LearningLithuania

Hell’s Angels — Lithuanian Style

noreply@blogger.com (paulwarnz@warnagiris.org (CDW)) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:15:00 +0000

U.S. and Afghan soldiers in Zabul Province give high marks to the Lithuanian Special Forces, who like to ride these captured Taliban motorbikes to sneak up on, and chase Taliban fighters. The “LithSof” are on their way to becoming living legends: Both Afghans and Americans report that the Taliban are afraid of the Lithuanians. Stories about them are filled with dangerous escapades and humor.

by Michael Yon

Americans say that the Lithuanians are sort of a weaponized version of Borat, who think nothing of sauntering around a base in nothing but flip-flops and underwear. “They look like mountain men. They never shave, sometimes don’t bathe, and often roll out the gate wearing nothing but body armor and weapons. Not even a t-shirt,” an American soldier told me. The Lithuanians may be a little bit nuts, but the Americans love to have them around because Lithuanians love to fight, and when you need backup, you can count on them. That contrasts starkly with many of the NATO “partners.” Maybe when your country spends almost a half-century with the Soviet boot on its neck, its first generation of free soldiers know what freedom is worth — and that you sometimes have to fight for it.

War Chronicle of the Partisans

noreply@blogger.com (paulwarnz@warnagiris.org (CDW)) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 18:36:00 +0000

INTRODUCTION

For the first time in Lithuanian history, we present the War Chronicle of the Partisans in English and Lithuanian. Prepared by Algis Rupainis, this Chronicle is a day-by-day account of Lithuanian's resistance against occupying forces. The Chronicle reflects all partisan warfare throughout Lithuania. A few less meaningful events have been included because the volume of information available from various parts of Lithuania is uneven. If any disparity exists between sources, alternative accounts are shown in brackets [ ]. Abridged versions are also noted in brackets. Names have been revised according to official sources.

Administrative denomination of regions is shown as it appears in contemporary official sources. After each event, abbreviations are provided in full text.

Currently in English are published these parts (of IX) of Chronicle:
Part I (June of 1944 - End of 1944)
Part II (January of 1945 - June of 1945)
Part III (July of 1945 - End of 1945)
Part IV (January of 1946 - August of 1946)
Part V (September of 1946 - March of 1947)
Part VI (April of 1947 - March of 1948)
Part VII (April of 1948 - April of 1949)

CREDITS

Prepared: Algis Rupainis
A Special Thanks To: Voruta - Lithuanian Historical Weekly and Vartiklis. for permission to re-publish.
Lithuanian Website Design and Editing: Jonas Skendelis, [Lithuania], Volunteer, Lithuanian Global Resources
English Translation: Gintautas Kaminskas, [Australia] Volunteer, Lithuanian Global Resources
English Website Design and Editing: Sandra Souveskas [USA], Webmaster, Lithuanian Global Resources
Abbreviations

Abbre-
viation Meaning in Lithuanian Meaning in English
ALA Algimanto apygarda Algimantas Command
BDLS Bendrasis demokratinis Lietuvos sàjûdis General Democratic Union of Lithuania
BDPS Bendrasis demokratinio pasiprieðinimo sàjûdis General Democratic Resistance Movement
DA Dainavos apygarda Dainava Command
DKA Didþiosios Kovos apygarda Great Battle Command
DKR Didþiosios Kovos rinktinë Great Battle Special Team
GP Gynybos pajëgos Defence Forces
JKA Jungtinë Kæstuèio apygarda Joint Command of Kestutis
KA Kæstuèio apygarda Kestutis Command
KLT Karo Lauko teismas Court Martial
LF Lietuviø frontas Lithuanian Front
LGK Lietuvos gynimo komitetas Lithuanian Defence Committee
LIK Lietuvos iðlaisvinimo komitetas Lithuanian Liberation Committee
LIT Lietuvos iðlaisvinimo taryba Lithuanian Liberation Council
LLA
LLA OS
LLA SA
LLA VS
Lietuvos laisvës armija
OS - LLA Organizacinis sektorius (vëliau - organizacinis skyrius)
ÐA - 3-oji LLA Ðiaurës apygarda
VS - LLA Veikiantysis sektorius (Vanagai) Lithuanian Freedom Army
OS -LLA Organisational Sector (later - Organisational Section)
SA - 3rd LLA Northern Command
VS -LLA Active Sector (Vanagai - "Hawks")
LLKS Lietuvos laisvës kovotojø sàjûdis Lithuanian Freedom Fighters' Union
LPS Lietuvos partizanø sàjunga Lithuanian Partisans' Union
LTT Lietuviø tautinë taryba Lithuanian National Council
PA Prisikëlimo apygarda Revival Command
PL Pietø Lietuva South Lithuania
PLP Pietø Lietuvos partizanai South Lithuanian Partisans
RA Raudonoji armija Red Army
RL Rytø Lietuva East Lithuanian
SRL Ðiaurës Rytø Lietuva Northwest Lithuania
TA Tauro apygarda Tauras Command
TAR Tëvynës apsaugos rinktinë Homeland Defence Special Team
TGS Tautos gelbëjimo sàjunga National Assistance Union
VA Vytauto apygarda Vytautas Command
VEA VÈA - Vyèio apygarda Vytis Command
VGPS VGPÐ - Vyriausiasis ginkluotøjø pajëgø ðtabas Supreme Armed Forces Command
PGPV Vyriausioji ginkluotøjø pajëgø vadovybë Supreme Armed Forces Leadership
VL Vakarø Lietuva West Lithuania
VLIK Vyriausiasis Lietuvos iðlaisvinimo komitetas Supreme Committee for the Liberation of Lithuania
VLKSO Vieningos laisvës kovos sàjûdþio organizacija United Freedom Fight Movement

Organisation
ZA ÞA - Þemaièiø apygarda Samogitian Command
ZL ÞA - Þemaièiø legionas Samogitian Legion

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We were forced to go out and defend our country, our farms, the very land splashed with the blood of our

forefathers. Human dignity obligated us to resist the trampling of our human rights, to resist servitude. We cannot

accept the lies, the deceit, the perversion of truth and other evils harmful to our nation. Our efforts are

praiseworthy. We have truth on our side and are justified in the eyes of the civilized world. The Almighty will

bless and support our struggle."

