The Vytautas Magnus War Museum (Vytauto Didžiojo karo muziejus) ranks among the most important modern monuments in Kaunas and is one of the oldest museums in Lithuania. Since its establishment, it has served as an institution documenting the history of the country’s struggle for independence and as a place of special symbolic significance for Lithuanian national memory.
Kaunas War Museum – the origins of the institution
The idea to establish the museum appeared in 1919 among the army commanders of the reborn Lithuanian state. Under the order of General Pranas Liatukas, the organisation of the institution began, with the task of consolidating the armed effort in the fight for freedom. General Vladas Nagevičius, who was appointed its organiser, soon prepared the first exhibition in the wooden building of the former riding school. The museum was ceremonially opened in the presence of President Aleksandras Stulginskis and the highest state authorities in 1921, the third anniversary of independence. The first exhibitions included five thematic sections and focused on the history of the Lithuanian army, heroes of the independence struggle and military organisations. Over time, the collections were expanded to include exhibits showing the development of weapons, the course of battles and national traditions. As a result, the museum became an important cultural centre and a place for the formation of patriotic attitudes.
Construction of the new premises of the Vytauto Didžiojo karo muziejus
In the mid-1920s, the deteriorating condition of the wooden building necessitated the decision to build a new building with a real purpose. Initially, designs inspired by the form of medieval castles and Old Lithuanian chapels were considered, but eventually a modern concept by architects Vladimir Dubeneckis, Karolis Reisonas and Kazimieras Kriščiukaitis was chosen. The cornerstone of the building was consecrated in 1930, on the 500th anniversary of the death of Vytautas the Great. Soil from places of special historical significance, including Gediminas Hill and the Ross Cemetery, was laid into the foundations. The ceremonial opening of the new museum took place on 16 February 1936 with the participation of President Antanas Smetona.
Kaunas War Museum – architecture and composition
The museum building is considered one of the most outstanding examples of Kaunas Modernism. It has a classical composition, but the monumental, streamlined forms betray the influence of early modernism and art déco. The central part of the façade is accentuated by high vertical windows separated by pilasters, and a wide staircase of brown granite leads to the main entrance. Their layout was designed to be used as a grandstand during state ceremonies. The military part of the edifice has a more austere character. The façade is divided into three risalits, and the horizontal strips of windows give it a rhythmic, orderly appearance. Towering over the whole is a 32-metre-high tower connected to the building by an arcaded link, where ornamental cannons from various periods are placed. Already at the time of its construction, the museum stood out in the Kaunas landscape as a building built specifically with the museum function in mind, which was rare at the time.
Garden and museum surroundings
The area around the museum was designed and transformed into a representative garden, fenced with an iron fence originating from the Kaunas Fortress. In the 1920s, busts of distinguished national figures began to be placed. In time, the Alley of Lithuania’s Distinguished People was created with sculptures by Juozas Zikaras and Bronius Pundzias. In 1928, the Freedom Monument was unveiled in the garden, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, later recognised as the Altar of the Fatherland, was built in its vicinity. The Chapel of Vytautas the Great and the Crypt of the Fallen, designed by Mstislav Dobużyński, also became important elements of the complex. The symbolism of the materials used in the construction and sculptures, such as metal from cartridge casings, emphasised the link between the memory of battle and the idea of national sacrifice.
The museum on a postcard from the 1930s and the same view today. Photo by Laurynas Mar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons and Google Maps
Fate of Vytauto Didžiojo karo muziejus during wars and occupation
During the Second World War, the museum changed its name and the nature of its activities several times, depending on the current government. During the Soviet occupation, monuments and national symbols were removed, and part of the collections were destroyed or dispersed. The Statue of Liberty and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were replaced with objects in line with Soviet ideology. After the restoration of independence in 1990, the museum’s original name was restored and its historical appearance was reconstructed. Between 1988 and 1991, the garden was reconstructed and monuments to national heroes were restored. In 1998, the crypt of the fallen for freedom was restored, and in 2015 the copper sculpture of the ‘Soldier of Old Lithuania’ in the museum tower was reconstructed.
The Vytautas Magnus War Museum today
Today, the Kaunas War Museum is an institution under the Ministry of Defence of Lithuania. It has a rich collection of weapons, documents, photographs and works of art. It also houses memorabilia of the aviators of the “Lituanica” aeroplane, collections on partisan fighting and an extensive numismatic collection. The museum’s scientific library has about 15,000 publications, the oldest of which dates back to the early 17th century. The museum building and its surroundings were included in the list of protected cultural monuments and are considered one of the most important architectural achievements of interwar Kaunas. Its impressive form, symbolic character and rich history give it the status of a key place of Lithuanian national identity.
Source: vdkaromuziejus.lt, visit.kaunas.lt
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