Lietuvos Karo mokyklos tradicijos (1919–1940 m.)

ENMilitary Schools differ from one another in many countries not only by their uniform, but also by their established and distinctive traditions, usually typical only for military schools of the particular country. Since traditions usually occur or are introduced not by specific orders or instructions, but simply as a result of the initiative of the military community or leadership, their study is quite complicated due to a lack of resources and their bias. The Lithuanian Military School started its history from a "blank sheet of paper" and related its history neither with the cadet corps existing in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 18th century nor with Junker schools of the Tsarist Russian Empire. The officers and cadets of the school created and nurtured their developed traditions closely tied to the history of Lithuania and school routines. It so happened that a cadet’s graduation from the Military School eventually became the most important and memorable celebration of the life of every school graduate. The cadet farewell ceremony lasted all day and combined many different, interwoven and related traditions, and individual elements, which, ultimately, have become an integral and indivisible part of the tradition. The culmination moment of the cadet farewell ceremony – granting the rank of officer and handing the officers swords, survived a long enough evolution until it was finally formed in 1927–1930. The course of celebrations and essential elements remained unchanged until the occupation of Lithuania in 1940. Increased actions of the leadership of the army seeking to influence the emerging and existing army traditions were observed in the 1920s. At this particular time, "traditional threats" for mentioning the events of 9 October and 17 December, including the celebration ceremony of granting the ranks of officer were introduced in the military school.In addition, during the General Congress of the Officer Club "Karininkų Ramovė" held on 8 May 1936, the Chairman of the Elders’ Council of the Club Brigadier General Vladas Nagius-Nagevičius among other issues, suggested that ‘Ramovė’ should develop more of its own traditions. Thus, was born the tradition of incorporation of Lithuanian’s officers into the Officers’ Club "Ramovė". However, the most famous and best known of all the traditions of the Lithuanian Military School was the "Vargelio-Tėvelio" tradition. This unofficial tradition emerged in about 1925. Its organisers and initiators were cadets from the Vilnius region. Traditions of the Lithuanian Military School in the period 1919-1940 apparently had an educational value for the future education of officers of the Lithuanian army. The compliance with traditions was voluntary, and their development and viability depended on the cadets. It is safe to assume that distinctive and unique traditions of the Lithuanian Military School clearly tied to the history of the state, the school’s internal life and cherished moral values were formed within t. [From the publication]