Union of Lithuanian Riflemen

Lithuanian Riflemen's Union (Lietuvos šaulių sąjunga)
Flag of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union
Active	1919–1940 1944-1953 (Guerrilla War against Soviet Union) 1954-1989 (In Exile) 1989–present
Country	Lithuania
Allegiance	Lithuanian Armed Forces
Type	Paramilitary organization
Role	Civilian self-defence institution
Size	11,000 members
Garrison/HQ	Kaunas
Nickname(s)	Šauliai
Motto(s)	"Nepriklausomai Lietuvai!"
Anniversaries	June 27, 1919 September 20, 1989
Engagements	Lithuanian Wars of Independence Klaipėda Revolt Lithuanian partisans January Events in Lithuania
Website	www.sauliusajunga.lt
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant colonel Gintaras Koryzna
Insignia
LRU member‘s badge

The Lithuanian Riflemen's Union or LRU (Lithuanian: Lietuvos šaulių sąjunga), also referred to as šauliai (Lithuanian: šaulys for rifleman), is a paramilitary non-profit organisation supported by the State. The activities are in three main areas: military training, sport and culture.

The Lithuanian Riflemen's Union was established in Kaunas on 27 June 1919 as a shooting section within the Lithuanian Sport Union. Several historic events determined the establishment of the Union – the Lithuanian State had just declared independence and was asserting it in the wars against the Bolsheviks, the Western Russian Volunteer Army and the Polish forces.

Vladas Putvinskis and Matas Šalčius were the most important activists behind the idea to form a Union, and Putvinskis became the first Commander of the LRU and its main ideologue. It is interesting to note that both of them came up with the idea to form a paramilitary group at almost the same time, but the scope that they envisioned was different.

In 1919 Matas Šalčius together with Antanas Vienuolis-Žukauskas, Faustas Kirša and other employees at the Press Office decided to form an organisation that would be able to protect Kaunas city; they intended to call it the Steel Battalion. At the same time another initiative was launched by a group headed by Putvinskis, and they prepared a statute for the organisation. Their aim was to support Lithuanian military in the entire Lithuanian territory. In June 1919, the Press Office employees invited Putvinskis to their meeting. Putvinskis joined the organisation that was being created and became one of the most active members.

There were many famous and important Lithuanians among the founders of the Union, including writers Antanas Vienuolis-Žukauskas, Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas and Balys Sruoga, poet Faustas Kirša, painter Antanas Žmuidzinavičius, zoologist Tadas Ivanauskas and many others. It is important to note that in the beginning only civilians participated in the LRU, but later on soldiers and officers started to actively join its ranks. This reflects the main aim of the organisation – to unite civilians who want to support the military.