631:. Smetona acted first and removed Voldemaras as Prime Minister on 19 September 1929. Smetona demanded Sliesoraitis' resignation, but he refused and Iron Wolf split into two – those loyal to Smetona and those loyal to Voldemaras. Supporters of Voldemaras were persecuted and went underground; many other members resigned. On 30 November 1930, the office of the Supreme Staff was bombed, giving Smetona an impetus for a full-scale prosecution of Voldemaras supporters. The Lithuanian Nationalist Union installed new commanders, Kazys Matulevičius and Brunonas Štencelis, who attempted to cleanse and reorganize the severely reduced organization.
482:) started patrolling the streets and asking Jews for identification documents. When Jews refused, the men started beating every passing Jew. Next morning, 30 Jews submitted a complaint to the police. Initially, the official press of the Lithuanian Nationalist Union defended and excused the perpetrators. But later they were condemned and 17 men were tried in May 1932. Twelve of them were sentenced to prison for two to nine months. While Iron Wolf was not mentioned in any proceedings, behind the scenes Minister of the Interior
24:
403:) commanded by Algirdas Sliesoraitis. The structure of Iron Wolf was based on military order and hierarchy. The organization attracted police officers, soldiers, government employees as well as students and teachers. In January 1929, it had about 3,500 members and 1,500 candidates divided into 252 groups. By June 1, it grew to 4,164 members. Iron Wolf was funded from the special government funds by the
441:
suppress protests, coups, or other anti-government disturbances. Detail plans were drawn up on rapid response to threats; in this regard Iron Wolf duplicated the functions of the police and the military. It does not appear that these plans were used in practice except, perhaps, on 6 May 1929 when suspects were apprehended after an unsuccessful assassination attempt against
Voldemaras.
467:; this was done without approval from superiors and the perpetrators were threatened with disciplinary sanctions. The number of incidents increased after the May 1929 assassination attempt on Voldemaras. The Supreme Staff lost control of some of the more extreme members and started purging the ranks.
539:
Iron Wolf emphasized and demanded absolute obedience from its members. Iron Wolf declared itself to be an apolitical organization – it did not have a political program and only stood active guard against anti-government threats. However, very quickly leaders of Iron Wolf developed their own ideology
440:
The members collected information about the political opponents of the new regime and the overall situation and mood of the general public. The reports were forwarded to the
Supreme Staff, which decided on further actions. If called, the members were supposed to help the Lithuanian Nationalist Union
591:
which had somewhat similar goals of creating a people's militia. Joining the riflemen allowed members to acquire and practice weapons without raising suspicion. Eventually, Iron Wolf planned to infiltrate the riflemen and "cleanse" it of "ideologically unreliable" personnel. Iron Wolf promoted
444:
Members of Iron Wolf used intimidation tactics against political opponents. However, very little is known about the violent activities of Iron Wolf as most of these records were destroyed when the organization was liquidated in 1930. They patrolled city streets, followed activists, on occasion
1267:
600:. Starting in fall 1928, Iron Wolf started creating sections of the sports union in various schools to recruit youth into the organization. When Iron Wolf sections were blocked by legal obstacles, the organization worked with school groups organized by
579:. In its internal documents, Iron Wolf prohibited any excesses against the Jews but worked on a program to reduce Jewish economic influence and to support Lithuanian-owned businesses (i.e. to "free Lithuanians from economic subjugation by the Jews").
62:
organization. The organization was secret; it was officially a sports union from May 1928. The organization spied on its political opponents, engaged in limited physical coercion, and launched propaganda initiatives. It had more than 4,000 members.