J. Kasperavicius

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

War Chronicle of the Partisans

June 24, 1944
General M. Peciulionis publishes a proclamation to establish a Defence Command or "Special Defence

Teams" consisting of approximately 35 men to be attached to local headquarters of each region.
LKA 11-49. VV

July 9 1944
General M. Peciulionis, the only remaining member of the VLIK War Council, begins to organise resistance

to the occupation of Lithuania.
L-124. VV

July 13, 1944
The Red Army [RA] occupies Vilnius.
LPK-13. OK

July 15 1944
KGB [State Security Committee] operatives in the Lithuanian SSR arrive in Vilnius.
LPK-38. OK

July 17, 1944: Siauliai
General M. Peciulionis ("Bushman") [Miskinis] signs Military Order #1: If it is impossible to stop the Red

Army, LLA forces are to conceal their weapons and join the underground resistance.
L-124.260.LK-57. VV

July 20, 1944
Military Order #21: The LLA is to be divided into two sectors:
The Operational Sector [VS] and
The Organisational Sector [OS - or the Reserve].
Captain A. Karalius is appointed head of the OS and A. Eidimtas the deputy leader of LLA.
L-124.260.LK-57. VV

July 24, 1944
The Central Committee of the LKP [Lithuanian Communist Party], without withdrawing personnel from

normal duties, creates regional "destroyer battalions" by activating party-soviet cadres, Communist Youth

members, NKVD [milicy], and Red Army personnel.
[LKA 17-94, LPK-329].

Summer, 1944: Town of Batakiai, District of Taurage
Led by Germans, LLL Intelligence Training Camps begin operations. The leader of the Lithuanian group is P.

Ceponis [Leonas]. As the Russian-German front approaches, armed Lithuanians begin to wage partisan

warfare.
RZ-50. KA

Summer of 1944
The first partisan units from Suvalkija are formed and leaders are selected as follow:
Captain S. Staniskis-Antanaitis: Paliu forest of Marijampole
Lieutenant M. Kuzmickis-Briedis: Prienu district
A. Abromaitis-Spyglis: Forests of Kazlu Ruda
V. Gavenas-Vampyras: District of Marijampole-Kija
LKA 1-3. TA

August 1, 1944
The 4th Riflemen's Division of the USSR's NKVD Army, under the command of Major-General P. Vetrov,

commence military operations in Lithuania.
AL-160. OK

August 1, 1944
Occupying forces begin to mobilize military units; Lithuanian men born between 1908-1926 are subject to

conscription.
AL-160, LKA 17-5. OK

August 3, 1944: Siesikai in the District of Ukmerge
Opening fire on occupied regional administration buildings, the combined partisan units of J. Dovydenas and
H. Sembergas attack Siesikai.
LKA 10-6. VEA

August, 1944: Atkociunai village in the Ukmerge district [Deltuva County].
Leaders of the LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army] gather. The Ukmerge district is divided into 6 LLA regions.

The 1st LLA Region [Counties of Pagiriai, Siesikai, and part of Deltuva county] falls under the command of

Lieutenant D. Vaitelis. The 2nd LLA Region [Taujenai county and part of Deltuva county] is commanded by

Captain J. Taponis. The Vytis Command is formed from these regions.
L-315, LKA 10-5. VEA

August, 1944
General M. Peciulionis, LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army], Lieutenant K. Veverskis, and engineer Snarskis

establish the LGK [Lithuanian Defence Committee] to provide leadership to all partisan units actively involved in

Lithuanian resistance.
L-125. LKA 14-10. VV

August, 1944: District of Telsiai, near Plateliai
The Hawks [Vanagai] begins active resistance from command posts in the village of Skirpsiai, the county of

Alsedziai, and the farmstead of A. Pocius.
LKA 7-46. ZA

August 15-17, 1944: District of Zarasai
The Hawk's [Vanagai's] leader, Captain A. Kazanas, together with A. Streikus and his sons Izidorius and

Juozapas, gather 150-350 armed volunteers and attack the Zarasai jail to liberate wrongfully imprisoned

Lithuanians.
L-239. (LKA 14-51. LKA 16-68). VA

August 19, 1944: District of Zarasai
The partisan unit of V. Sutas disarms the Soviet militia of Antaliepte, seizing 8 automatic rifles, 10 grenades

and a large quantity of ammunition.
LKA 14-58

End of August 1944: Trakai, Ukmerge district, and Musninkai county
The partisan teams of:
J. Misiunas,
A. Galinis, The Black Mask Unit [Juodoji Kauke],
E. Kavaliauskas, The Clown Unit [Klounas], and
Z. Kacevicius, The Woodpecker Unit [Genys]
are active in the area of Trakai. By September, the squad has a name: The Great Battle Special Team

[Didziosios kovos rinktine - DKR]. Their leader, J. Misiunas, is known as The Green Devil [Zalias Velnias].
D. L-325, VDr. DKA

August 31, 1944: Zarasai district of Antazaves county, between the villages of Maniuliskiai and Lygalaukiiai
A group of partisans led by A. Streikus ambush the enemy, seriously injuring P. Timofejev, the Soviet militia

chief of Antazaves county, a militia man, and 2 Soviet soldiers.
LKA 14-53. LKA 16-74

September 1-6, 1944: Alytus District
Armed enemy units perform massive searches on farmsteads and in forests, detaining approximately 500

Lithuanian men for conscription.
LKA 17-5. DA

September 4, 1944: Siesikai county in the Ukmerge District
Partisans assume command of the militia headquarters and administrative centre and destroy vital documents.
L-325. 491. VEA

September 9, 1944: On the road between Pagiriai and Ukmerge
Partisans ambush and kill A. Dambrauskas, [Supreme Soviet Deputy of the LSSR and secretary of the

Communist party for the county of Pagiriai and Vasiliauskas], the President of the area Communist party, and

the district LLKJS [Communist Youth] committee secretary in Ragauskaite.
AKL-28. VEA

September 13, 1944: Merkine county of the Alytus district near the village of Bugoniai
Approximately 100 men gather to form two armed resistance units. Partisans select Julius Mikalonis and
Jonas Kudarauskas, both from the village of Klepociai, as their leaders.
L-188. DA

September 15, 1944: District of Alytus
Partisans, active in the counties of Alove and Merkine, assemble. Led by A. Krajauskas, they form a plan to

capture enemy weapons.
B. L-187. LKA 17-5. DA

September 1944
B. Zinkevicius-Skudutis assembles a group of 18 sworn LLA (Lithuanian Freedom Army) partisans from

Saldutiskis county in the Svencionys district.
LKA 16-19. VA

Autumn 1944: County of Onuskis, Trakai district
Led by Jonas Matukevicius ("The Wolf") [Vilkas], a group of 40 partisans disrupt enemy activities in the

area.
L-188, LKA 17-9. DA

October 1, 1944: Dusetai county of Zarasai district
An 18-man partisan group, under the leadership of J. Savickas, is attacked by NKVD troops. In the fighting,

Savickas is killed, his brother and several other partisans captured.
LKA 16-70. VA

October 7, 1944: Mazeikiai district near Seda
Approximately 100 members of the TAR [Homeland Defence Special Team] are killed while engaged in

combat with the Red Army on the German-USSR front.
KVP.A

October, 1944: Town of Vadokliai, district of Ukmerge
A partisan unit led by P. Kecorius captures the town and liberates six local residents who had been placed

under arrest.
L-321, 491. VEA

October 22, 1944
The Tigers [Tigras] special team of the LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army] is formed. Operating in the districts

of Zarasai, Svencionys and Utena, their leader is L. Vilutis [Arunas]. The officer-in-charge at headquarters is J.

