After the war, the native population of Lithuania Minor had virtually disappeared – victims of genocide, deportation, and silence.

#LithuaniaMinor #History #WWII #GenocideRemembrance #Lithuania

Tens of thousands of refugees were killed as they fled across the frozen Curonian Lagoon; 73 ships were sunk, including the Wilhelm Gustloff, claiming about 9,500 lives.

As the Red Army advanced to crush Nazi Germany, countless local civilians – Germans, Prussian Lithuanians (lietuvinkai), Masurians and others – were massacred, deported, or perished in camps. Entire villages were destroyed, women assaulted, and property looted.

🕯️ October 16 – Day of the Genocide of the Inhabitants of Lithuania Minor

Declared by the Seimas of Lithuania in 2006, this day commemorates the tragic fate of Lithuania Minor’s people during the Soviet invasion of East Prussia in October 1944.

In 2019, the ECHR ruled: the USSR committed genocide in Lithuania. 1 in 2 men, 1 in 8 women, 1 in 15 children — were victims of soviet brutality.

In 1945, four youths were burned alive near Pandėlis. One mother had her scalp ripped off along with her hair. Pregnant women disemboweled, babies smashed against walls, genitals mutilated post-mortem.

Soviet brutality in villages: in 1945, all men and women in Radučiai were murdered. Neighbors trying to help were shot. Mutilated corpses were displayed in town squares: genitals in mouths, bodies nailed to walls. A Soviet terror tactic.

NKVD and Soviet collaborators rampaged through Lithuanian villages—rape, arson, mass killings—all under the guise of “suppressing partisans.” Women were raped and abused in prisons. Even children and the elderly suffered in camps. Some victims’ bodies were publicly desecrated.

In 1944–45, the Red Army “liberated” Lithuania—bringing with it arrests, imprisonment, sadistic torture, and systematic violence against civilians. The number of prisoners reached 16,591—second only to Ukraine in the USSR.

On May 9, Russia celebrates “Victory Day” with parades and fanfare. But for nations once occupied by the Soviets—Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, Poland—it’s not a day of triumph, but of terror remembered: occupation, genocide, torture, mass killings.
#VanagoLietuva #NotVictoryButHell #May9

#LithuanianPartisans | Partisans of the Vytenis unit of the Žemaitija district. Telšiai county, Luokė municipality, Gintiniai forest. August–September 1948.

lyavaizdai.archyvai.lt/vaizdai/3/do...

#LithuanianSpecialArchives

6/6 After returning, she lived modestly—but her life speaks volumes. Marcelė was a fighter in silence, a light in the underground, a symbol of values. Let us remember her not only as a hero, but as someone who chose resistance when it was most dangerous. 🇱🇹

5/6
Arrested in 1944, tortured by the KGB, imprisoned in Lukiškės, later deported to a labor camp in Komi. She endured exile, imprisonment, and humiliation. Though her body suffered, her spirit never broke. She remained faithful to the ideal she gave her life for—Lithuania’s freedom.

4/6
During the Soviet occupation, she joined the resistance: passed information, supported partisans and their families. For her, resistance was a sacred duty. She fought without weapons, but with no less danger—with courage and dignity.

3/6
After the occupation of the Vilnius region, she stayed in the city. Worked in the underground, aided the arrested, gathered intelligence, and secretly collaborated with Lithuanian counterintelligence. She resisted Polish rule silently, but persistently—out of loyalty to her homeland.

2/6
Born in 1898 in the Ukmergė region, she was raised in a patriotic family. Her parents instilled love for Lithuania, education, and responsibility. As a teenager, she joined the national revival—planting the seeds of her devotion to freedom.

Marcelė Kubiliūtė was one of the most remarkable women in interwar Lithuania. A journalist, nurse, volunteer, and supporter of the Lithuanian army. She was the first woman awarded all of the nation's highest state honors.

5️⃣ A Lasting Impact
LŠS shaped Lithuania’s defense, national pride, and resistance traditions. From the interwar years to the post-war partisan struggle, it proved that national spirit and preparedness could outlive occupation.

4️⃣ LŠS & the Partisan War
Former LŠS members became leaders in the partisan movement (1944–1953). Their military skills, discipline, and underground networks helped organize one of the longest-lasting armed resistance movements in post-war Europe. The fight for Lithuania’s freedom continued.

3️⃣ Soviet Occupation & Suppression
In 1940, the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania and banned LŠS. Many members were arrested, deported, or executed. But the Riflemen’s spirit wasn’t broken—those who survived would later become key figures in the Lithuanian anti-Soviet resistance.

2️⃣ Interwar Period
LŠS was more than a paramilitary group. It organized civic education, cultural activities, and military training. By preparing society for potential threats, it helped strengthen national defense and unity. This training would later prove crucial in Lithuania’s fight for freedom.

1️⃣ Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union – A Legacy of Resistance 🇱🇹
LŠS played a vital role in Lithuania’s defense and national identity during the interwar period (1919–1940). It trained citizens, supported the military, and promoted patriotism. But its influence didn’t end there. 🧵👇

LŠS founder Vladas Putvinskis with the Kelmė Riflemen, 1920s.

Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union's (LŠS) founder Vladas Putvinskis with the Kelmė Riflemen, 1920s.

5️⃣ Why Does This Matter?
Kosciuška & these uprisings shaped Lithuania’s resistance culture. The struggle for independence never stopped—it just took different forms, leading to the 20th-century partisan war.

4️⃣ 1863 – Lithuania’s First Guerrilla War?
The 1863 Uprising was different. Rebels used guerrilla tactics, hiding in forests & striking russians. Leaders like K. Kalinauskas & Z. Sierakauskas were executed. After this, Russification intensified—Lithuanian press was banned, repression deepened.

3️⃣ 1831 – A Fight for Lost Independence
After the partition of the Commonwealth, resistance didn’t fade. The 1831 Uprising aimed to restore independence. It spread to Lithuania, where rebels formed temporary governments & fought russians — until they were crushed. This led to increased repression.

2️⃣ Tadas Kosciuška & the 1794 Uprising
Before the 19th-century uprisings, Tadas Kosciuška led the 1794 Uprising to restore the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. His forces briefly reclaimed Vilnius before being crushed. Though unsuccessful, his fight inspired later resistance movements.

1️⃣ The Roots of Resistance – The Uprisings of 1831 & 1863 🇱🇹
Lithuanian resistance didn’t start with 20th-century partisans. It traces back to uprisings against the Russian Empire in the 19th century. The fight for freedom has deep roots in our history. 🧵👇