Civil Registration and Marriage in the Soviet Lithuania in 1940–1969 Cover Image

Civilinė metrikacija ir santuoka sovietinėje Lietuvoje 1940–1969 m.
Civil Registration and Marriage in the Soviet Lithuania in 1940–1969

Author(s): Dalia Marcinkevičienė
Subject(s): History
Published by: Vytauto Didžiojo Universitetas
Keywords: Soviet period; family; civil registration; marriage reasons

Summary/Abstract: The author of the article discusses the norms and development of legal marriage and civil registration in Lithuania in the period of 1940-1969 as well as introduces the new marriage law confirmed by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Lithuania and adopted by the Popular Seimas on August 15, 1940. This newly adopted law abolished the essential legal marriage norms which functioned in the interwar Lithuania and decided upon new marriage and divorce rules, i. e. civil registration. In the postwar period, improved and adjusted marriage law clauses were included into the existing USSR Civil Code on the Family and Marriage, adopted in 1936 and valid on the territory of Lithuania. This code was supplemented by the decree of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Council of July 8, 1944, „On the increase of state aid for pregnant women, mothers with many children and unmarried mothers; on increased protection for mothers and children; on the introduction of the title „Mother Heroine’ and the creation of the “Glory of Motherhood” order and “Motherhood Medals“. The family code of 1936 and the decree of 1944 became the main family and marriage laws in Lithuania; they were valid in Lithuania till 1969 when the Supreme Council of the Lithuanian SSR confirmed a new code on the Family and Marriage. The author in a detailed and consistent way presents decrees issued by the Lithuanian Supreme Council and the Council of Ministers in 1940–1969 which regulated marriage norms and procedures. Though these decrees did not introduce any essential changes, they are important for the investigation of the Soviet family policy. The article also reviews the Soviet press of 1945-1970 which reveals propaganda mechanism that shaped Lithuanian people’s attitude towards marriage. The main sources used in this research were the Government News as well as the News of the Supreme Council of the Lithuanian SSR of 1940 and of 1945-1969.

  • Issue Year: 73/2009
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 51-58
  • Page Count: 8
  • Language: Lithuanian