Bulka ("Diamond") [Deimantas], president of the War Tribunal is Father P. Liutkus ("Black Peter") [Juodasis

Petras]. On October 23, a total of 13 squads are formed.
va 4. 489. LKA 16-7. 130. LPK-497. VL-115. VA

October 26, 1944: Birzai district
Partisans liberate 48 wrongfully imprisoned Lithuanians from the guard house.
L-23. 491. VEA

September through December 1944: Zarasai district
20 active partisan units are led by P.Zemaitis, J. Zavackas, V. Sutas, M. Medinis ("The Bear"} ["Lokys"], A.

Ivaska, K. Ramanauskas, A. Slapsinskas, J. Savickas, M. Paskonis ("Don Quijote") [Don Kichotas] and

others.
LKA 16-68. VA

November 10, 1944: Town of Valkininkai in the district of Trakai
A partisan unit led by S. Aleksa attacks Valkininkai. The president of the local Communist committee is

wounded and enemy government buildings set ablaze.
L-23. 481. KDK. LKA 17-14. DA

November 11, 1944: Town of Onuskis in the district of Trakai
A partisan unit led by J. Matukevicius ("The Wolf") [Vilkas] seizes command of Onuskis, destroying the

militia building.
KDK. L-23. LKA 17-14. DA

November, 1944
Mykolas Kazanas, on orders from his father, Captain A. Kazanas, journeys to the forests of Antazave to

unite the Zarasai district partisans.
LKA 16-72. VA

November, 1944: Near the fortress-hill of Ginuciai, in the county of Ignalina
The first armed encounter between the Tiger Special Team of the LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army] and the

occupying forces ensues under the command of Lieutenant J. Gimzauskas ("Birch")[Berzas]. There are no

partisans casualties. Encouraged by their success, the partisans, under the command of J. Tumenas, attack

Alanta in the district of Utena, setting fire to the communist party building and the KGB garrison. According to

eye-witness accounts, 13 soviet activists are killed.
L-295. 489. LKA 16-7. 8. VL-131. VA

November 17, 1944: Alsedziai county in the district of Telsiai
Trained by German military intelligence, A. Kubilius, together with 4 friends, parachute into Alsedziai county.

His mission: re-established the organisational structure of the LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army], later known as

the Zhemaitijan Legion.
LKA 15-293. LKA 18-17. 57. ZA

November 22, 1944
A direct order is issued to troops of the Hawks' [Vanagai] brigade: provisions will first be requisitioned from

state farms then from enemies of the Lithuanian nation. Only as a last resort will provisions be requested from

ordinary Lithuanian citizens. Then, only after a receipt is issued.
L-83. VV

End of 1944: Kelme county of Raseiniai district
A special team headquarters for the Vegele group is created in Kelme. Leaders include P. Podolskis and A.

Zaskevisius.
L-235. 485. LKA 12-6. KA

End of 1944
P. Paulaitis and V. Gudavisius activate the Echo [Aidas] partisan group comprised of members from the LF

[Lithuanian Front] and Union of Defenders of Lithuanian Freedom [Lietuvos laisves gynejo sajungos], who are

active in the Jurbarkas area from 1941-1944. This group is to become the nucleus of The Lithuanian Freedom

Fighters Special Team [Lietuvos laisves gynejo rinktine].
L-234. RZ-43. 44. KA

End of 1944
Partisan groups active in the Simonys grove and Troskunai forests of Panevezys district, incorporated into

larger units. The most active organisers and fighters are the Slucka brothers [Antanas, Bronius and Stasys], the

Stanevisius brothers [Jonas, Albertas and Vytautas], A. Pasmokis, P. Tunkevisius, S. Josys, Aviation Lieutenant

V. Girdenis, Lieutenant A. Malinauskas ("Dapple") [Margis] and Lieutenant Laplovas ("Oak")[Azuolas].
PAK. ALA

December, 1944: Ukmerge district
The VEA [Vytis Command] is formed from the 1st and 2nd LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army] brigades.

There are four units with about 250 fighters; the leaders are J. Kristaponis, D. Vaitelis, A. Vaiciunas, and J.

Pozeceka. The officer-in-command is J. Kristaponis, his adjutant Lieutenant D. Vaitelis ("Moose") [Briedis].

Members of the headquarters staff are Lieutenant A. Danyla [Kernius], B. Eglinskas [Saulius], M. Smetona

[Ripka], J. Dambrauskas, J. Survila [Sarunas"], B. Kadzys [Vytautas].
L-315. LKA 10-5. (L-491. G-154). VEA

End of 1944: Raseiniai district
Approximately 19 partisan groups are active in the area, having recruited approximately 2,000 men.
L-235. LKA 12-7. KA

December 1, 1944
Partisans led by A. Eidintas capture Seredzius. Nine county activists are killed, numerous prisoners released.

One partisan is killed. On June 7-8, 1945, the partisans once again capture Seredzius.
AKL-21. L-23. 485. RZ-60. KA

December 3, 1944
The Lithuanian Communist Party and the Council of "People's" Commissars of the LSSR order the creation

of approximately 30-40 destroyer [stribai] units from Soviet activists in each county of the LSSR.
LKA 17-94. LPK-332. OK

December 4-5, 1944: Town of Girkalnis, district of Raseinia
A partisan group led by A. Stasaitis attacks Girkalnis, disrupting the conscription of men into the Soviet Army

and liberating prisoners. A local communist official is killed.
L-235. 486. LKA 12-7. RZ-60. KA

December 7, 1944: Eisiskes
Thirty-one prisoners are liberated
L-23. DA

December 8, 1944: Butrimonys in the district of Alytus
Lead by P. Paulauskas [Sarunas], a group of partisans attack and free 6 imprisoned Lithuanians.
KDK. L-481. LKA 17-15. DA

December 10, 1944
The LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army] issues Battle Tactics Order # 4: Liquidate only the most dangerous

Soviet State officials and warn others [Soviets] not to carry out their duties.
L-24. LK-67. VV

December 12, 1944: Panemunis in the district of Rokiskis
Partisans assume command of Panemunis.
L-23. VA

December 15, 1944
The Bear [Lokys] Brigade of the LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army] is formed from partisans who have been

active in Dusetai, Kriaunai, and Obeliai counties of Zarasai district as well as parts of the Antazave district. Their

leader is Mykolas Kazanas [Mutka or Siaubas], his adjutant B. Galvonas. Headquarters is located in the pine

forest of Antazave. The first issue of the newspaper Independence [Nepriklausomybe] is published.
L-293. 489. LKA 16-72. VA

December 15, 1944: Town of Grinkiskis in the district of Kedainiai
Partisans assume control of Grinkiskis.
L-23. 488. KA

December, 1944: The forests of Balbieriskis in the district of Marijampole.
A group of partisans, led by V. Raskauskas, continues paritisan activities.

