The Attitude of Seimas Towards Social Welfare of Soldiers 1920–1939

Abstract

The paper analyses social conditions of the Lithuanian army soldiers during the period of the operation of the Constituent Seimas, the 2nd and the 4th Seimas. Between 1922 and 1925 the important laws for that group of people were adopted. On August 10, 1922, the Constituent Seimas at the end of its term of office passed the law „On the military retirement benefits for the sick soldiers and their family members as well as the families of the killed soldiers“, which remained in force until the year 1925. The 2nd Seimas modified the former law and passed the law ‘On the military retirement benefits’ which provided benefits for the disabled of the World War I. Its ammendments were made in 1935. These laws were in force until the year 1940. The Lithuanian war disabled welcomed that law, because before the legal basis was adopted, they were supported by the Provisional Committee in charge of the aid for the war disabled, established in 1921 by the Ministry of Defense. The disabled themselves were very active to defend their rights for decent living conditions. In 1923 they set up two organizations, i.e. the Vyčiai Brotherhood of the War Disabled and the Union of the War Disabled. They applied to the Seimas and the Government on their social conditions, because many of the invalids of the Independence wars and war disabled of the World War I did not have any social guarantees for three years and their situation was difficult. Some of them became beggars or even committed suicide.