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The article analyses the formation and functioning of the Section of Military History in the Lithuanian Army Staff in the period of 1935–1940. The significance of military history for officer training and military planning in the interwar Lithuanian Army is touched upon. The issues of the formation of the Section of History in the Lithuanian Army Staff and the composition of its personnel are disclosed. Moreover, the functions and the methods of activity of the Section and taking over the experience of the Estonian Army are discussed. The achievements of the Section of History and its intended plans are identified. The analysis of the activity of that specific Section of the Army Staff is one component of a broader research on the studies of military history in interwar Lithuania, seeking to disclose how the research on military history was conducted in interwar Lithuania and how the findings were exploited by the main user of the studies of military history – the Lithuanian Army.

Te article analyses the use of selected keywords in the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union weekly "Trimitas" in 1920–1940. Te study is based on a quantitative method of content analysis, which calculated and compared the use of different key words in "Trimitas" in the interwar period and the changes in consumption over two decades. Quantitative changes are associated with specifc political events, and individual anomalies in the frequency of keyword use are revealed through qualitative content analysis. Te study showed an even distribution of some keywords throughout the interwar period. Te four keywords can be linked to very specifc political processes and changes in relations with Germany and the Ukrainian liberation movement, and the use of keywords for internal use in some cases differed signifcantly in the 1930s and 1940s.

The article analyses the formation and functioning of the Section of Military History in the Lithuanian Army Staff in the period of 1935–1940. The significance of military history for officer training and military planning in the interwar Lithuanian Army is touched upon. The issues of the formation of the Section of History in the Lithuanian Army Staff and the composition of its personnel are disclosed. Moreover, the functions and the methods of activity of the Section and taking over the experience of the Estonian Army are discussed. The achievements of the Section of History and its intended plans are identified. The analysis of the activity of that specific Section of the Army Staff is one component of a broader research on the studies of military history in interwar Lithuania, seeking to disclose how the research on military history was conducted in interwar Lithuania and how the findings were exploited by the main user of the studies of military history – the Lithuanian Army.

Te article analyses the use of selected keywords in the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union weekly "Trimitas" in 1920–1940. Te study is based on a quantitative method of content analysis, which calculated and compared the use of different key words in "Trimitas" in the interwar period and the changes in consumption over two decades. Quantitative changes are associated with specifc political events, and individual anomalies in the frequency of keyword use are revealed through qualitative content analysis. Te study showed an even distribution of some keywords throughout the interwar period. Te four keywords can be linked to very specifc political processes and changes in relations with Germany and the Ukrainian liberation movement, and the use of keywords for internal use in some cases differed signifcantly in the 1930s and 1940s.

Te article analyses the use of selected keywords in the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union weekly "Trimitas" in 1920–1940. Te study is based on a quantitative method of content analysis, which calculated and compared the use of different key words in "Trimitas" in the interwar period and the changes in consumption over two decades. Quantitative changes are associated with specifc political events, and individual anomalies in the frequency of keyword use are revealed through qualitative content analysis. Te study showed an even distribution of some keywords throughout the interwar period. Te four keywords can be linked to very specifc political processes and changes in relations with Germany and the Ukrainian liberation movement, and the use of keywords for internal use in some cases differed signifcantly in the 1930s and 1940s.

Te article analyses the use of selected keywords in the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union weekly "Trimitas" in 1920–1940. Te study is based on a quantitative method of content analysis, which calculated and compared the use of different key words in "Trimitas" in the interwar period and the changes in consumption over two decades. Quantitative changes are associated with specifc political events, and individual anomalies in the frequency of keyword use are revealed through qualitative content analysis. Te study showed an even distribution of some keywords throughout the interwar period. Te four keywords can be linked to very specifc political processes and changes in relations with Germany and the Ukrainian liberation movement, and the use of keywords for internal use in some cases differed signifcantly in the 1930s and 1940s.

The formation of national units in the Russian army began in 1914 during the First World War. They allowedfor the creation of national formations of Poles, Czechs, Armenians, Georgians and Latvians. Afterthe February revolution of 1917, at a similar time to the Estonians and Ukrainians, Lithuanian soldiers whoserved in the Russian army also started to create units. Formed in different places, the Lithuanian unitsdid not reach the homeland in an organised manner. However, there were repeated attempts to presentthis Lithuanian military organisation in Russia after the war as the origins of the national army. Theseattempts intensified when veterans of national units started to come together in Lithuania, and in 1937they established a separate organisation, the Kariuomenės pirmūnų sąjunga [Association of Army Predecessors].It highlighted the contribution of Lithuanians to the Great War, but there was not enough timebefore 1940 to develop its activities as planned. The article reveals the reasons for and the circumstancesof the creation of Lithuanian national units, and examines how and why former soldiers from these units,who lived in Lithuania during the interwar period, joined the organisation.KEY WORDS: First World War, national units, Russian army, Lithuanian army, veterans organisations,Association of Army Predecessors.

