Lietuviu tautines bendruomenes padetis Rytu Prusijoje XX a. 3-4 desimtmeciuose.

To find out and analyze the status of the Lithuanian community in Germany in the 3rd and 4th decades of the 20th century, the author made use of publications, public speeches and articles in various Lithuanian newspapers and magazines. The major Lithuanian community in Germany was in East Prussia, a home to about 100,000 Lithuanians. Smaller Lithuanian communities dwelled in bigger German towns and cities. Despite the policy of assimilation, many Lithuanians tried to preserve their national identity and became active members of national cultural unions. The most popular Lithuanian cultural leaders in Prussia were philosopher Vydunas, who lead the Union of Lithuanian Chanters in Tilsit (Tilzes lietuviu giedotoju draugija) and W. Maciulaitis, who was a representative of the Lithuanian community in Prussia. The author analyses the role the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Lithuanian Consulates in Tilsit and Koenigsberg in helping the Lithuanian community organize cultural and educative activities. The author seeks to reveal the level of national discrimination, violence and instances of terrorism against the leaders of this community. The Lithuanian press expressed a highly negative and critical attitude towards the discrimination of the Lithuanians in Germany. The Lithuanian society made efforts to support their nationals in Prussia helping them preserve their national identity and foster their national and political self-consciousness. The domestic policy of the German government made it possible to distinguish two clear periods in the assimilation and discrimination of national minorities in Germany. During the first period (1920-1932), the discrimination of the Lithuanian community was more severe as German nationalists and radical groups started their activities in East Prussia. In 1923, when Klaipeda region was attached to Lithuania and the Lithuanian authorities deliberately strengthened their positions in the region, the situation of the Lithuanian minority became worse. During the period of 1924-1925, Vydunas and the organisation under his leadership became victims of brutal violence. Lithuanian policy in Klaipeda region, a home to a numerous German minority, provoked chauvinist activities against the Lithuanians in Prussia. Violent attacks against the members of Lithuanian organizations were conducted periodically until 1931. Since 1932, the Nazi movement in East Prussia had spread and discrimination against the Lithuanians and the Lithuanian culture had become more severe. The situation of the Lithuanian community in Prussia grew worse due to the decision of the International Court in Hague in favour of the Lithuanian Government. The second period started in 1933 when A. Hitler came into power and the Third Reich launched a more radical campaign against national minorities. Starting with the year 1933, all workers were banned from the participation in national organizations and were not allowed to read national press. Besides, all children had to join Hitlerjugend organization and terminate relationship with religious and national activities; they were not allowed to speak their mother tongue even at home. The Nazi ideology was especially popular in the locations with numerous Lithuanian minorities as it sought to diminish the Lithuanian culture, blaming the Lithuanians for disloyalty to Germany. The Lithuanian community suffered the greatest violence and terror in 1934-1935 when the proceedings against E. Neumann-T. Sass and other Nazis of Klaipeda region were initiated by the Lithuanian authorities. The Lithuanians in Prussia were beaten up in street, windows of their shops and houses were smashed, and the police did nothing to stop the violence. Though the leaders of the Lithuanian community appealed to the Home Office and other German officials for help, the violence did not reduce. In the 4th decade, the number of Lithuanian prisoners increased. In most cases, people were arrested and imprisoned without any fault. In 1936, the German press started a campaign 'Destroy Everything Lithuanian'. The campaign was successful and, eventually, the Lithuanian culture in East Prussia was totally destroyed. The Lithuanian authorities tried to strengthen the ties between the Lithuanian community in Prussia and Lithuania, financially supporting the publication of "The New Traveller of Tilsit" (Naujasis Tilzes keleivis) and "Unsere Stimme" as well as Jagomastas' publishing house and financing the union of German Lithuanians and some activists who strove to restore Lithuanian national identity in East Prussia. Lithuanian Consulates in Tilsit and Koenigsberg informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about political processes in the region and discrimination against Lithuanian nationals. A number of publications on discrimination facts were published in the Lithuanian newspapers such as Lietuvos aidas, Lietuvos zinios, XX amzius as well as in academic magazines such as Vairas, Naujoji romuva, Trimitas and Akademikas. However, the news about the situation of the Lithuanian community in Germany was reported and spread only till 1935. In 1936, Lithuanian authorities decided to renew political and economic relations with Germany, and the Consulates in East Prussia as well as the Lithuanian press were warned to avoid criticism towards the Nazi domestic and foreign policy. Despite the fact that terror and violence against the Lithuanians became even more severe and a number of former members of Lithuanian national organizations were imprisoned in 1939-1940, the Lithuanian authorities did not lodge any formal protest. Since 1936, Lithuania's efforts to preserve the Lithuanian culture in East Prussia weakened; consequently, the Lithuanian community in Germany was left on its own. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]