December, 1944
The special Tigers ["Tigras"] team of The LLA is augmented by a 12-man paratroops team trained by the

Germans. Dropped into the forests of the district of Svencionys, their leader is J. Basys [Putinas].
LKA 16-8. 9. LKA 18-41. VA

December, 1944: The forests of Burbiskis in the district of Zarasai
A 24-man partisan unit under the command of Lieutenant A. Slapsinskas, is attacked by Soviet forces and

defeated. Slapsinskas and 5 freedom-fighters are killed, numerous partisans are taken prisoner. Some freedom-

fighters escape to join other units.
LKA 14-54. VA

December 16, 1944: Cekiske county of Kaunas district
In an 8 hour battle, partisans kill 3 NKVD agents and injure 6. To avenge the loss, from December 17

through December 21, Soviet agents incinerate 29 farmsteads in the villages of Butkiskiai, Vosbutai, Baukiai and

Juodaiciaio. 56 people are killed, 68 arrested.
AL-198. KA

December 16, 1944: A pine forest in the county of Krakiai in the Kedainys district
Approximately 300 partisans fight throughout the day under the command of V. Pabarcius. They defend their

fortified camp against the Soviet attack. Partisans from the forests of Paliepiai under the command of Captain K.

Bendzius and the Linden Hill [Liepkalnis] group, led by A. Sibicius, aid the group. Approximately 80-90 men

and officers of the enemy force are killed. V. Pabarcius is forced to withdraw to the forests of Lenciai.
L-18, MK2-88. KA

November 11 to December 22, 1944: Panevezys district
Three groups of German-trained paratroops are dropped into the area. The leaders are Lieutenant A. Silas

{"Raven"} [Kovas], Lieutenant V. Jazokas [Petraitis] and Lieutenant S. Girdziunas ("May") [Geguzis]. Later,

these groups form the basis for the 3rd command of Siaures LLA [Northern Lithuanian Freedom Army].
LKA 10-10. LKA 18-40. 41. SA

December 25-26, 1944: In the forest of Burbiskis in the county of Anyksciai
Soviet troops attack a combined partisan division composed of men from units in AnyksSiai, Kurkliai,

Kavarskas and Skiemonys. The division is led by Lithuanian Army Warrant Officer Kazys Tyla. The partisans

flee to the forests of Ramuldava and break-up into small groups. On April 28th, 1945, Kazys Tyla is captured

by the enemy, forced to wade into Rubikiai Lake, and gunned down.
TRr. RL

December 26-27, 1944: The pine forest of Antazave in Zarasai district
The Soviet's army surrounds the partisans of the Bear's [Lokys] special team. After a day of battle, 85

partisans are able to escape under the cover of darkness. J. Kairys is killed, M. Kazanas injured. There are

differing accounts on the number of injuries sustained by the enemy. After the battle, the remaining partisans

separate, remaining relatively inactive throughout the winter.
DL-29. L-293. (L-489. LKA 16-73.) VA

December 28, 1944: Kaunas district near Raudondvaris
LLA (Lithuanian Freedom Army) partisan leader K. Veverskis ("Senior") [Senis] is killed in action.
L-126. 261. LK-621. RZ 50. VV

End of 1944; Early 1945: County of Siluva, Raseiniai district
The Zebenkstis special team is formed. Elected leaders are: J. Zemaitis ("Songster"-"Dainius"), J. Ceponis

("Watchful" -"Budrys"), and and P. Bartkus. Sixty armed men are placed under their command.
L-234. LKA 12-6. KA

January 8, 1945: The pine forest of Antazave in the district of Zarasai
As the Bear's special team, under the command of V. Kuzma ("Bewitched") [Uzburtuolis], withdraws from

the forest, they encounter enemy troops near the village of Barsenai. In the attempt to flee across frozen Sartai

Lake, 9 partisans are lost. V. Kuzma and 3 other partisans manage to escape.
DL-32. LKA 16-73

January 12, 1945: The forest of Uzulenis in the county of Taujenai, the Ukmerge district
In a battle with NKVD troops, the leader of the VEA [Vytis Command], J. Kristaponis, together with 23

partisans, perish at the hands of the Soviet army. 80 Soviet soldiers are killed in battle.
L-491. LKA 10-7. MK2-145. VEA.

January 15, 1945
The DKR [Great Battle Special Team], which previously had about 500 fighters in 7 groups, is restructured

into the 5th division of LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army] and assigned to the Vilnius command of the LLA, now

re-established. When the command headquarters in Vilnius is destroyed, regional order-of-command turns into

shambles.
L-325. 326. . 74 VDr. DKA.

January, 1945: The village of Troskunai
Partisans from the districts of Troskunai, Viesintai, Simonys, Anyksciai, Kavarskas, Traupys, Taujenai and

Raguva gather to form special teams [Sarunas] led by Lieutenant A. Slucka [Sarunas] and assisted by

Lieutenant V. Girdenis ("The Pilot") [Lakunas] and Lieutenant A. Laplovas ("The Oak")[Azuolas].

Approximately 22 men are involved. After the meeting, partisans assume control of Troskunai without

resistance.
PAK ALA

January 1945: The forest of Birbiliskes, Gaure county, Taurage district
Partisans led by A. Jonikas [Rolandas] are attack by Soviet troops. While exact numbers are not know,

many partisans are killed in battle. The enemy assumes control of the area.
GM-188. 189. LKA 18-267. KA.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

War Chronicle of the Partisans: Part II

January, 1945: Town of Silavotas, District of Marijampole
Partisans assume control of Silavotas. A second assault on Silavotas is organised by Kuzmickas

["Moose"-"Briedis"], leader of the Prienai group. Tenative attack date: February 1945.
DP-78, 80, 81, L-161, 478. TA.

January 31, 1945: Town of Gudeliai, District of Marijampole
Partisans attack Gudeliai, liberate prisoners, and destroy county documents.
KDK, L-481. TA.

Early January, 1945
Senior Lieutenant D. Vaitelis [“Moose"-"Briedis] assumes command of VEA [Vytis Command]. J. Survila

[Sarunas] and Lieutenant. P. Blieka serve as adjutants.
L-491. VEA.

Early January, 1945: Town of Pagiriai, District of Ukmerge
VEA leader D. Vaitelis declares an amnesty for the "destroyers" [stribai] active in Pagiriai. Thirty-two armed

“destroyers” escape Pagiriai; some join J. Dambrauskas partisan group. L-321, 491, LKA 10-8. VEA.

