Ateitininkai Kaune 1941-1944 m

Abstract

Ateitis organization founded in 1911 united students from secondary schools and universities and seniors, who had already graduated their studies and were working. It has to be pointed out that during the interwar period organizations grew into strong social and cultural stream, which had a great impact on the life of Lithuania of the day. Although being critical of the authoritarian regime of the president of Lithuania Antanas Smetona, the members of Ateitis were still influenced by it. The authoritarian politics of Antanas Smetona regime lead to the formation of the underground activity of the members of Ateitis and the appearance of the governmental criticism. Such practice of activity was continued during the first Soviet and Nazi occupations as well. What is more, during the years of independence Kaunas became the centre of Ateitis organization. With respect to the first Soviet occupation, it can be said that a lot of damage to the harmonious working of the organization was made. The reforms of the Soviets in the educational system and the repressive measures against the members of Ateitis disrupted the communication between the members of the organization in Kaunas. In other words, the actions of the Soviets disabled the contacts of Ateitis members of Kaunas and province with the organization’s central structures working in Kaunas. Some members of Ateitis met the first Soviet occupation with the hope to adapt to the new regime. However, the hostile Soviet politics towards the members of the organization forced most of them into the active resistance to the Soviet regime. One of the ways of anti-soviet resistance was illegal activity. The members of Ateitis kept in touch with the members of other resistance organization called the Lithuanian Activists Front. The aim of Lithuanian Activists Front was the restoration of the independent Lithuanian state with the help of the Nazi Germany.