Assistance of People of Lithuania to Finland in the Winter War, 30 November 1939– 12 March 1940

Abstract

Abstract. The article examines positions and actions of citizens of Lithuania in view of the Winter War, and types of their assistance provided to Finland as seen in the Lithuanian media of the period. Novelty of the article is reflected by two aspects: 1) actions of some of the citizens of Lithuania in order to help Finland in the war against the Soviet Union were inconsistent with the neutralist policy of the Lithuanian government. It demonstrates that the society lacked a unified opinion, and an actively pro-Finnish position of some of the citizens of Lithuania allows examining the Lithuanian policy concerning the conflict between the USSR and Finland at the micro level, i.e., from the individual perspective; and 2) the assistance of citizens of Lithuania to Finland in the war against the USSR is analysed and assessed as an expression of civic virtues in the country under the authoritarian regime at the time. It was necessary to take up an active civic position which clashed with the official policy of the Lithuanian government.