ar jie nepateks į saugumiečių rankas ir netaps įkalčiu; antra, nebuvau įsitikinęs, ar mano persona ateityje kam nors bus įdomi, todėl neksavau detalių, kada ir su kuo susitikau. -
Lithuania and the World in the 20Th C
VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF HUMANITIES DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY Kęstutis Bartkevičius Lithuania and the World in the 20th c. DIDACTICAL GUIDELINES Kaunas, 2013 Reviewed by Prof. Dr. J. Vaičenonis Approved by the Department of History of the Faculty of Humanities at Vytautas Magnus University on 30 November 2012 (Protocol No. 3–2) Recommended for printing by the Council of the Faculty of Humanities of Vytau- tas Magnus University on 28 December 2012 (Protocol No. 8–6) Translated and edited by UAB “Lingvobalt” Publication of the didactical guidelines is supported by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. Project title: “Renewal and Internationalization of Bachelor Degree Programmes in History, Ethnology, Philosophy and Political Science” (project No.: VP1-2.2-ŠMM-07-K-02-048) © Kęstutis Bartkevičius, 2013 ISBN 978-9955-21-358-1 © Vytautas Magnus University, 2013 Table of Contents Preamble . 5 Topic 1. Partisan Warfare in thePeriod of 1945–1953 . 7 Topic 2. Dissident Movement in Lithuania. 16 Topic 3. The Formation, Goals and Activity of the Reform- Movement of Lithuania . 31 Topic 4. The Genesis and Development of the Movement and the CPL in the Period of Reformation . 43 Topic 5. The Restoration and Recognition of Independence 1990–1992 . 55 The main literature and published sources used for the prep- aration of methodical material . 65 Preamble These didactical guidelines are to be used for foreign students who will study the course of ‘Lithuania in the 20th Century’ at Vytautas Magnus University. In the history of Lithuania the 20th century is very rich in politi- cal and social changes. -
The Church, the Kronika, and the KGB Web
The founder and editor of Lietuvos Katalikų Bažnyčios Kronika Rev. Sigitas Tamkevičius SJ in exile in Krivoshein, the Tomsk region. 1988. Vidas Spengla The Church, the Kronika, and the KGB web KATALIKŲ AKADEMIJA Vilnius 2002 UDK 282(474.5)(093) Sp21 Parts I and III written by Vidas Spengla Part II written by Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevičius and Bishop Jonas Boruta Translated into English by Saulius Girnius Edited by Vidas Spengla The publication of the book was supported by Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania © Algimantas Žilinskas, 2002 ISBN 9986-592-35-6 © Publishing house KATALIKŲ AKADEMIJA INTRODUCTION This book describes events which took place 10-30 years ago in the Church of the small, little known country of Lithuania. This country, which has shared the tradition of Christian faith with Europe for 600 years, lived in difficult conditions of persecution for 50 years in the twentieth century when every day anyone who treasured the faith had to be on guard and willing to fight if he wanted to preserve this faith in his heart. We clearly felt then that the stern words from the first Epistle of the Apostle Peter - “Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Pt 5, 8-9) - were not frightening rhetoric written in the spirit of old times, but the painful reality of current life. The author of the Holy Scripture addressed these words to the persecuted Christians of the first centuries, but also consoled and showed the way for Christians oppressed by the totalitarian anti-Christian dic tatorships of the XX century. -
Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania, No. 75 Lithuania Was Left with a Single Bishop, Kazimieras Paltarokas, of Panevėžys