548:. Members were required to promote the ideas of Iron Wolf – participate in pro-government gatherings, publish articles, etc. – to create an illusion of the popular support to the new regime. Its propaganda efforts were referred to as the
496:
Iron Wolf developed a strategy for dealing with its political opponents. Together with the police and other authorities, members of Iron Wolf searched and apprehended members of openly anti-government organizations (e.g. members of the
571:(Path of the Nation) twice a month. In total, 84 issues were published. It was a lot more radical than other periodicals published by the Lithuanian Nationalist Union. In this periodical, Iron Wolf did not defend that it was
583:
published some articles exposing corruption or lack of patriotism based on secret reports submitted to the
Supreme Staff. The newspaper was sued several times for publishing false information and slander.
347:, was established to help the new regime fight its opponents. The organization was officially established on 8 January 1928 though preparations started few months earlier. It was inspired by the
653:
against
President Smetona. Voldemaras was imprisoned, but was released in 1938 and emigrated to France. Nevertheless, Voldemarininkai continued to be active. They reestablished Iron Wolf after
615:
approved school curriculum on military preparedness and removed legal obstacles for Iron Wolf to organize student groups. In parallel, Iron Wolf worked to infiltrate and "cleanse" Dr.
666:
85:
478:. During the day, communists organized a protest and the police arrested 81 people, including 76 Jews. During the night, several men (officially identified as members of the
70:
attempted to install his men. When that failed, the organization was officially closed on 24 May 1930. However, supporters of
Voldemaras remained active and became known as
639:(Path of Our Nation). However, the organization was in total disarray and was officially closed on 24 May 1930. The sports union was disbanded on 7 November 1930.
605:
449:
654:
81:
1343:
483:
445:
engaged in public scuffles, particularly with members of national minorities (Poles and Jews). There is no evidence that Iron Wolf murdered anyone.
325:
360:
560:
1338:
1179:
378:. The secret organization, to distinguish it from the legal sports union, was referred to as the National Defense of Lithuania "Iron Wolf" (
1333:
1328:
1323:
647:
1348:
463:(Moment) was taken over by members of Iron Wolf. In early 1929, a group of Iron Wolf members vandalized Jewish store signs in
1253:
1145:
671:
512:
508:
90:
528:
404:
1263:
1208:"Guarding the Honor of the Nation and the Prosperity of the State: National Defense of Lithuania "Iron Wolf" (1928-1930)"
359:. Initially, Iron Wolf was a secret organization. On 26 May 1928, it established the Iron Wolf Sports Union, chaired by
1303:
321:
1268:
International
Commission for the Evaluation of the Crimes of the Nazi and Soviet Occupation Regimes in Lithuania
1353:
588:
479:
1288:
1180:"Po sporto priedanga: Radikalus dešinysis judėjimas ir "Geležinio Vilko" Sporto Sąjunga Lietuvoje (1928-1930)"
76:("Voldemarians", "Voldemarists"). They planned several anti-Smetona coups, became increasingly sympathetic to
498:
317:
51:
17:
610:
1207:
592:
sports, particularly those that were related to military preparedness. Special attention was paid to
46:) was a semi-official Lithuanian militarized organization active in 1928–1930, led by Prime Minister
1140:
515:
were recruited to join organizations established by nationalists – the
Lithuanian Catholic Union (
459:
in August 1928. Bridžius refused to submit a complaint to the police and resigned; the newspaper
627:
Iron Wolf was loyal to
Voldemaras and there were rumors that he might use it to oust President
604:, the youth branch of the Lithuanian Nationalist Union. In April 1929, Minister of Education
394:
340:
47:
28:
616:
454:
8:
39:
1248:
1235:
488:
375:
371:
330:
596:
and weapons instruction. Iron Wolf hired military instructors and requisitioned three
503:
1299:
1239:
1227:
1194:
1166:
365:
1155:
336:
1219:
565:
470:
The most serious incident occurred during the night from 1 to 2 August 1929 in the
356:
1223:
643:
642:
The old Iron Wolf loyal to
Voldemaras continued as an underground group known as
628:
619:
Nationalist
Teachers' Union and to remove "non-patriotic" teachers from schools.
