Join up or Evade? The Evasion of Conscription in Lithuania, 1919–1920

For many societies in East Central Europe and the Baltic region, the First World War did not truly end in 1918. The wartime conditions of that year set the stage for the Council of Lithuania to pass a resolution restoring Lithuania’s independence. Born amid conflict, and striving to establish its sovereignty, Lithuania began forming its own army in the autumn of 1918. However, building the Lithuanian armed forces required two years of intense engagement in regional conflicts. Initially, the army relied on voluntary enlistment, but this approach proved disappointing due to the low number of volunteers. As a result, the Lithuanian government implemented compulsory military service in early 1919. This article examines a widespread phenomenon that emerged during this period: the evasion of military service by Lithuanian men. On average, one in five men eligible for the draft failed to report to the draft office, and some conscripts who were enlisted subsequently deserted. The article analyses the causes of the evasion of military service, and explores specific instances of evasion in 1919 and 1920.