Lithuanian Youth Group Uniforms

Figure 1.--Here we see what looks like a Lithuanian family in the 1930s. Lithuania won its independence after two centuries of Tsarist rule following World War I (1918). All three of the Baltic republics had to fight off the Bolshevik Red Army trying to keep parts of the Tsarist Empire from obtaining independence. The Finns, Blys and Poles suceeded. The Ukranians failed. These men probably fought in the independence war. Notice the boys wearing their Scout unifirms. The two girls, however, are not Guides.

We do not yet have much information about the Lithuanian youth movement. Until World War I, Lithuamia was part of the Russian Empire. After the War Lithuania along with the other Baltic states achieved its independence. We know that there was an active Scout movement. We do note a Jewish Scout patrol in 1927 before World war II. We do not know if any other youth movements were popular in Lithuania during the inter-War era. The NAZI-Soviet Non-Agression Pact divided Eastern Europe into zones of infuence (1939). There was some disagreement over Lithuania. The NAZIs seized Memel even before sugning the Non-Agression Pact and invading Poland (1939). The Soviets after the beginning of World war II incorporated Lithuania as a Soviet Reoublic (1940). The Soviets supressed Scouting. Soon afterward the NAZIs invaded and occupied the country (1941). I do not think the NAZI authorities launched a Lithuanian youth movement, but have few details at this time. The Soviets after reoccupying the country (1944) founded the Young Pioneer movement. This was a Soviet youth movement and not a specifically Lithuanian movement. Many Russians moved to Lithuania during the Soviet era. As in the rest of the Sovier Union, the Young Pioneeer movement disappeared after the disolution of the Soviet Union and the ending of government support and subsidies. The Scoting movement after Lithuania achieved its independence has been revived.

Boy Scouts

We do not yet have much information about the Lithuanian youth movement. Until World War I, Lithuamia was part of the Russian Empire. Scout units were organized in the Tsarist Empire before World War I. ` After the War Lithuania along with the other Baltic states achieved its independence. We know that there was an active Scout movement in independent Lithuania. We do note a Jewish Scout patrol in 1927 before World war II.

Other Groups

We do not know if any other youth movements were popular in Lithuania during the inter-War era.

World War II

The NAZI-Soviet Non-Agression Pact divided Eastern Europe into zones of infuence (1939). There was some disagreement over Lithuania. The NAZIs seized Memel even before signing the Non-Agression Pact and invading Poland (1939). The Soviets after the beginning of World war II incorporated Lithuania as a Soviet Republic (1940). The Soviets supressed the Scouting movement. Soon afterward the NAZIs invaded and occupied the country (1941). I do not think the NAZI authorities launched a Lithuanian youth movement, but have few details at this time. The Germans viewed the Baltics differently than the other northern European countries they occupied. The Lithuanins in particular were targeted for extermination and removal (primarily meaning exterminattion under Generalplan Ost. Except for the Jews and Latgalians, this was the highest level of extermination that the NAZIs planned in the East. Thus it is undertandable why there was no interested in founding a youth movement.

Young Pioneers

The Soviets after reoccupying the country (1944) founded the Young Pioneer movement. This was the Soviet national youth movement and not a specifically Lithuanian movement. Many Russians moved to Lithuania during the Soviet era. The Young Pioneers were organized on a republic basis, but the ethnic Lituanian and Rusian children were mixed in the mocement. As in the rest of the Soviet Union, the Young Pioneeer movement disappeared after the disolution of the Soviet Union and the ending of government support and subsidies.

Revived Scouting Movement

The Scoting movement after Lithuania achieved its independence has been revived.