The Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union in state defense in the third decade of the 20th century : Riflemen preparation for military actions

ISSN: 2424-4716 (Online)Per pirmąjį XXIa. dešimtmetį lietuvių istoriografijoje yra įrodyta, kad pokario anti-sovietinės rezistencijos metu ženklų vaidmenį atliko šauliai. Natūralu, kad didžioji dalis jų karinių ir organizacinių gebėjimų formavosi Lietuvos šaulių sąjungos veik­los metais taikos metu, t.y. XXa. 4ajame dešimtmetyje, kai vyko intensyvus ka-riuomenės modernizavimo ir reformavimo bei Lietuvos šaulių sąjungos integracijos į valstybės gynybos sistemą procesas. Šio straipsnio(1) tikslas–išanalizuoti šaulių parengties karinėms užduotims vykdyti raidą, keliant hipotezę, kad įvairiuose mo-kymuose įgyta kovinė patirtis ne tik galėjo, bet ir turėjo būti panaudota 1944m. prasidėjusio partizaninio karo Lietuvoje metuThe article discusses a purposeful formation of military and organizational skills in the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union in the third decade of the 20th century in Lithuania. This particular period was significant for the processes of intensive army moderni-zation and reformation and the integration of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union into the state defense system. The article analyses the development of riflemen prepa-ration for the military actions. It is claimed that the experience gained in military training could be, had to be and was used during the Lithuanian guerilla war in 1944. In the second half of the third decade of the 20th century, in order to inte-grate the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union into the state defense system, the leaders of the Lithuanian army prepared plans which clearly defined the place of the riflemen in state defense. Specific tasks were formed according to which the riflemen had to guarantee the undercover of mobilization; to resist the enemy in case of war by con-structing barriers or destroying objects of engineering; to work as scouts; to initiate partisan activity in the rear of the enemy. The creation, administration and realization of the plans were trusted for the headquarters of army divisions and the Riflemen’s Union, which successfully implemented the tasks despite certain problems. In case of the critical circumstances, the members of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union had to be able to gather and unite reliable people from the local communities to fight for the Lithuanian freedom. Therefore, riflemen training had to help them to acquire leading skills and knowledge of partisan war. The preparation of riflemen was in accord with the plans of the army leadership; the content of riflemen training was often revised and updated. In the third decade of the 20th century, the preparation of riflemen for military actions involved all units of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union.[...]Klaipėdos universiteto Baltijos regiono istorijos ir archeologijos instituta