Early January, 1945
The Vytautas special team is organised under the leadership of V. Gavenas [“Vampire”-"Vampyras"].

Assigned territories include the Counties of Marijampole, Kalvarija and Liubavas in the District of Marijampole

and the Counties of Alvitas, Keturvalakiai, Bartininkai, Kybartai, Pajavonis, Grapiskiai, Vistyciai and Vilkaviskis

in the District of Vilkaviskis.
LBD-185. TA.

Early January, 1945: County of Leipalingis, District of Lazdijai
A combined unit of approximately 60 partisans, under the command of Lieutenant Boleslovas Simkonis

[Sarunas] continues covert activities in Leipalingis county.
L-188. DA.

Early January, 1945: Zemaitija (Samogitia)
A group of 117 terrorists, led by NKVD Senior Lieutenant Sichov, is active in Zemaitija (Samogitia).

Impersonating Lithuanian partisans, they murder local villagers, hoping to compromise the partisan cause.
RP-11. OK.

Early February 1, 1945: Village of Meskyne, County of Turgeliai
A group of Polish partisans, under the command of Komar, disarm and kill 6 Soviet "destroyers" [stribai].

Along with the "destroyers", a militiaman from Turgeliai is murdered.
AKL-61

February 5, 1945: Near the Village of Maeiunai, County of Kapciamiestis, District of Lazdijai
Lieutenant B. Simkonis ["Sarunas"] and 6 freedom-fighters are killed by an NKVD armed unit.
LKA 17-16. DA.

February 8, 1945: County of Onuskis, District of Trakai.
Partisan units of V. Voveris ["Lightning"-"Zaibas"], A. Kuslys ["Wolf"-"Vilkas"] and J. Jakubavicius

["Rye"-"Rugys"] are attack by "destroyers" [stribai] and NKVD forces at the battle of Migucionys. 7 [possibly

9] partisans and 17 [possibly 20] Soviet soldiers die. After the battle, NKVD forces and "destroyers" murder

11 villagers and torch 15 farmsteads.
L-217, 481, KDK, (ALK-74, Al-232, LKA 17-15). DA.

February 9, 1945
J. Paleckis, M. Gedvilas and A. Snieckus, speaking for the Lithuanian SSR, offer "amnesty" to any partisan

who surrenders to Soviet authorities. Those who did not capitulate will face "a despicable death" and their

parents, wives, brothers and sisters would carry "eternal shame." The "amnesty" was repeated on May 31,

1945.
ALK. OK.

February 12, 1945: The Town of Miroslavas, District of Alytus
A partisan group led by A. Kuslys ["Wolf"-"Vilkas"] assume control of Miroslavas, eliminating 12

"destroyers", 2 militiamen and 3 communist activists. The group proceeds to torch several government buildings.
KDK, L-24, 481, LKA 17-15, 114, LPK-462. DA.

February 15, 1945: The Forest of Lenciai, Near the Village of Graubai, County of Krakiai, District of

Kedainiai
V. Pabarcius and 21 partisans are killed in a skirmish with Soviet troops in the forest of Lenciai.
L-376, MK2-102. KA.

February 15, 1945
Senior Lieutenant M. Kareckas ["Keistenis" - AKA: "Black Currant"-"Serbentas"] assumes command of the

5th LLA region, changing its name to the LLA 5th Command. J. Misiunas ["Green Devil"-"Zalias Velnias"] is

appointed adjutant. Assistants include:
J. Urbonavicius ["Dreamer"-"Svajunas"]: Head of Headquarters & Operations Section
S. Misiunas ["Senior"-"Senis"]: Responsible Authority, Weapons Section
E. Kavaliauskas ["Clown"-"Klounas"]: Organisation
D. Mataciunas ["Jasmin"-"Jazminas"]: Military Intelligence
J. Zvirblis ["Thorn"-"Dagilis"]: Counter-Espionage
J. Markulis ["Ghost" - "Vaiduoklis"]: Agitation and Propaganda
Father L. Puzonas: Army Chaplain of the Command
L-326, VDr. DKA.

February 1945
The 3rd LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army] Northern Command is formed to operate in the northern half of

the Panevezys district. Lieutenant S. Girdziunas ["May"-"Geguzis"] assumes command. His assistant and officer

-in-charge of headquarters is Lieutenant V. Jazokas ["Peter's Son"-"Petraitis"]. 500 men fall under their

command. Individual teams consisting of approximately 20 freedom fighters each are created. DL-4, PPS. SA.

February 1945
An estimated 200 partisans, led by J. Misiunas ["Green Devil"-"Zalias Velnias"], skirmish with an NKVD

unit. Reports indicate 20 partisans are killed.
L-329, 493. DKA.

February 20, 1945: Panevezys Railway Station
Partisans of the VEA [Vytis Command] attack Panevezys Railway Station.
L-25. VEA.

February 21, 1945: Village of Liepakojai, County of Simnas, District of Alytus
Without warning, NKVD troops attack partisans of the Kestutis group in the Village of Liepakojai and

execute approximately 20 partisans, including the group's leader, A. Kuslys ["Wolf"-"Vilkas"].
LPK-468. DA.

February 23, 1945: Town of Rudamina, District of Lazdijai
A reported 200 partisans attack Rudamina and kill 7 "destroyers." Political prisoners are liberated and

weapons are seized from the NKVD magazine [arsenal].
L-24, 481, LKA 17-15. DA.

February 23, 1945: Near the Village of Kancenai, County of Daugai, District of Alytus
Partisans led by V. Voveris ["Lightning"-"Zaibas"] lay an ambush near the village of Kancenai. 9 local

"destroyers" are killed.
LKA 17-15. DA.

February 24-25, 1945: Telsiai Headquarters of The LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army)
The First Samogitian (Zemaiciu) Legion (ZL) holds an organisation meeting. Beginning in March, the Legion's

leader will be A. Kubilius [Balys]. The ZL will operate in the districts of Telsiai, Kretinga, Mazeikiai and

Taurage.
L-262, 487, LKA 7-46, LPK-684. PA.

February 28, 1945: Village of Panara, County of Merkine, District of Alytus
A partisan unit led by Lieutenant K. Lukosiunas [Lukosius] engages NKVD troops in battle near the Village

of Panara. They [the partisans] make an orderly retreat to Paliamiskis. Lieutenant Lukosiunas and 3 [possibly 7]

freedom-fighters are killed.
L-217, LKA 17-16 (L-482), LKA 5-97.DA.

Early March, 1945: Village of Panara, County of Merkine, District of Alytus
A. Eidimtas [Pybartas], leader of the Lithuanian Freedom Army contacts LIT [The Lithuanian Liberation

Council]. A new unit in Kaunas is created to coordinate both armed and unarmed resistance and a decision

made: LIT
[L. Dambrauskas and M. Bloznelis] will play the leading role in political activity, LLA will concentrate on

partisan military actions.
LLA BLP. VV.

