Lithuanian Riflemen's Union
Encyclopedia
Lithuanian Riflemen's Union or Union of Lithuanian Riflemen , also referred to as šauliai ( for rifleman) a nationalistic paramilitary
organisation with historical significance.
in 1990, the organization was recreated, but it did not regain its former popularity or influence. Current membership of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union is nearly 10,000 (in the interwar period
it was 62,000). 66% of members are Young Riflemen
(12–18 years old), 10% are Combat Riflemen (19–45 years old) and the remaining 24% are Non-combat Riflemen.
. It was natural that many state officials were members of this organisation. At the time it was multinational containing Belarusians
and Russians. The main purpose of the organization was to train citizens in a military art, and in case of military aggression, to provide trained people to the Lithuanian Armed Forces. After the Soviet Union
occupied Lithuania in 1940, the Soviets quickly dissolved the organisation, and many members were arrested and sentenced to death.
After Lithuania re-established independence in 1990, the organization was recreated, but it did not regain its former popularity or influence. A branch called Young Riflemen
(Jaunieji Šauliai) is a paramilitary organisation for children. Current membership of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union is 7,000; in the interwar period it was 61,000. 61% of its members are Young Riflemen (12–18 years old), 8% are Active Riflemen (people who formerly were in army, 18–45 years old) and the remaining 31% are Inactive Riflemen.
Members of the organization participated in the controversial Klaipėda Revolt
of 1923, when Klaipėda Region
was annexed by Lithuania. The former German area was then under control by France
, according to the Treaty of Versailles
.
The nickname šauliai might also refer to the infamous Ypatingasis būrys
during World War II
, many of whose members came from LRU. During World War II, a number of former members of this organization, dissolved and banned by the Soviets, became infamous for supporting anti-Polish actions as well as pogrom
s against the Jews. Some of its members volunteered to serve the Germans, forming a core of the infamous Ypatingasis būrys
of 40–50 men responsible – along with German police – for the Ponary massacre
where 100,000 Polish Jews and Poles
, as well as Soviet prisoners of war
were murdered.
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
organisation with historical significance.
Membership
After Lithuania re-established independenceAct of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania
The Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania or Act of March 11 was an independence declaration by the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic adopted on March 11, 1990...
in 1990, the organization was recreated, but it did not regain its former popularity or influence. Current membership of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union is nearly 10,000 (in the interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
it was 62,000). 66% of members are Young Riflemen
Young Riflemen
Young Riflemen is a patriotic youth paramilitary organization in Lithuania. There are various local units of this organization throughout the country. It accepts people from 12 to 18 years of age and is a subordinate to Lithuanian Riflemen Union with "Young Riflemen" making about 61% of the whole...
(12–18 years old), 10% are Combat Riflemen (19–45 years old) and the remaining 24% are Non-combat Riflemen.
History
The organisation was most powerful in independent Lithuania until the Soviet occupation in June 1940. Being a member was seen as prestigious, and "šaulys" was regarded as a defender of the state: when Lithuania was occupied, it conducted guerrilla warfareGuerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
. It was natural that many state officials were members of this organisation. At the time it was multinational containing Belarusians
Belarusians
Belarusians ; are an East Slavic ethnic group who populate the majority of the Republic of Belarus. Introduced to the world as a new state in the early 1990s, the Republic of Belarus brought with it the notion of a re-emerging Belarusian ethnicity, drawn upon the lines of the Old Belarusian...
and Russians. The main purpose of the organization was to train citizens in a military art, and in case of military aggression, to provide trained people to the Lithuanian Armed Forces. After the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
occupied Lithuania in 1940, the Soviets quickly dissolved the organisation, and many members were arrested and sentenced to death.
After Lithuania re-established independence in 1990, the organization was recreated, but it did not regain its former popularity or influence. A branch called Young Riflemen
Young Riflemen
Young Riflemen is a patriotic youth paramilitary organization in Lithuania. There are various local units of this organization throughout the country. It accepts people from 12 to 18 years of age and is a subordinate to Lithuanian Riflemen Union with "Young Riflemen" making about 61% of the whole...
(Jaunieji Šauliai) is a paramilitary organisation for children. Current membership of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union is 7,000; in the interwar period it was 61,000. 61% of its members are Young Riflemen (12–18 years old), 8% are Active Riflemen (people who formerly were in army, 18–45 years old) and the remaining 31% are Inactive Riflemen.
Controversy
Some members of this numerous organization were involved in controversial and criminal actions during the first half of the 20th century.Members of the organization participated in the controversial Klaipėda Revolt
Klaipeda Revolt
The Klaipėda Revolt took place in January 1923 in the Klaipėda Region . The region, located north of the Neman River, was detached from the East Prussia of the German Empire by the Treaty of Versailles and became a mandate of the League of Nations. It was placed under provisional French...
of 1923, when Klaipėda Region
Klaipėda Region
The Klaipėda Region or Memel Territory was defined by the Treaty of Versailles in 1920 when it was put under the administration of the Council of Ambassadors...
was annexed by Lithuania. The former German area was then under control by France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, according to the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
.
The nickname šauliai might also refer to the infamous Ypatingasis būrys
Ypatingasis burys
Ypatingasis būrys or Special SD and German Security Police Squad was a Nazi killing squad of approximately 50 men, also called the "Lithuanian equivalent of Sonderkommando", operating in the Vilnius Region...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, many of whose members came from LRU. During World War II, a number of former members of this organization, dissolved and banned by the Soviets, became infamous for supporting anti-Polish actions as well as pogrom
Pogrom
A pogrom is a form of violent riot, a mob attack directed against a minority group, and characterized by killings and destruction of their homes and properties, businesses, and religious centres...
s against the Jews. Some of its members volunteered to serve the Germans, forming a core of the infamous Ypatingasis būrys
Ypatingasis burys
Ypatingasis būrys or Special SD and German Security Police Squad was a Nazi killing squad of approximately 50 men, also called the "Lithuanian equivalent of Sonderkommando", operating in the Vilnius Region...
of 40–50 men responsible – along with German police – for the Ponary massacre
Ponary massacre
The Ponary massacre was the mass-murder of 100,000 people, mostly Polish Jews, by German SD and SS and Lithuanian Nazi collaborators Sonderkommando collaborators...
where 100,000 Polish Jews and Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
, as well as Soviet prisoners of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
were murdered.
See also
- Estonian Defence LeagueEstonian Defence LeagueThe Estonian Defence League is the name of the unified paramilitary armed forces of the Republic of Estonia. The Defence League is a paramilitary defence organization which aim is to guarantee the preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the state, the integrity of its land area and its...
- Forest BrothersForest BrothersThe Forest Brothers were Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian partisans who waged a guerrilla war against Soviet rule during the Soviet invasion and occupation of the three Baltic states during, and after, World War II...
- Lithuanian Security PoliceLithuanian Security PoliceThe Lithuanian Security Police, also referred to as Saugumas , was a Lithuanian Nazi collaborationist police force that operated from 1941 to 1944. It had a staff of approximately 400 people, 250 of them in Kaunas and around another 130 in Vilnius....
- Latvian RiflemenLatvian RiflemenThis article is about Latvian military formations in World War I and Russian Civil War. For Red Army military formations in World War II see Latvian Riflemen Soviet Divisions....