Šaulio priesaikos misija ir jos įgyvendinimas
Mission of the National Guard‘s Oath and it’s Implementation

Summary/Abstract: The importance of oaths to our society is rising, but they have never been the object of a comprehensive, systematic study. Historically the Law history of Lithuania followed a natural evolutionary tradition. That however cannot be said about the development of relations concerning the institute of the Oath and the related social aspect. Oath had achieved a great significance in the nation, was universally spread, and was applied during all the periods in all aspects of human activity discussed in the presented article. The present article is a comprehensive study of the historical origin, purpose, mission, form and meaning development of the National Guard‘s oath in Lithuania. The historical, religious and legal aspects of the oath and the pledge, the social effectiveness of the abovementioned oath and pledge institutions are analysed in it. In this article the oath of a member of the National Guards is analyzed as a model of military oath, since its origin in 1919 up to the present. Among all oaths of this period this oath stands out for the fact that had continued uninterrupted throughout its existence. It has developed in a natural way. Topics covered include the nature of National Guards oaths; the functions they performed within communities and the relations between them; their exploitation in legal act texts and at critical moments in history; and connections between the phenomena of National Guards oaths and those with which guards came into contact, from the soldiers of regular army to freedom fighters (guerillas). During the years of Soviet occupation (1940-1990) the institute of Oath was in fact completely eliminated from all spheres of public life apart from military. Within the period of 50 years soldiers were the only group of young people swearing an oath. Lithuanians were taken to compulsory service in Soviet army and also were forced to make a Soviets army oath. Many, refusing to swear such an oath, were repressed. Lithuanian National guards as guerillas, fighting the occupants, kept the institute of Oath. The governing body of the guerillas movement was legitimized as the Government of Lithuania. The National Guards organization existed in exile in the USA, Canada, Australia, etc. from 1954. And they also took the Oath. The article gives an answer of nature prevailing to the oaths — religion and law, and pledge — only law, regarding periods of development of these institutions and society. Such analysis of the Oath Institution will enable identification of changes in its mission and meaning in Lithuania. That could be the basis concentrating attempts to legally establish the present Institution; and which might provide further preconditions to strengthen and to prove the efficiency of its application in the law of Lithuania.

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