Mūsų žinynas

Mūsų žinynas, whose title can be translated as “Our Manual,” is a Lithuanian-language military journal with roots in the interwar Republic of Lithuania. It was created by the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence after the Lithuanian Wars of Independence as part of a broader effort to improve soldiers’ education, strengthen professional military knowledge, and encourage the study of military science. The first issue appeared in March 1921 in Kaunas. The original journal served as a forum for military education and professional discussion. Its coverage included military organization and administration, unit management, military technology, weapons, military history, reviews of military publications, and questions concerning the psychological and philosophical dimensions of military service. Contributors addressed subjects ranging from the 1863 uprising and historical military experience to fear, life, and death. The publication therefore combined practical instruction with historical, intellectual, and cultural material relevant to officers and soldiers. Mūsų žinynas initially appeared every two months. In 1929 it became a monthly publication, reflecting the development of Lithuania’s interwar military institutions and the journal’s role in disseminating professional knowledge. Between 1921 and 1940, 184 issues were published, comprising approximately 21,700 pages. Circulation was reported at 3,000 copies annually during 1921–1923, 1,000 during 1924–1932, and 2,500 after 1933. These figures indicate that the journal was a specialist publication intended primarily for the Lithuanian military and related scholarly or institutional audiences rather than a mass-market periodical. The journal’s editorial scope changed over time. In 1925, military history ceased to be treated as a separate regular field within Mūsų žinynas after the establishment of Karo archyvas, a publication devoted specifically to military history. In 1937, Mūsų žinynas was reorganized with a stronger emphasis on military education and preparedness. It also issued or carried supplements connected with military scholarship and professional reading, including Kardas, Karo archyvas, Karo literatūros rodyklė, and Karo mokslų draugijos žinios. Some of these publications later developed into independent periodicals or bibliographic and organizational outlets. The original run ended after the Soviet occupation of Lithuania in 1940. Its editorial history included Jonas Laurinaitis, Vytautas Steponaitis, Juozas Lanskoronskis, and Aleksandras Šimkus, who oversaw different portions of the interwar series. The journal also attracted contributions from prominent Lithuanian writers, historians, public figures, military specialists, and cultural scholars, including Jonas Basanavičius, Petras Biržys, Martynas Yčas, Augustinas Janulaitis, Paulius Galaunė, Kazys Musteikis, Petras Ruseckas, and Aleksandras Ružancovas. Mūsų žinynas was revived in July 2023 by the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania. The revived edition is published twice a year, retaining the historical title while bringing the journal back into the country’s contemporary military education and professional knowledge environment. Available reference material does not specify a separate commercial owner, subscription model, circulation figure, or standalone website for the revived publication. Its identity is best understood as an institutional military journal and historical publication title rather than as a conventional consumer brand.

Mūsų žinynas was established in the aftermath of the Lithuanian Wars of Independence, when the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence sought to improve the education of soldiers and develop a stronger national base for military science. The ministry supported the creation of a dedicated periodical, and the first issue was published in March 1921 in Kaunas. During its interwar run, the journal functioned as a professional and educational outlet for Lithuania’s armed forces. It published material on military organization, unit administration, training, weapons, technology, military history, military literature, psychology, and philosophy. Its articles could be practical and instructional, but the publication also treated broader questions about military culture and human experience. Examples included historical research on the 1863 uprising, a psychological discussion of fear, and philosophical reflections on life and death. Mūsų žinynas originally appeared once every two months. From 1929 onward it was published monthly. The complete interwar series comprised 184 issues and about 21,700 pages. Its circulation was 3,000 copies in 1921–1923, fell to 1,000 in 1924–1932, and rose to 2,500 after 1933. The journal’s institutional role was also reflected in its supplements and related publications. These included Kardas, Karo archyvas, Karo literatūros rodyklė, and Karo mokslų draugijos žinios. Karo archyvas became a separate military-history journal in 1925, after which Mūsų žinynas no longer published military history as a distinct regular section. A 1937 reorganization placed greater emphasis on military education and preparedness. The publication was discontinued in 1940 following the Soviet occupation of Lithuania. Its interwar editors included Jonas Laurinaitis for the opening issues, Vytautas Steponaitis for most of the early and middle run, Juozas Lanskoronskis for a short intervening sequence, and Aleksandras Šimkus for the final portion. Contributors came from Lithuania’s military, academic, literary, historical, and cultural circles. In July 2023, the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania revived Mūsų žinynas. The new edition is published twice annually, reconnecting the historical title with contemporary Lithuanian military education and professional discourse. The available reference material does not identify individual current editors, detailed circulation, or commercial distribution arrangements for the revived series.

• 2023

  Journal revived

  [1]Mūsų žinynasen.wikipedia.org

  The General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania revived Mūsų žinynas in July 2023 as a twice-yearly publication.

• 1940

  Interwar run ends

  [1]Mūsų žinynasen.wikipedia.org

  Publication ceased after the Soviet occupation of Lithuania. The interwar series had reached 184 issues.

• 1937

  Editorial reorganization

  [1]Mūsų žinynasen.wikipedia.org

  The journal was reorganized with increased emphasis on military education and preparedness.

• 1929

  Publication frequency becomes monthly

  [1]Mūsų žinynasen.wikipedia.org

  The journal changed from a bimonthly schedule to monthly publication.

• 1925

  Military history receives a separate publication

  [1]Mūsų žinynasen.wikipedia.org

  Karo archyvas was established as a separate military-history journal, reducing the role of military history as a distinct section in Mūsų žinynas.

• 1921

  First issue published

  [1]Mūsų žinynasen.wikipedia.org

  The Lithuanian Ministry of Defence launched Mūsų žinynas in March 1921 in Kaunas as a journal for military education and military science.

An institutional Lithuanian military journal combining professional military education, military science, historical research, preparedness, and related intellectual discussion.

• Military journal · 1921

  Interwar Mūsų žinynas

  The original Lithuanian-language series published from 1921 to 1940. It covered military education, organization, administration, technology, weapons, military history, publication reviews, psychology, and philosophy. The run comprised 184 issues and approximately 21,700 pages, with publication frequency changing from bimonthly to monthly in 1929.

• Military journal · 2023

  Revived Mūsų žinynas

  The revived edition launched in July 2023 under the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania. It continues the title as a contemporary Lithuanian military publication appearing twice a year. Specific editorial staff, circulation, and commercial distribution details are not identified in the available reference material.

• 2023

  Revival as a twice-yearly military journalOther

  Background

  The historic publication had been discontinued since 1940.

  Action taken

  The General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania revived the title and began publishing it twice a year.

  Aftermath

  Mūsų žinynas returned to Lithuania’s military publishing landscape as an active institutional journal.

  Source

• 1937

  Reorientation toward military education and preparednessStrategy

  Background

  The journal’s earlier remit included military history alongside professional and educational subjects, while Karo archyvas had become a separate military-history publication.

  Action taken

  Mūsų žinynas was reorganized to focus more strongly on military education and preparedness.

  Aftermath

  The reorganization clarified the journal’s role within Lithuania’s military publishing environment before publication ended in 1940.

  Source

• 1929

  Change to monthly publicationStrategy

  Background

  The journal had initially appeared every two months during the early interwar period.

  Action taken

  Mūsų žinynas adopted a monthly publication schedule.

  Aftermath

  The change expanded the journal’s regular publishing cadence during its interwar development.

  Source

• 2023

  Mūsų žinynas is revived after its interwar publication run[1]Mūsų žinynasen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The historical Lithuanian military journal returned in July 2023 under the publication of the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania. The revived journal is issued twice a year.

1. 1Mūsų žinynasen.wikipedia.org