601:
593:
558:) of the society. From 1928 to December 1929, Iron Wolf published its periodical
352:
72:
67:
59:
1271:
658:
527:). The nationalists did not establish an organization to siphon members of the
471:
1317:
1231:
1198:
1170:
662:
428:
spying (report on private conversations and infiltrate other organizations),
576:
597:
545:
348:
55:
23:
677:
572:
324:. Two unsuccessful counter-coups were staged in 1927, one in March by
84:. Iron Wolf was briefly reestablished in 1941 to support the pro-Nazi
719:
541:
448:
Iron Wolf was suspected of kidnapping and torturing newspaper editor
339:). Thus, the nationalists felt insecure. Iron Wolf, named after the
493:
blamed leaders of Iron Wolf for the failure to contain their men.
344:
77:
66:
When Voldemaras was removed as Prime Minister in September 1929,
1264:"Antisemitinės tendencijos voldemarininkų judėjime 1928–1940 m."
475:
464:
680:). However, the party was officially closed in December 1941.
421:
Members of Iron Wolf were assigned one of three main tasks:
1156:"Kauno karo komendantūros Tautinio darbo batalionas 1941 m."
990:
978:
1062:
1002:
1257:(in Lithuanian). Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos centras.
1149:(in Lithuanian). Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos centras.
1094:
1092:
1079:
1077:
941:
939:
937:
888:
886:
873:
871:
869:
856:
854:
841:
839:
826:
824:
822:
390:). Despite secrecy, existence of Iron Wolf became known.
1116:
797:
795:
751:
749:
736:
734:
709:
707:
694:
692:
407:. Its motto was "Nation's honor and State's prosperity" (
425:
activist (taking verbal or physical action when ordered)
54:
to help suppress its opposition, it was inspired by the
1089:
1074:
1050:
1038:
1026:
934:
922:
910:
898:
883:
866:
851:
836:
819:
1014:
807:
792:
761:
746:
731:
704:
689:
968:
966:
964:
962:
960:
958:
956:
954:
397:, the organization was headed by the Supreme Staff (
782:
780:
778:
776:
431:
propaganda (openly propagate Iron Wolf's ideology).
1104:
951:
98:
1315:
773:
553:
534:
522:
516:
408:
398:
385:
379:
1298:(in Lithuanian). Vilnius: Pradai. p. 507.
1139:Brandišauskas, Valentinas (25 February 2019) .
657:in 1941. It was supposed to be similar to Nazi
531:as very few members of Iron Wolf were workers.
80:, and often collaborated with Nazis during the
50:. Established at the end of 1927 by the ruling
1287:Tapinas, Laimonas; et al., eds. (1997).
1138:
1122:
374:. It was the only militarized sports club in
381:Lietuvos tautinė apsauga "Geležinis vilkas"
507:). Members of the popular and influential
343:featured in the legend on the founding of
575:but rejected any accusations that it was
1344:Defunct organizations based in Lithuania
1205:
1177:
1098:
1083:
1068:
1056:
1044:
1032:
1008:
996:
984:
945:
928:
916:
904:
892:
877:
860:
845:
830:
813:
801:
767:
755:
740:
725:
713:
698:
22:
1286:
1247:Rudis, Gediminas (24 September 2018) .
1020:
104:Iron Wolf membership as of 1 June 1929
1316:
1153:
1110:
587:The members were mandated to join the
1261:
1246:
972:
786:
509:Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party
1339:Organizations disestablished in 1930
529:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania
521:) and the Lithuanian Farmers Unity (
1334:1930 disestablishments in Lithuania
622:
393:While its chief was Prime Minister
13:
513:Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union
14:
1365:
1329:Organizations established in 1928
655:Lithuania was occupied by Germany
320:came to power as a result of the
1324:1928 establishments in Lithuania
1262:Rudis, Gediminas (31 May 2006).
1254:Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija
1146:Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija
1349:Far-right politics in Lithuania
1141:"Lietuvių nacionalistų partija"
1131:
435:
728:, pp. 105, 110, 113, 119.