Around March 11-14, 1945: The Grove of Labanoras, Forest of Kiauneliskis, County of Saldutiskis, District

of Svencionys
A battle begins in the grove of Labanoras. NKVD troops surround the fortified field headquarters of the

Tiger's [Tigras] special team and murder a minimum of 73 [possibly 83] partisans in a group led by A. Krivickas

[Romelis]. Casualties include Major Kirvis, officer in command of headquarters, and A. Jursys [Vytenis], the

group’s leader. Many NKVD troops are killed [estimates unavailable].
AL-220 (LKA 16-9), (L-489), (L-352), (LKA 14-60). VA.

March, 1945: District of Ukmerge, County of Vepriai, Near the Village of Gudeliai [Gudoniai]
Paratroop Captain Z. Raulinis creates LPS [The Lithuanian Partisans' Union], nucleus of the Gediminas unit.

Major Rapaitis [Gediminas] is named commander.
L-295, LKA 18-60. VA.

March 2-20, 1945: Village of Gudeliai [Concurrent to Above]
60 or 70 partisans of the 5th LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army] command clash with NKVD troops and

“destroyers”. Estimated partisan casualties range from 19 to 36. A significant number of the enemy are killed

[figures unavailable].
L-329, 493, VDr, (GK). DKA.

March 25, 1945: The Town of Punia, District of Alytus
Partisans occupy Punia and execute the chairman of the local communist government.
LKA 17-15. DA.

March 27, 1945: The Forests of Azagai and Eimuliskis, District of Panevezys
A major battle occurs in Panevezys district. Approximately 70 partisans and 400 soldiers from the Vetrov

division are killed. PPS VEA.

March 27, 1945: County of Musninkai, District of Ukmerge
Headquarters of the 5th LLA (Lithuanian Freedom Army) command at Ciobiskis is destroyed. Casualties

include J. Markulis ["Ghost"-"Vaiduoklis"] and V. Marcinauskas ["Crust"-"Pluta"]. S. Misiunas

["Senior"-"Senis"] and V. Akunis ["Squirrel"-"Voveris"] are arrested. Commissioned officer A. Zepkus

["Mound"-"Piliakalnis"] assumes command as officer in charge of headquarters and E. Svilas ["Plum"-"Slyva"] is

put in charge of agitation and propaganda.
L-326, VDr. DKA.

March, 1945
The Green [Zalioji] special team is formed to operate in the Districts of Radviliskis, Pakruojis, Seduva,

Baisiogala and Smilgiai. Key staff members include:
Designated Leader: Captain I. Pucevicius [Radvila]
Deputy Lieutenant: P. Blieka
Adjutant: A. Piekus [Balsys]
Chronicler: V. Vysniauskas.
The special team nucleus consists of approximately 100 fighters stationed in the forests of Radviloniai and

Liaudiskiai.
LKA 8-4, 5, LKA 10-27. ALA.

Spring, 1945
Approximately 30,000 partisans are active in Lithuania.
DP-516, L-368. VV.

April 4, 1945: Village of Kabeliai, District of Varena,
A. Valentukevicius ["Peony"-"Bijunas], leader of the partisans in the village of Kabeliai, invites Colonel J.

Vitkus ["Son of Kazimieras"-"Kazimieraitis"] to lead the partisans.
LKA 9-9, 55. DA.

April 12, 1945: County of Gudeliai, District of Marijampole
Lieutenant M. Kuzmickas ("Moose") [Briedis] leads the partisans of Budninkai in battle. One partisan and a

nurse,
M. Senavaityte [Mirta], are killed. Many NKVD operatives die [no estimates available].
Within a few days, M. Kuzmickas is killed in an ambush near the Village of Pabrasciai, County of

Balbieriskis.
DP-82, L-161, LBD-180, 181, 222, 223, LK-593, LKA 9-89, LKA 17-10. TA.

April 13, 1945: Near the Village of Reskutenai, County of Kaltanenai, District of Svencionys
A group of partisans from the Tiger special team, lead by Kamarauskas [Karijotas], trounce a group of

“destroyers.” 11 casualties are reported including 2 NKVD functionaries, Lieutenant Majorov, and the NKVD

Chief of Kaltanenai County.
LKA 16-56. VA.

April 14, 1945: In the Forest of Kaugonys, County of Vievis, District of Trakai
M. Kareckas ["Red Current"-"Serbentas"], leader of the 5th LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army], is killed. J.

Misiunas ["Red Devil"-"Zalias Velnias] assumes command of 28 squads with a total of approximately 400-500

fighters. New command headquarters is established in the Village of Bedaliai.
L-326, 493, VDr. DKA.

April 1945: District of Zarasai, near Antazave and Suviekas
M. Kazanas ["Terror"-"Siaubas"] and A. Streikus ["Tommy"-"Tamosiukas"] in Zarasai District activate the

Bear [Lokys] special unit. Key staff members include:
M. Kazanas: Leader
J. Striekus ["Bison"-"Stumbras"]: Company Commander
B. Vaicenas ["Liubartas"]: Company Commander
B. Pupeikis ["Aurochs"-"Tauras"]
LKA 14-56, LKA 16-75.VA.

April 1945:
The Samogitian (Zemaiciu) Legion (ZL) now consists of 4 units:
Wolf organisation [Vilkas]: Headquarters: Plunge. Assigned operational area: District of Telsiai
Fox organisation [Lape]: Assigned operational area: District of Kretinga
Hawks company [Vanagai] Headquarters: Seda. Assigned operational area: District of Mazeikiai
Hawks team [Vanagai] Headquarters: County of Sveksna, District of Taurage.
BLÞ. ÞA.

April 1945
Leaders of the The LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army] and LIT [Lithuanian Liberation Council] include A.

Eidimtas, A. Kubilius, L. Dambrauskas, and M. Bloznelis.
L-126, LPK-684, BLP. VV.

April 1945: Southern Dzukija
The Sarunas Special Team is formed in Southern Dzukija. Senior Lieutenant V. Gontis [Alseika] leads the 6

detachments, each with approximately 120 fighters [a total of 720 partisans]. Headquarters is established in the

grove of Puscia, Leipalingis County.
KDK, L-191, 482. DA.

Spring, 1945: County of Salakas County, District of Zarasai
A partisan unit of 70 freedom-fighters is led by A. Juodka.
LKA 16-79. VA.

Spring, 1945: The Forests of Apvinciai
The 100-man Blackthorn [Ersketis] detachment is led by K. Kaladinskas.
LKA 16-79. VA.

April 17, 1945: Rudnia, District of Alytus
A partisan unit under the leadership of Lieutenant L. Svalkus ["Boar"-"Sernas"] attacks Rudnia and liberates

prisoners [exact figures unknown]. Communist-controlled buildings throughout the county are torched.
NKVD. L-482, LKA 17-15. DA.