CHRONICLE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LITHUANIA No. 75 A Translation of the Complete Lithuanian Original LIETUVOS KATALIKŲ BAŽNYČIOS KRONIKA Nr. 75 Documenting the Struggle for Human Rights In Soviet-Occupied Lithuania Today Translated by: Rev. Casimir Pugevičius Translation Editor: Marian Skabeikis Published by: Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid 351 Highland Blvd. Brooklyn NY 11207 © Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid, 1988 ISSN 0197-0348 Publication of this issue of the Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania was made possible by the generous gift of Albin Kudirka COVER: Bishop Vincentas Sladkevičius as Auxiliary to the Bishop of Kaišiadorys in 1957. From 1959 until he was permitted to return to his diocese as Apostolic Administrator, he lived under virtual house arrest. On May 30, 1988, he was designated as the first known cardinal for Lithuania in modern times. He was presented with the red hat on June 28,1988, in Rome. Printed at Franciscan Press, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. CHRONICLE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN L1THLANIA No. 75 Introduction In 1940, when the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania by force, 85.5% of the country's more than 3 million inhabitants were Roman Catholic, 4.5% Protestant, 7.3% Jewish, 2.5% Orthodox and 0.2% of other persuasions. In the two archdioceses and four dioceses were: 708 churches, 314 chapels, 37 monasteries, 85 convents, three archbishops, nine bishops, 1271 diocesan priests, 580 monks, of whom 168 were priests. Four seminaries had 470 students. There were 950 nuns. / Nuns cared for 35 kindergartens, 10 orphanages, 25 homes for the aged, two hospitals, a youth center, and an institute for the deaf-mute. -
Akademikai Kelyje Į Nepriklausomybę
Lietuvos mokslų akademijos žinios LUX ET VERITAS Informacinis leidinys 2015 m. nr. 2 (72) | Įsteigtas 1994 m. Akademikai kelyje į Nepriklausomybę Net sunku patikėti, kad Lietuva gyveno kitaip. Jau ir jaunesniems, nebrendusiems nepriklausomoje 25-erius metus Lietuvos valstybė eina laisvės keliu Lietuvoje, atkirstiems nuo demokratinio pasaulio, drauge su ES narėmis, su NATO aljanso partneriais. negavusiems ragauti tikros akademinės laisvės, Ne tik eina tuo keliu, bet ir tiesia ranką teroristinių nekalbant jau apie kitokią. pajėgų draskomai Ukrainai. Panašia tylia rezistencija buvo žavimasi nelabai Lietuvos akademinė visuomenė per tuos 25 me- garsiai. Tariamai antihitlerinė, LMA nario Vinco My- tus buvo ir yra valstybės vertybių saugotoja, kūrėja kolaičio-Putino (1893–1967) parašyta poema Vivos ir plėtotoja, nuosekliai į mokslo erdves įtraukdama plango, mortuos voco plito slaptai perrašinėjama ir jaunimą. Jas papildė ir papildo gausus būrys jaunų be autoriaus vardo. Tiesa, išvis atimti laisvę mąstyti mokslininkų. Tai nuolatinė mokslo ėjimo su gyveni- būtų neįmanoma, tačiau kita laisvė, kaip galimybė mu norma. Lietuvoje mokslų akademija (LMA) sąmo- išvengti diktato ir represijų dėl raiškos, buvo labai ningai suvokia ir nuosekliai vykdo savo akademinę ir tolima. Ar neprimindavo tos laisvės LMA vadovybei valstybinę funkciją. Nepriklausomoje Lietuvoje mes jos bibliotekos vedėjas 1945–1948 metais Juozas patikrinome savo veiklos vertybes ir jas puoselėsime Jurginis (1909–1994, akademikas nuo 1968), rašyda- toliau kuriant Lietuvos mokslo ir studijų ateitį. mas oficialiuosius raštus ant senų Lietuvos mokslų Apie tai, kad LMA sovietmečiu išliko lietuviška dėl akademijos blankų, kur perbraukdavo valstybės jos ilgamečio prezidento Juozo Matulio (1899–1993) simbolį – Vytį? griežtų asmeninių nuostatų, daugeliui žinoma ir yra Užsitęsusi tyla baigėsi, kai tik pajutome SSRS rašyta. -
VILNIUS UNIVERSITY MANTAS BRAŽIŪNAS the JOURNALISTIC FIELD in OCCUPIED LITHUANIA (1940–1944) Summary of Doctoral Dissertatio
VILNIUS UNIVERSITY MANTAS BRAŽIŪNAS THE JOURNALISTIC FIELD IN OCCUPIED LITHUANIA (1940–1944) Summary of Doctoral Dissertation Social Sciences, Communication and Information (08 S) Vilnius, 2017 The dissertation was written at Vilnius University in 2012–2016. Academic supervisor: Prof. Dr. Andrius Vaišnys (Vilnius University, Social Sciences, Communication and Information – 08 S). The dissertation is defended in the Council of Communication and Information Sciences of Vilnius University: Chairperson – Prof. Dr. Irmina Matonytė (ISM University of Management and Economics, Social Sciences, Political Sciences – 02 S). Members: Prof. Dr. Gintaras Aleknonis (Vilnius University, Social Sciences, Communication and Information – 08 S), Prof. Dr. Remigijus Misiūnas (Vilnius University, Social Sciences, Communication and Information – 08 S), Prof. Dr. Aivas Ragauskas (Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences, Humanitarian Sciences, History – 05 H), Prof. Dr. Marek Jabłonowski (University of Warsaw, Poland, Social Sciences, Communication and Information – 08 S). The dissertation will