676:(Lithuanian equivalent to the
410:Tautos garbė, valstybės gerovė
335:and another in September (see
99:Establishment and organization
82:German occupation of Lithuania
1:
1224:10.1080/01629778.2017.1421241
683:
535:Propaganda and indoctrination
416:
1187:Lietuvos istorijos metraštis
667:Lithuanian Nationalist Party
499:Communist Party of Lithuania
318:Lithuanian Nationalist Union
86:Lithuanian Nationalist Party
52:Lithuanian Nationalist Union
7:
1296:Žurnalistikos enciklopedija
1206:Petronis, Vytautas (2018).
1178:Petronis, Vytautas (2013).
589:Lithuanian Riflemen's Union
480:Lithuanian Riflemen's Union
10:
1370:
370:, which became its public
18:Iron Wolf (disambiguation)
15:
1212:Journal of Baltic Studies
1159:Genocidas Ir Rezistencija
524:Lietuvos ūkininkų vienybė
518:Lietuvos katalikų sąjunga
322:December 1926 coup d'état
405:Ministry of the Interior
1154:Knezys, Stasys (2000).
646:. In 1934, its members
554:
523:
517:
409:
399:
386:
380:
355:organization loyal to
43:
32:
1354:Fascist organizations
395:Augustinas Voldemaras
384:) or simply Defense (
48:Augustinas Voldemaras
29:Augustinas Voldemaras
26:
1249:""Geležinis Vilkas""
999:, pp. 111, 116.
987:, pp. 228, 230.
606:Konstantinas Šakenis
131:Government employees
31:, chief of Iron Wolf
16:For other uses, see
1071:, pp. 224–225.
1011:, pp. 223–224.
648:attempted a failed
544:for radicalism and
400:Vyriausiasis štabas
249:By military service
105:
1123:Brandišauskas 2019
637:Mūsų tautos kelias
617:Jonas Basanavičius
376:interwar Lithuania
372:front organization
103:
33:
1266:(in Lithuanian).
1189:(in Lithuanian).
1161:(in Lithuanian).
501:or the so-called
341:howling iron wolf
314:
313:
1361:
1309:
1293:
1283:
1281:
1279:
1274:on 11 March 2007
1270:. Archived from
1258:
1243:
1202:
1184:
1174:
1150:
1126:
1120:
1114:
1108:
1102:
1096:
1087:
1081:
1072:
1066:
1060:
1054:
1048:
1042:
1036:
1030:
1024:
1018:
1012:
1006:
1000:
994:
988:
982:
976:
970:
949:
943:
932:
926:
920:
914:
908:
902:
896:
890:
881:
875:
864:
858:
849:
843:
834:
828:
817:
811:
805:
799:
790:
784:
771:
765:
759:
753:
744:
738:
729:
723:
717:
711:
702:
696:
675:
665:and support the
623:Disestablishment
614:
569:
557:
526:
520:
492:
458:
412:
402:
389:
383:
369:
357:Benito Mussolini
334:
271:Reserve soldiers
260:Reserve officers
142:Police employees
106:
102:
94:
44:Geležinis Vilkas
1369:
1368:
1364:
1363:
1362:
1360:
1359:
1358:
1314:
1313:
1312:
1306:
1291:
1289:"Tautos kelias"
1277:
1275:
1218:(49): 215–239.
