Iron Wolf (Lithuania)

Iron Wolf (Lithuania)

Iron Wolf ("Geležinis Vilkas", also known as the Iron Wolf Association or the Iron Wolves) was a Lithuanian fascist movement formed by Augustinas Voldemaras in 1927. Set up as a guard movement for Voldemaras' "Tautininkai", the Iron Wolves were used by Voldemaras to target his political opponents. [Stanley G. Payne, "A History of Fascism: 1914-1945", London: Routledge, 2001, p. 341] The movement was banned in 1930, although it continued as an underground group. In 1934 its members attempted a failed coup d'etat against the president Antanas Smetona (former honorary leader who broke with the organizations earlier). [Payne op cit] Voldemaras was arrested, released in 1938 and he soon emigrated. During the Second World War and German occupation of Lithuania, many members of the organization collaborated with German authorities.

The name of the organization comes from the story of Gediminas' dream, popularized in Adam Mickiewicz's poem, "Pan Tadeusz". [Timothy Snyder. "The Reconstruction of Nations: Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, 1569-1999". New Haven: Yale UP, 2003: 78. ISBN 0-300-10586-X]

"And of Gediminas, who on Ponary's crest,
"Warm in hunter's bearskin, lay down to rest.
"Soothed by the songs of the wise Lizdejko,
"Lulled by the rush of the sweet Vilejko,
"He saw a wolf of iron in his dreams." [Ibid, 73.]

References

External links

* [http://www.lituanus.org/1984_3/84_3_06.htm Biography of Voldemaras]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Iron Wolf (disambiguation) — Iron Wolf may refer to:* The Iron Wolf roller coaster at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. * A Lithuanian fascist group Iron Wolf (Lithuania) * Ironwolf, the first studio album by George Canyon * The Iron Wolf Mechanised Infantry… …   Wikipedia

  • Iron Wolf Mechanised Infantry Brigade — The Iron Wolf Mechanised Infantry Brigade ( lt. motorizuotoji pėstininkų brigada Geležinis vilkas ) is the core unit of the Lithuanian Army. The brigade s current commander is Lt. Col. Darius Užkuraitis.Current Composition* Brigade s HQ,… …   Wikipedia

  • Motorised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf — Motorizuotoji pėstininkų brigada Geležinis Vilkas Insignia of MIB Iron Wolf Active 1992 present …   Wikipedia

  • Iron Guard — Garda de fier Leader Corneliu Zelea Codreanu (July 24, 1927 November 30, 1938) (executed in Tâncăbeşti, Bucharest while in custody in Ji …   Wikipedia

  • Wolf children — ( de. Wolfskinder) was the name given to a group of orphaned German children at the end of World War II in East Prussia.When the Red Army conquered East Prussia in 1945, thousands of German children were left unattended with their parents killed… …   Wikipedia

  • March of the Iron Will — Part of the Second Italo Abyssinian War Date April 26 May 5, 1936 Location Dessie to Addis Ababa …   Wikipedia

  • Symbols of Lithuania — The symbols of Lithuania are used in Lithuania and abroad to represent the country and its people, history, culture, and nature. These symbols are seen in official capacities, such as flags, coats of arms, postage stamps, and currency, and in… …   Wikipedia

  • Holocaust in Nazi-occupied Lithuania — The Holocaust in Nazi occupied Lithuania resulted in the near total destruction of Lithuanian JewsRef label|a|a|none living in the Nazi controlled Lithuanian territories, known as the Generalbezirk Litauen of Reichskommissariat Ostland from 17… …   Wikipedia

  • Military of Lithuania — Infobox National Military country= Lithuania name= Lithuanian Armed Forces caption= Insignia of the Lithuanian Armed Forces minister=Juozas Olekas minister title=Minister of National Defence commander=Lieutenant General Valdas Tutkus age=18… …   Wikipedia

  • Сухопутные войска Литвы — Sausumós pájėgos …   Википедия

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”