There is a dogma that military tradition and the gun culture have been crucial in winning wars throughout history, even against much more powerful aggressors. Military traditions have played an important role in shaping the fighting spirit of soldiers—creataing esprit de corps. It is also assumed that societies with a gun culture are better prepared for war. In Lithuania and Poland, military traditions were very deep. The Finns fought in the armies of other countries until the twentieth century and had no military tradition. Nevertheless, in 1939–1940, the Poles and Finns fought against the aggressor, while Lithuanians did not. This suggests that there is no direct correlation between military tradition and the will to fight. Gun cultures were similar in all three countries, which strengthened the defense capabilities after the decision to defend was taken. However, the gun culture does not predict the decision to resist aggression. A crucial factor in the decision to fight for freedom is the will to fight, the development of which becomes a key challenge for the state.