1182:
1134:
1129:
1121:
1117:
1109:
1105:
1097:
1090:
1082:
1075:
1067:
1063:
1055:
1051:
1043:
1039:
1031:
1027:
1019:
1015:
1007:
1003:
995:
991:
983:
979:
971:
952:
944:
935:
927:
923:
915:
911:
903:
899:
891:
884:
876:
867:
859:
852:
844:
837:
829:
820:
812:
808:
800:
793:
785:
774:
766:
762:
754:
747:
739:
732:
724:
720:
712:
705:
697:
690:
686:
669:
644:Voldemarininkai
635:was renamed to
629:Antanas Smetona
625:
608:
602:Young Lithuania
594:shooting sports
563:
537:
504:Plečkaitininkai
486:
484:Ignas Musteikis
452:
438:
419:
363:
353:Italian fascist
328:
326:Juozas Pajaujis
282:Active military
101:
88:
73:Voldemarininkai
68:Antanas Smetona
60:Italian fascist
27:Prime Minister
21:
12:
11:
5:
1367:
1357:
1356:
1351:
1346:
1341:
1336:
1331:
1326:
1311:
1310:
1304:
1284:
1259:
1244:
1203:
1175:
1151:
1135:
1133:
1130:
1128:
1127:
1115:
1103:
1101:, p. 232.
1088:
1086:, p. 231.
1073:
1061:
1059:, p. 113.
1049:
1047:, p. 112.
1037:
1035:, p. 114.
1025:
1023:, p. 507.
1013:
1001:
989:
977:
950:
948:, p. 230.
933:
931:, p. 116.
921:
919:, p. 234.
909:
907:, p. 117.
897:
895:, p. 118.
882:
880:, p. 228.
865:
863:, p. 227.
850:
848:, p. 224.
835:
833:, p. 226.
818:
816:, p. 111.
806:
804:, p. 222.
791:
772:
770:, p. 107.
760:
758:, p. 223.
745:
743:, p. 108.
730:
718:
716:, p. 221.
703:
701:, p. 229.
687:
685:
682:
624:
621:
540:that rejected
536:
533:
450:Kazys Bridžius
437:
434:
433:
432:
429:
426:
418:
415:
361:Jonas Pyragius
337:Tauragė Revolt
312:
311:
308:
305:
301:
300:
297:
294:
290:
289:
286:
283:
279:
278:
275:
272:
268:
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246:
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209:
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139:
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135:
132:
128:
127:
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121:
117:
116:
113:
110:
100:
97:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1366:
1355:
1352:
1350:
1347:
1345:
1342:
1340:
1337:
1335:
1332:
1330:
1327:
1325:
1322:
1321:
1319:
1307:
1305:9986-776-62-7
1301:
1297:
1290:
1285:
1273:
1269:
1265:
1260:
1256:
1255:
1250:
1245:
1241:
1237:
1233:
1229:
1225:
1221:
1217:
1213:
1209:
1204:
1200:
1196:
1192:
1188:
1181:
1176:
1172:
1168:
1164:
1160:
1157:
1152:
1148:
1147:
1142:
1137:
1136:
1124:
1119:
1112:
1107:
1100:
1099:Petronis 2018
1095:
1093:
1085:
1084:Petronis 2018
1080:
1078:
1070:
1069:Petronis 2018
1065:
1058:
1057:Petronis 2013
1053:
1046:
1045:Petronis 2013
1041:
1034:
1033:Petronis 2013
1029:
1022:
1017:
1010:
1009:Petronis 2018
1005:
998:
997:Petronis 2013
993:
986:
985:Petronis 2018
981:
974:
969:
967:
965:
963:
961:
959:
957:
955:
947:
946:Petronis 2018
942:
940:
938:
930:
929:Petronis 2013
925:
918:
917:Petronis 2018
913:
906:
905:Petronis 2013
901:
894:
893:Petronis 2013
889:
887:
879:
878:Petronis 2018
874:
872:
870:
862:
861:Petronis 2018
857:
855:
847:
846:Petronis 2018
842:
840:
832:
831:Petronis 2018
827:
825:
823:
815:
814:Petronis 2013
810:
803:
802:Petronis 2018
798:
796:
788:
783:
781:
779:
777:
769:
768:Petronis 2013
764:
757:
756:Petronis 2018
752:
750:
742:
741:Petronis 2013
737:
735:
727:
726:Petronis 2013
722:
715:
714:Petronis 2018
710:
708:
700:
699:Petronis 2018
695:
693:
688:
681:
679:
673:
668:
664:
660:
656:
652:
651:
645:
640:
638:
634:
633:Tautos kelias
630:
620:
618:
612:
607:
603:
599:
595:
590:
585:
582:
581:Tautos kelias
578:
574:
570:
567:
562:
561:Tautos kelias
556:
551:
547:
543:
532:
530:
525:
519:
514:
510:
506:
505:
500:
494:
490:
485:
481:
477:
473:
468:
466:
462:
456:
451:
446:
442:
430:
427:
424:
423:
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414:
411:
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401:
396:
391:
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382:
377:
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367:
362:
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350:
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342:
338:
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327:
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147:
144:
141:
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136:
133:
130:
129:
125:
122:
119:
118:
114:
111:
109:By profession
108:
107:
96:
92:
87:
83:
79:
75:
74:
69:
64:
61:
57:
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
30:
25:
19:
1295:
1276:. Retrieved
1272:the original
1252:
1215:
1211:
1190:
1186:
1162:
1158:
1144:
1132:Bibliography
1118:
1106:
1064:
1052:
1040:
1028:
1021:Tapinas 1997
1016:
1004:
992:
980:
924:
912:
900:
809:
763:
721:
649:
641:
636:
632:
626:
598:machine guns
586:
580:
577:anti-Semitic
559:
555:suvilkinimas
549:
538:
502:
495:
474:district of
469:
460:
447:
443:
439:
436:Use of force
420:
392:
315:
71:
65:
35:
34:
1193:: 101–120.
1111:Knezys 2000
670: [
650:coup d'état
609: [
564: [
550:wolfization
546:nationalism
487: [
472:Vilijampolė
453: [
364: [
349:Blackshirts
329: [
293:No military
89: [
56:Blackshirts
1318:Categories
973:Rudis 2006
787:Rudis 2018
684:References
678:Nazi Party
573:chauvinist
417:Activities
40:Lithuanian
1240:149156249
1232:1751-7877
1199:0202-3342
1171:1392-3463
542:democracy
164:Craftsmen
36:Iron Wolf
511:and the
461:Momentas
223:21 to 40
212:Under 21
153:Students
1278:10 June
387:Apsauga
345:Vilnius
234:Over 40
175:Workers
120:Farmers
78:fascism
1302:
1238:
1230:
1197:
1169:
476:Kaunas
465:Kaunas
299:43.9%
252:Number
229:82.3%
204:Number
201:By age
186:Others
159:12.6%
148:13.2%
137:24.6%
126:39.1%
112:Number
1292:(PDF)
1236:S2CID
1183:(PDF)
1165:(1).
674:]
613:]
568:]
491:]
457:]
368:]
351:, an
333:]
310:100%
307:4,164
304:Total
296:1,829
288:0.4%
274:2,126
266:4.7%
240:7.7%
226:3,426
192:3.5%
181:2.7%
170:4.6%
134:1,024
123:1,631
93:]
58:, an
1300:ISBN
1280:2020
1228:ISSN
1195:ISSN
1167:ISSN
316:The
277:51%
218:10%
1220:doi
661:or
413:).
263:194
237:320
215:418
189:145
167:192
156:523
145:551
1320::
1294:.
1251:.
1234:.
1226:.
1214:.
1210:.
1185:.
1143:.
1091:^
1076:^
953:^
936:^
885:^
868:^
853:^
838:^
821:^
794:^
775:^
748:^
733:^
706:^
691:^
672:lt
663:SS
659:SA
611:lt
566:lt
489:lt
455:lt
366:lt
331:lt
285:15
255:%
207:%
178:98
115:%
95:.
91:lt
42::
1308:.
1282:.
1242:.
1222::
1216:2
1201:.
1191:1
1173:.
1163:7
1125:.
1113:.
975:.
789:.
552:(
38:(
20:.
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