Characteristics of the fight with antistate propaganda in the Lithuanian army in 1927–1940

The Lithuanian Army and society in 1927–1940, as well as during the previous decade, were constantly confronted with the propaganda of hostile neighbouring countries, which sought to demoralise the citizens of a small state, to turn them against the government, to undermine their faith in independence and their determination to defend it. Poland and Germany were considered as the main initiators of aggressive anti-Lithuanian information attacks in the 1930s (1933-1935), whereas, for diplomatic reasons, official association of the Soviet Union with the Communist underground in Lithuania was avoided. Agents of hostile countries, in accordance with the instructions of the special services, usually performed destructive propaganda tasks at the locations of the Lithuanian Army units. They distributed printed agitation materials, spread demoralising rumours, incited soldiers to disobey their commanders and distrust the political power. Harmful information reached the Lithuanian Army also through external channels – press and radio stations of unfriendly countries. The Lithuanian government and the leadership of the army correctly assessed the threat caused by this phenomenon to the consolidation of citizens, and therefore, according to the possibilities available and evolving circumstances, they tried to prevent the dissemination of hostile propaganda in the army and society. Military and state security structures carried out these functions together with the assistance of separate social organisations. The Lithuanian army in the fight against the enemy’s propaganda used different measures. First of all, an attempt was made to develop a uniform and effective procedure for preventing enemy spies and agitators entering the barracks, and, if they did, to identify and detain them as soon as possible. The political credibility of young people, called up for military service, was thoroughly tested; the mood of the soldiers was observed in the units and patriotic education was arranged. A number of books published at the end of the 1930s were well prepared for the education of soldiers with a detailed analysis of the most important aspects of the propaganda. The Republic of Lithuania, in the 1930s, especially in the second half, made considerable efforts to organise its own defence and consolidate propaganda authorities. In addition, literature devoted to exposing and discrediting adverse party or ideology was published. The periodical press helped the theses set out in publications not to disappear from the information field of Lithuanian society. Making use of these measures, Lithuania in 1934–1935 tried to respond decisively to the aggressive propaganda of Nazi Germany. There were no such intense episodes in information battles with the Poles and the Communists