In the 21st century - as in the first half of the 20th century - Lithuania has faced threats posed to its national security and statehood. Owing to its limited resources, the country is not essentially able to establish large regular forces; therefore, it is permanently developing its territorial defence forces. In the interwar period, their nucleus was formed by the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union, while in the 21st century it is by the National Defence Volunteer Forces. While modelling new concepts of territorial defence, it is inevitable to consider not only the practices of other countries and their military theories but also Lithuania's national experience. Of course, this is the experience of 1990-2004, but in the first part of the 20th century the idea of territorial defence was also put into practice and cultivated at the theoretical level. Another aspect is that territorial defence in practice is inextricably entwined with the tactics of guerrilla warfare and their application. Lithuania's historical experience and analysis of its territorial defence and partisan war is not only knowledge for its own sake. It may have tangible practical value since Lithuania considered, premeditated and applied these notions in practice repeatedly in the first half of the 20th century. Furthermore, the geographical location of the country and distribution of eventual sources of conflict in comparison with the interwar period have virtually not changed. In the interwar period, East Prussia, part of Germany and separated by the Polish Corridor, had been a semi-exclave up until September 1939. Similarly, it is only by sea and air that this territory is accessible at present, though now a subject of the Russian Federation as the Kaliningrad region. Due to geopolitical transformations, after World War II the 'enemy from the East' had moved geographically to Western Lithuania. There exists a similar situation on the south-eastern border of Lithuania, where a none-too-friendly interwar Poland changed to a Belarus governed by Alexander Lukashenko. Lithuania's northern border with Latvia, also a NATO member at present, remains unchanged and comparatively safe; in the interwar period, only attempts were made to discuss the idea of having mutual defence although Latvia had planned to provide some support for the Lithuanian forces in the case of a Wehrmacht attack from East Prussia to the East. So it is expedient to elaborate on what attention the Lithuanian Armed Forces in the interwar period paid to the history of war, what kind of experience of the 20th century territorial defence and partisan resistance they gained, and how this may be of value to defence experts in the 21st century.

In the 21st century - as in the first half of the 20th century - Lithuania has faced threats posed to its national security and statehood. Owing to its limited resources, the country is not essentially able to establish large regular forces; therefore, it is permanently developing its territorial defence forces. In the interwar period, their nucleus was formed by the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union, while in the 21st century it is by the National Defence Volunteer Forces. While modelling new concepts of territorial defence, it is inevitable to consider not only the practices of other countries and their military theories but also Lithuania's national experience. Of course, this is the experience of 1990-2004, but in the first part of the 20th century the idea of territorial defence was also put into practice and cultivated at the theoretical level. Another aspect is that territorial defence in practice is inextricably entwined with the tactics of guerrilla warfare and their application. Lithuania's historical experience and analysis of its territorial defence and partisan war is not only knowledge for its own sake. It may have tangible practical value since Lithuania considered, premeditated and applied these notions in practice repeatedly in the first half of the 20th century. Furthermore, the geographical location of the country and distribution of eventual sources of conflict in comparison with the interwar period have virtually not changed. In the interwar period, East Prussia, part of Germany and separated by the Polish Corridor, had been a semi-exclave up until September 1939. Similarly, it is only by sea and air that this territory is accessible at present, though now a subject of the Russian Federation as the Kaliningrad region. Due to geopolitical transformations, after World War II the 'enemy from the East' had moved geographically to Western Lithuania. There exists a similar situation on the south-eastern border of Lithuania, where a none-too-friendly interwar Poland changed to a Belarus governed by Alexander Lukashenko. Lithuania's northern border with Latvia, also a NATO member at present, remains unchanged and comparatively safe; in the interwar period, only attempts were made to discuss the idea of having mutual defence although Latvia had planned to provide some support for the Lithuanian forces in the case of a Wehrmacht attack from East Prussia to the East. So it is expedient to elaborate on what attention the Lithuanian Armed Forces in the interwar period paid to the history of war, what kind of experience of the 20th century territorial defence and partisan resistance they gained, and how this may be of value to defence experts in the 21st century.