April 21 - May 2, 1945
The first deportations [to Siberia] since WW II begin on April 21. A second round of deportations occurs

between May 17 to September 3. Families of partisans are located and deported. Individuals of German origin

are targeted.
LGT-424, AL-312, 313. OK.

April 25, 1945
While employed as a lecturer at the teachers' college in Alytus, Junior Lieutenant Adolfas Ramanauskas joins

the partisan cause and assumes the code name Hawk [Vanagas]. Between the dates of April 26 to 28, he is

selected to lead the partisan unit of Nemunaitis [Masaliskiai]. On May 1, he organises a company of 70 fighters.
(LK-92), RD-10, 13. DA.

April or May, 1945
Authorities at Tiger [Tigras] headquarters special command include:
&nbspCaptain B. Kaletka [Kestutis]: Leader
&nbspLieutenant J. Kimstas ["Clover"-"Dobilas"]: Assistant
&nbspSvilpa ["Bearded"-"Barzdyla"]: Adjutant
Until August 1945, the command post also serves as regional headquarters for the LLA [Lithuanian Freedom

Army]. Beginning on June 5, 1945, the unit reports to the 5th LLA command in Vilnius and oversees operations

of 3 companies with a total of 290 fighters.
L-326, LKA 16-54. VA.

May 1, 1945: The Town of Siesikai, District of Ukmerge
A group of partisans led by D. Vaitelis, V. Eiva and A. Vaiciunas gain control of Siesikai.
LKA 10-7. VEA.

May 6 [or 7], 1945
At the suggestion of J. Vitkus ["Son of Kazimieras"-"Kazimieraitis"] and with the concurrence of L. Svalkas

["Board"-"Sernas"], A. Valentukevicius ["Peony"-"Bijunas"] and other individuals, it is agreed to unite the

partisans of Dzukija into the Dzukai group with headquarters in the County of Marcinkoniai, District of Alytaus.

The leader of the group is Lieutenant-Colonel J. Vitkus.
LKA 9-10, (L-190, 482). DA.

May 7, 1945
J. Vitkus [“Son of Kazimieras"-"Kazimieraitis"], leader of the Dzukai partisans, issues Order #1, 11 to

address the recording of the history of partisans’ struggles: company and battalion commanders are responsible

for maintaining a diary of operations and battle engagements so a true picture of the battle for freedom could be

passed on [to prosperity].
LK-81, 82, LKA 9-61. DA.

Late April, Early May, 1945: The Forests Balbieriskis, District of Marijampole
In the forests of Balbieriskis , the Grand Duke Vaidotas partisan group is formed. K. Degutis [Raginis] leads

the group and J. Petraska [Patrimpas] is named Chief of Staff.
LKA 17-10, (GM-130). DA.

May 13, 1945: County of Varena, Near the Village of Geidukonys
Partisans led by J. Jakubavicius ["Rye"-"Rugys"] in Varena County free prisoners being transported to

Varena. They shot 1 Red Army soldier and 2 destroyers. Two other soldiers are disarmed.
LKA-17-16. DA.

May, 1945: Forest of Varcia, County of Alove, District of Alytus
Approximately 120 partisans led by Voveris ["Lightning"-"Zaibas"], Barauskas ["Crab"-"Vezys"] and A.

Ramanauskas ["Hawk"-"Vanagas"] gather in the forest of Varcia.
L-188, RD-19. DA.

May 16-17, 1945: Forest in the County of Simnas, District of Alytus
NKVD troops surround partisans [estimates vary from 60 to 120] led by J. Neifalta ["Pilot"-"Lakunas"]. 44

Lithuanians are killed, including machine gunner Albina Neifaltiene ["Pine"-"Pusele"], wife of the troop leader.

Many members of the enemy are destroyed [no estimates available]. At sunset, partisans escape the siege which

later becomes known as "The Battle of Kalniske."
AL-220, LBD-123, 222, LKA 17-197, L-350, (AKL-34, LKA 17-17, L-217, 376, 482), LKA 1-13,

LKA 9-57. DA.

May 23, 1945
Falcon ["Sakalas"] Special Team is formed under the leadership of P. Svilpa ["Bearded"-"Barzdyla"]. Its field

of action includes Utena District and areas in Zarasai and Svencionys Districts. In June, Falcon is destroyed by

the enemy, 232 partisans are killed and the command structure is disbanded. Approximately 300 partisans

'legalise' and P. Svilpa flees to Vilnius.
L-296, LKA 16-11, 12, LPK-484. VA.

May 25, 1945: Town of Kriukai, District of Siauliai
Led by Militiaman Sankauskas, a group of "destroyers" from the town of Kriukai defect and join the partisan

cause.
NPD-79. KA.

May 25, 1945
The Prienai partisan troop is reorganised into the 8th Company of the Iron Wolf [Gelezinis Vilkas] Regiment.

It operates under the orders of Kestutis Headquarters. P. Kucinskas ["Hop"-"Apynys"] is apointed temporary

commander.
LK-85. TA.

May 25-26 1945: Town of Endriejavas, District of Kretinga
K. Tycius, with the collaboration of 3 “destroyers”, leads his group of 120 partisans into Endriejavas. The

partisans assume control of the town and recruit 18 “destroyers" [stribai] who join them in the forest.
L-24 (L-487, G-156).PA.

May 25-26, 1945: County of Valkininkai, District of Trakai
M. Mastauskas, a member of the LPS [Lithuanian Partisans' Union] Vilniaus Headquarters, meets with

partisan leaders M. Cesnys ["November"-"Lapkritis"], M. Vickacka ["Summer"-"Vasara"] and B. Poskus

["Diver Bird"-"Naras"]. Iron Wolf [Gelezinis Vilkas], a special team to operate in the counties of Onuskis and

Valkininkai as well as part of Eisiskiai county, is formed. At the beginning of June, Lieutenant L. Tarasevicius

["Eagle or Lynx","Aras", "Lusis"] arrives to take command. The team consists of 4 platoons totaling

approximately 100 fighters.
L-190, 191, 482, KDK. DA.

May-June, 1945
Sometime before June of 1945, the Pike [Lydys] special team is formed to operate in the District of Taurage

and the Counties of Nemakciai as well as Simkaicai in the District of Raseiniai.
L-486, LKA 12-9, L-237, KA.

June 3, 1945: Town of Saldutiskis, District of Svencionys
Partisans, led by A. Krinickas [Romelis], take over the Saldutiskis.
LKA 17-115. VA.

May-June, 1945: Village of Galintanka, County of Nemunaitis, District of Alytus
Partisans led by A. Ramanauskas ["Hawk" - "Vanagas"] in Nemunaitis County kill 12 “destroyers” from

Merkine during an ambush near Galintanka.
AKL-11. DA.