be defended in an open hearing of the Council of Communication and Information Sciences at 1 p.m. on 27 June 2017 in Press Theater hall at the Faculty of Communication in Vilnius University. Address: Saulėtekio av. 9, LT-10222, Vilnius, Lithuania. Summary of the dissertation was sent out on 26 May 2017. The dissertation is available for review at Vilnius University Library and online: www.vu.lt/lt/naujienos/ivykiu-kalendorius VILNIAUS UNIVERSITETAS MANTAS BRAŽIŪNAS ŽURNALISTIKOS LAUKAS OKUPUOTOJE LIETUVOJE (1940–1944) Daktaro disertacijos santrauka Socialiniai mokslai, komunikacija ir informacija (08 S) Vilnius, 2017 Disertacija rengta 2012–2016 metais Vilniaus universitete. Mokslinis vadovas: prof. dr. Andrius Vaišnys (Vilniaus universitetas, socialiniai mokslai, komunikacija ir informacija – 08 S). Disertacija ginama Vilniaus universiteto Komunikacijos ir informacijos mokslų krypties taryboje: Pirmininkas – prof. -
CHRONICLE of the CATHOLIC CHURCH in LITHUANIA No
CHRONICLE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LITHUANIA No. 75, November 1, 1987 American Publication August 15, 1988 CHRONICLE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LITHUANIA No. 75 A Translation of the Complete Lithuanian Original LIETUVOS KATALIKŲ BAŽNYČIOS KRONIKA Nr. 75 Documenting the Struggle for Human Rights In Soviet-Occupied Lithuania Today Translated by: Rev. Casimir Pugevičius Translation Editor: Marian Skabeikis Published by: Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid 351 Highland Blvd. Brooklyn NY 11207 © Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid, 1988 ISSN 0197-0348 Publication of this issue of the Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania was made possible by the generous gift of Albin Kudirka COVER: Bishop Vincentas Sladkevičius as Auxiliary to the Bishop of Kaišiadorys in 1957. From 1959 until he was permitted to return to his diocese as Apostolic Administrator, he lived under virtual house arrest. On May 30, 1988, he was designated as the first known cardinal for Lithuania in modern times. He was presented with the red hat on June 28,1988, in Rome. Printed at Franciscan Press, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. CHRONICLE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN L1THLANIA No. 75 Introduction In 1940, when the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania by force, 85.5% of the country's more than 3 million inhabitants were Roman Catholic, 4.5% Protestant, 7.3% Jewish, 2.5% Orthodox and 0.2% of other persuasions. In the two archdioceses and four dioceses were: 708 churches, 314 chapels, 37 monasteries, 85 convents, three archbishops, nine bishops, 1271 diocesan priests, 580 monks, of whom 168 were priests. Four seminaries had 470 students. There were 950 nuns. -
IN the CAPTIVITY of the MATRIX on the Boundary of Two Worlds: Identity, Freedom, and Moral Imagination in the Baltics 38
IN THE CAPTIVITY OF THE MATRIX On the Boundary of Two Worlds: Identity, Freedom, and Moral Imagination in the Baltics 38 Founding Editor: Leonidas Donskis, Professor and Vice-President for Research at ISM University of Management and Economics, Lithuania. Associate Editor Martyn Housden, University of Bradford, UK Editorial and Advisory Board Timo Airaksinen, University of Helsinki, Finland Egidijus Aleksandravicius, Lithuanian Emigration Institute, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania Aukse Balcytiene, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania Stefano Bianchini, University of Bologna, Forlì Campus, Italy Endre Bojtar, Institute of Literary Studies, Budapest, Hungary Ineta Dabasinskiene, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania Pietro U. Dini, University of Pisa, Italy Robert Ginsberg, Pennsylvania State University, USA Andres Kasekamp, University of Tartu, Estonia Andreas Lawaty, Nordost-Institute, Lüneburg, Germany Olli Loukola, University of Helsinki, Finland Bernard Marchadier, Institut d’études slaves, Paris, France Silviu Miloiu, Valahia University, Targoviste, Romania Valdis Muktupavels, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia Hannu Niemi, University of Helsinki, Finland Irina Novikova, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia Yves Plasseraud, Paris, France Rein Raud, Tallinn University, Estonia Alfred Erich