Parade in Janonio (Vienybės) Square
Alvydas Vaitkevičius: I found this picture at booksellers next to Merkurijus without any inscriptions or signs...
About the Parade. Throughout the Soviet Period in all the USSR, Lithuania and Kaunas included, there were “Joyful demonstrations of the working people” which were usually called parades organised twice a year (on May 1st and November 7th). Of course, they were neither joyful nor attended in free will: they were obligatory, and everyone had to go to them, workers, labourers, school and university students included. During the pre-Brezhnev period, people were forced to attend by generating the all-encompassing anxiety and because people tried to avoid “having business with the official institutions”. Later gradually, the method of the whip and candy was adopted, i.e. the fear of official institutions diminished considerably, but workers started getting payments for participating in the parades (even though it was not official, of course). In Janonio Square, a wooden tribune was built, and during the celebration, functionaries of the party and the Executive Committee would stand there waving at the passing marchers, the streets was decorated and prepared for the celebration. During the day of the celebration, guards were positioned around the block and all traffic was forbidden. Only pedestrians were allowed and only if they were on the lists of special permit holders. When passing the tribune, the marchers had to eagerly shout hooray or even better, wave hands, flowers or flags. Those who did not do it, or did it inappropriately were in serious trouble. I can try to guess the period from the tribune, as it is very modest, and soldiers stand on each side. During the Khrushchev era (i.e. after the death of Stalin), soldiers would not stand in queues like this, and the tribune was constructed from blocks and was larger and more solemn. Well, the view of the square has changed a bit as well. (2014)