Пярлойская республика: между мифом и реальностью

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Mitas; Perlojos respublika; Savivalda; „Parlojos respublika“; 'Parloy Republic'; Lithuania; Myth; Perloja Republic; Self-government.

ENThe restoration of the state of Lithuania in 1918 was a peaceful process driven not by power structures as Lithuania simply did not have them at that time, but by conscious decision and consolidation of regions. The formation of the state ìfrom bottom-upî accelerated right after the Compiegne Truce when Lietuvos Aidas of 13.11.1918 published ìThe Appeal of the State Council and Government to the Lithuanian Inhabitants on the Takeover of Power from German Administrationî where people were encouraged to establish Committees in parishes that would assume administration of the district and, first of all, would form militia in order to maintain public order. Committee representatives had to form County Committees. The process of selfgovernment organisation soon spread all over Lithuania. The situation in Perloja, one of the parishes of Southern Lithuania, was slightly different: an armed self-defence troop was active there even before the Appeal was announced. The mission of the troop was to defend the town from marauding military groups that were passing by. Having elected the Committee, the inhabitants of Perloja did not send representatives to the Alytus county committee as they decided to function independently.Thus self-government of the parish in the form of a republic was instituted that included 10 villages. In addition to militia, Perloja had its own court, prison, and treasury; the Committee also appointed two foresters and a minister of cleanliness. The republic functioned freely up to February 1919. After the occupation by a Soviet Russian military troop, the Committee was still active under the name of revkom (ëa revolutionary committeeí). When Russians left, in a few weeks after the shooting, Perloja was taken over by the Lithuanian army. Later a strong Perloja riflemen troop was active there. Lithuanians started writing about Perloja battles only beginning with 1920. The first article with the name of the Perloja Republic appeared in Trimitas No. 24, in 1921. The analysis of numerous publications on the Perloja Republic or its warriors in the press of the inter-war period discloses the attempt of authors and publishers to add some mythological characteristics to this phenomenon by turning it into a symbol of patriotism, fighting spirit, valour, and sacrifice for the common good. [From the publication]