German military masonic lodges in Lithuania in 1916-1918

Straipsnyje trumpai apžvelgiamos vokiečių masonų karinės ložės, aptariamos jų ištakos, raida bei šios humanistinius principus puoselėjusios brolijos požiūris į karą. Konkrečiau analizuojamos dvi 1916–1918 m. šiandieninės Lietuvos teritorijoje veikusios karinės ložės „Vokiečių sargyba prie Nemuno“ (Deutsche Wacht an der Memel) ir „Vilnius liepsnojančiam kalavijui“ (Wilna zum Flammenden Schwert). Tyrimo tikslas – pateikti šiek tiek daugiau informacijos apie šias labai menkai žinomas masonų ordino šakas bei joms priklausiusius narius.The article offers a brief overview of German military Masonic lodges, their origin, evolution, and the attitude towards the war of the fraternity, which was known to foster humanistic principles. Two military lodges, the German Guard on the River Nemunas (Deutsche Wacht an der Memel), and Vilnius for the Flaming Sword (Wilna zum Flammenden Schwert), which operated in present-day Lithuania from 1916 to 1918, are subjected to a detailed analysis. As can be seen from the preserved and rather fragmentary information, the influence of the Freemasons in the Oberost was most tangible in 1916. This was mainly due to the high positions held by some of the members in the occupying administration. The most influential included General Adalbert Wegner, the governor of Vilnius and the grand master of the Prussian Grand Lodge “The Three Globes”, and Walther Pusch, the burgermeister of Kaunas. Wegner’s early death prevented the spread of wider Masonic activities across Lithuania and to some extent implementation of more lax forms of governance as regards the local population, as it was in the case of W. Pusch, whose good relations with the locals amid the occupation was a rare exception. In general, at the end of 1915 and the beginning of 1916, there were signs that the influential Masonic brotherhood, who cherished humanistic ideals, were leaning towards a more liberal administration of the occupied territories, which went against the strict policies of the military administration under Erich Ludendorff. However, the removal of most Masons from higher positions, and the restriction of their activities, suggests that the German Freemasons placed obedience to their military superiors and the Fatherland higher than the Masonic humanism, and mostly confined themselves to rituals, general assemblies and leisure activities