In the 21st century - as in the first half of the 20th century - Lithuania has faced threats posed to its national security and statehood. Owing to its limited resources, the country is not essentially able to establish large regular forces; therefore, it is permanently developing its territorial defence forces. In the interwar period, their nucleus was formed by the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union, while in the 21st century it is by the National Defence Volunteer Forces. While modelling new concepts of territorial defence, it is inevitable to consider not only the practices of other countries and their military theories but also Lithuania's national experience. Of course, this is the experience of 1990-2004, but in the first part of the 20th century the idea of territorial defence was also put into practice and cultivated at the theoretical level. Another aspect is that territorial defence in practice is inextricably entwined with the tactics of guerrilla warfare and their application. Lithuania's historical experience and analysis of its territorial defence and partisan war is not only knowledge for its own sake. It may have tangible practical value since Lithuania considered, premeditated and applied these notions in practice repeatedly in the first half of the 20th century. Furthermore, the geographical location of the country and distribution of eventual sources of conflict in comparison with the interwar period have virtually not changed. In the interwar period, East Prussia, part of Germany and separated by the Polish Corridor, had been a semi-exclave up until September 1939. Similarly, it is only by sea and air that this territory is accessible at present, though now a subject of the Russian Federation as the Kaliningrad region. Due to geopolitical transformations, after World War II the 'enemy from the East' had moved geographically to Western Lithuania. There exists a similar situation on the south-eastern border of Lithuania, where a none-too-friendly interwar Poland changed to a Belarus governed by Alexander Lukashenko. Lithuania's northern border with Latvia, also a NATO member at present, remains unchanged and comparatively safe; in the interwar period, only attempts were made to discuss the idea of having mutual defence although Latvia had planned to provide some support for the Lithuanian forces in the case of a Wehrmacht attack from East Prussia to the East. So it is expedient to elaborate on what attention the Lithuanian Armed Forces in the interwar period paid to the history of war, what kind of experience of the 20th century territorial defence and partisan resistance they gained, and how this may be of value to defence experts in the 21st century.

In the 21st century - as in the first half of the 20th century - Lithuania has faced threats posed to its national security and statehood. Owing to its limited resources, the country is not essentially able to establish large regular forces; therefore, it is permanently developing its territorial defence forces. In the interwar period, their nucleus was formed by the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union, while in the 21st century it is by the National Defence Volunteer Forces. While modelling new concepts of territorial defence, it is inevitable to consider not only the practices of other countries and their military theories but also Lithuania's national experience. Of course, this is the experience of 1990-2004, but in the first part of the 20th century the idea of territorial defence was also put into practice and cultivated at the theoretical level. Another aspect is that territorial defence in practice is inextricably entwined with the tactics of guerrilla warfare and their application. Lithuania's historical experience and analysis of its territorial defence and partisan war is not only knowledge for its own sake. It may have tangible practical value since Lithuania considered, premeditated and applied these notions in practice repeatedly in the first half of the 20th century. Furthermore, the geographical location of the country and distribution of eventual sources of conflict in comparison with the interwar period have virtually not changed. In the interwar period, East Prussia, part of Germany and separated by the Polish Corridor, had been a semi-exclave up until September 1939. Similarly, it is only by sea and air that this territory is accessible at present, though now a subject of the Russian Federation as the Kaliningrad region. Due to geopolitical transformations, after World War II the 'enemy from the East' had moved geographically to Western Lithuania. There exists a similar situation on the south-eastern border of Lithuania, where a none-too-friendly interwar Poland changed to a Belarus governed by Alexander Lukashenko. Lithuania's northern border with Latvia, also a NATO member at present, remains unchanged and comparatively safe; in the interwar period, only attempts were made to discuss the idea of having mutual defence although Latvia had planned to provide some support for the Lithuanian forces in the case of a Wehrmacht attack from East Prussia to the East. So it is expedient to elaborate on what attention the Lithuanian Armed Forces in the interwar period paid to the history of war, what kind of experience of the 20th century territorial defence and partisan resistance they gained, and how this may be of value to defence experts in the 21st century.

The article presents the activities of the History Section of the Society of Military Sciences by also looking back at the predecessor of this organization – short-lived Society of the Founders of Military Sciences and some fragmentary information about its functioning. It addresses the activities of the individuals who initiated the research in military history during the interwar period under the umbrella of the society. The persons who took an active part in the (Military) History Section are identified; their academic interests as well as potential research fields and achievements are discussed in the article. At the same time, the article reveals the stagnation of the activities of the Society of Military Sciences and also its History Section about five years after its establishment and the eventual similar period of vegetation when the organization practically ceased to function and was incorporated into the Lithuanian Officers' Club.

The article presents the activities of the History Section of the Society of Military Sciences by also looking back at the predecessor of this organization – short-lived Society of the Founders of Military Sciences and some fragmentary information about its functioning. It addresses the activities of the individuals who initiated the research in military history during the interwar period under the umbrella of the society. The persons who took an active part in the (Military) History Section are identified; their academic interests as well as potential research fields and achievements are discussed in the article. At the same time, the article reveals the stagnation of the activities of the Society of Military Sciences and also its History Section about five years after its establishment and the eventual similar period of vegetation when the organization practically ceased to function and was incorporated into the Lithuanian Officers' Club.