Rifleman‘s sign on the uniform: the members of Lithuanian Riflemen‘s Union in the Lithuanian partisan war (1944–1953)

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Lietuvos armija; Lietuvos kariuomenė; Lietuvos partizanų spauda; Lietuvos partizanų uniformą; Lietuvos šaulių sąjunga; Partizaninis karas Lietuvoje; Partizanų karas; Partizanų spauda; Partizanų uniforma; Guerrilla war in Lithuania; Lithuanian Riflemen Union; Lithuanian Riflemen's Union; Lithuanian army; Lithuanian partisans' press; Lithuanian partisans' uniform; Partisan war; Partisan's press; Partisan's uniform.

ENThe article analyses the riflemen symbolism used in partisan uniforms. The aim is to identify the reasons and discuss the development of the use of riflemen symbols in partisan uniforms and in partisan press. The research has shown that the membership of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union was reflected to a certain extent in the uniforms (or their elements) of different partisan units. This is mostly visible in the uniform patches of different partisan districts which were similar to the sign of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union. It is assumed that in 1949, the newly created unified partisan rank system borrowed ideas from the rank system used by the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union in the third decade of the 20th century. This could be influenced by the fact that a certain part of high and low rank partisan leaders had been the members of the former Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union. These assumptions show an indirect link between the riflemen of interwar period and post-war partisans. A certain part of the symbolism used by the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union during the interwar period was transferred to partisan publications. This helped to form and reflect the partisan identity as well as to show the continuation of the relation with the former organization. Despite the fact that the partisans identified themselves with the successors of the army of the Lithuanian Republic who fought for the independence of the state, the uniform and its insignia (patches, cockades, and rank signs) as well as partisan publications show a direct connection with the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union which existed until the summer of 1940 and which became an integral part of the army since 1935 as a result of the conducted military reforms, modernization and restructuring. [From the publication]