Senn, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, and Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania André Skogström-Filler, University Paris VIII-Saint-Denis, France David Smith, University of Glasgow, UK Saulius Suziedelis, Millersville University, USA Joachim Tauber, Nordost-Institut, Lüneburg, Germany Tomas Venclova, Yale University, USA Tonu Viik, Tallinn University, Estonia In the Captivity of the Matrix Soviet Lithuanian Historiography, 1944–1985 AURIMAS ŠVEDAS Amsterdam – New York, NY 2014 Cover illustration: The Library Courtyard of Vilnius University in 1979, the 400th anniversary of the founding of the university. Photo by Vidas Naujikas. -
Vida Pukienė PRELATAS KONSTANTINAS
Vida Pukienė PRELATAS KONSTANTINAS OLŠAUSKAS: VISUOMENĖS VEIKĖJO TRAGEDIJA LIETUVOS EDUKOLOGIJOS UNIVERSITETAS istorijos Fakultetas VISUOTINĖS ISTORIJOS KATEDRA Vida Pukienė PRELATAS KONSTANTINAS OLŠAUSKAS: VISUOMENĖS VEIKĖJO TRAGEDIJA Monografija Vilnius, 2013 UDK 23/28(474.5)(092) Pu32 Leidinys apsvarstytas ir rekomenduotas išleisti kaip mokslinė monogra- fija Lietuvos edukologijos universiteto Istorijos fakulteto Visuotinės istorijos katedros posėdyje 2011 m. spalio 10 d. (protokolo nr. 5) ir Lietuvos edukolo- gijos universiteto Istorijos fakulteto tarybos posėdyje 2011 m. lapkričio 8 d. (protokolo nr. 1-01). Recenzavo: prof. dr. Aldona Gaigalaitė (Lietuvos edukologijos universitetas) prof. dr. (hp) Kęstutis Žemaitis (Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas) dr. Algimantas Katilius (Lietuvos istorijos institutas) © Vida Pukienė, 2013 © Leidykla „Edukologija“, 2013 ISBN 978-9955-20-884-6 Skiriu anūkams Dovilei, Ugnei ir Lukui TurinYS ĮVADAS . 9 1. PRATARMĖ . 23 2. KONSTANTINO OLŠAUSKO VAIKYSTĖS IR JAUNYSTĖS METAI . 30 2.1. Mokslo metai – subrendimas tautiškam katalikiškam darbui. 30 2.2. Kunigas Liepojoje, Debeikiuose ir Rozalime. 37 3. Katalikų socialinės veiklos ir lietuvių švietimo organiZatorius Kaune . 41 3.1. Darbininkų draugijų įkūrėjas . 41 3.2. Katalikų švietimo draugijos „Saulė“ vadovas . 48 3.3. Santykiai su carine valdžia . 55 3.4. K. Olšauskas ir Katalikų bažnyčios lituanizacija . .64 3.5. Politinės veiklos pradžia . 68 4. K. OLŠAUSKO VEIKLA PIRMOJO PASAULINIO KARO METAIS. .71 4.1. Darbas Lietuvių draugijoje nukentėjusiems nuo karo šelpti . .71 4.2. Lietuvių švietimo organizatorius Voroneže . 79 4.3. Bažnytinė „Lietuvių diena“ . 86 4.4. K. Olšauskas – lietuvių politinio centro užsienyje vadovas . 97 4.5. Derybos su Vokietija dėl Lietuvos nepriklausomybės. .103 4.6. Kandidatas į Vilniaus vyskupus . .126 4.7. Diplomatinis darbas Paryžiaus taikos konferencijoje. -
On the Significance of the Great War in Interwar Lithuania
Acta Baltico‑Slavica, 42 Warszawa 2018 DOI: 10.11649/abs.2018.016 Vasilijus Safronovas Institute of Baltic Region History and Archaeology, Klaipėda University Klaipėda [email protected] Who fought for national freedom? On the signifcance of the Great War in interwar Lithuania Introduction In 1938, Lithuania commemorated the twentieth anniversary of its independence. Te occasion was marked by several publications to introduce the country to readers both at home and abroad. One of them was a book published in Lithuanian (Kemežys, 1938) which focused on the achievements of the two decades: the contributors wrote about the progress that had taken place in all areas over the period, from the army and education to welfare, architecture and art. Lithuanian history did not receive any special attention. However, the chapter on the army included a rather exhaustive historical overview of the Wars of Independence, written by the professional historian and lieutenant in the reserve Antanas Vasiliauskas, who worked at the army headquarters at the time. Te very frst paragraph catches the eye: Afer the storm of the Great War quietened down, Lithuanians freed themselves from the claws of the doubleheaded eagle, and undertook to build an independent state. […] Lithuania’s sons, sacrifcing their lives on the altar of their homeland, took up arms for a crucial struggle and won. (Vasiliauskas, 1938, p. 46) Tis is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 PL License (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/pl/), which permits redistribution, commercial and non commercial, provided that the article is properly cited.