June 7, 1945: The Forest of Kudra, County of Antazave, District of Zarasai
Partisans, led by M. Kazanas, K. Ramanauskas and B. Pupeikis, fight for 3 hours against NKVD troops and

“destroyers” in the forest of Kudra. 16 “destroyers” [stribai] are killed. The freedom-fighters escape through

Aleksandravele into the Forest of Agurkiskis without suffering any casualties.
DL-43. VA.

June 10, 1945: Between the Town of Pumpenai, District of Panevezys and the Village of Mitkai
28 armed Bolsheviks, intent on agitating the local populace, are ambushed by partisans of the Green [Zalioji]

special team. 17 [Bolsheviks] are killed.
LKA 8-37. ALA.

June, 1945: Pine Forest of Punia
Dzukai special team is formed under the leadership of Captain D. Jecys ["Oak"-"Azuolis"]. The team consist

of:
Members of the DLK Grand Duke Kestutis - Leader: Lieutenant A. Baciuska ["Traveller" or

"Person"-"Keleivis" or "Zmogus"] - Field of Operation: The Counties of Alytus, Simnas and Miroslavas
Members of the Duke Vaidotas group - Leader: K. Degutis [Raginis] - Field of Operation: Counties of

Balbieriskis and Gudeliai, District of Marijampole
Members of the Duke Margiris group - Leader: P. Paulauskas [Sarunas] - Field of Operation: Jieznas,

Butrimonys, Stakliskes and Birstonas Counties, District of Alytus
Members of the Iron Wolf [Gelezinis Vilkas] group - Leader: V. Voveris ["Lightening"-"Zaibas"] - Field

of Operation: County of Daugai, District of Alytus.
L-193, 194, LKA 9-90, 8. DA.

June 12, 1945
B. Kabulov, Deputy Commissar of the KGB, orders KGB and NKVD officers in Lithuania to discontinue

organising teams of activists to impersonate partisans in district covert operations without the express permission

of Kabulov.
LPK-406. OK.

June 12, 1945 [Possibly June 13 or 14]: In the Forest of Varcia, County of Alove, District of Alytus
A. Kulikauskas ["Doctor"-"Daktaras"], V. Voveris ["Lightning"-"Zaibas"] and K. Barauskas

["Crab"-"Vezys"] lead partisans into battle. Numerous NKVD operatives are killed [exactly numbers unknown],

approximately 10 partisans perish, several are arrested.
AKL-11, RD-52, 58, 60, L-376, (LK-92), (L-218, 482, KDK, LKA 17-17). DA.

June 14, 1945 [Possibly June 15 or July 20], 1945
NKVD troops arrest Captain B. Kaletkas [Kestutis], leader of the Tiger [Tigras] special team and Father P.

Liutkus ["Black Peter"-"Juodasis Petras"], the priest of Kirdeikiai and chaplain of the team. A total of 9 partisan

leaders are taken into custody. Lieutenant J. Kimstas ["Clover"-"Dobilas'] assumes leadership of the Tiger

[Tigras] team.
LKA 16-54, 55, (130), (LPK-497). L-296. VA.

June 15, 1945: The Village of Biliakiemis, County of Utenos,
Lieutenant J. Kimstas ["Clover"-"Dobilas"], now leading the Tiger ["Tigras"] special team, convenes a

partisan meeting. The Sarunas special team is formed with key assignments delegated as follows:
Leader: V. Mikulenas ["Lupine" or "Linden"-"Lubinas" or "Liepa"]
Chief of Headquarters Staff: V. Pakstas ["Bard" or "Diver Bird"- "Vaidila" or "Naras"]
Chief of Military Intelligence and Communications: P. Zinkevicius ["Kite" or "Blacksmith"-"Aitvaras" or

"Kalvis"]
The team publishes a newsletter, Word the Underground [Pogrindzio Zodis].
L-296, 297, 490, LKA 16-(12-14), 55, LPK-481. VA.

June, 1945, Southern Samogitia (Zemaitija)
An attempt to form the Vytis Command in Southern Samogitia (Zemaitija) is foiled by excessive MGB

activity and failure to reach agreement with leaders of the Lydys [Pike] Special Team. L-237. KA.

June 1945
The Special Team of Lazdijai District led by V. Gontis-Alseika, submits to the command of Dzukai general

headquarters. J. Vitkus ["Son of Kazimieras"-"Kazimieraitis"] names it Western Dzukai Special Team, but the

name does not catch on.
L-191. DA.

June 17 [Possibly 11] 1945: Eilavotas County, District of Marijampole
The Battle of Degimai begins. Partisans from The "Iron Wolf" ["Gelezinis Vilkas"] Company of the 8th

regiment, led by K. Pinkvarta ["Right Hander"-"Desinys] fight for 4, perhaps 5, hours and kill 70 NKVD

soldiers. Six partisans are killed, including V. Senavaitis ["Northerner" - AKA: "Green Devil"-"Siaurys: AKA:

"Zalias Velnias"], Chief of Orienteering and pioneer founder of the partisan movement.
LBD-174, 175, 219, LK-85, 617, (DP-83, 86). TA.

June 24, 1945: Vilnius
LPS [Lithuanian Partisans' Union] headquarters is destroyed. Chief of Headquarters, J. Petrauskas, and 22

staff members are arrested.
LPK-497. VV.

Summer, 1945
The organisational structure of Dz kai Group led by J. Vitkus-Kazimieraitis ["Son of Kazimieras"] is finalised.

Special teams, battalions, and squads operate in Alytus district and part of Lazdijai and Trakai districts.
LKA 9-8. DA.

Summer, 1945
Lieutenant V. Bacevicius-Vygandas assembles partisans from Kazlu Ruda and Jankai Forest into the Deer

["Stirna"] Special Team.
LK-622, LKA 3-17. TA.

Summer, 1945: Town of Rozalimas, The district of Panevezys.
Approximately 80 partisans from the Green ["Alioji"] Special Team take over the town of Rozalimas. 27

destroyers [stribai] are destroyed.
L-24, LKA 8-36. ALA.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

War Chronicle of the Partisans: Part III

A Special Thanks To: Voruta - Lithuanian Historical Weekly and Vartiklis. for permission to re-publish.
Lithuanian Website Design and Editing: Jonas Skendelis, [Lithuania], Volunteer, Lithuanian Global Resources
English Translation: Gintautas Kaminskas, [Australia] Volunteer, Lithuanian Global Resources
English Website Design and Editing: Sandra Souveskas [USA], Webmaster, Lithuanian Global Resources
Go for abbreviations explanation
July 6 or 13, 1945: The Grove of Obeliai, not far from the Village of Kelezeriai
Partisans led by B. Vaicenas ["Lord"-"Lordas"], B. Pupeikis ["Aurochs"-"Tauras"] and K. Ramanuskas fight for

several hours with forces of the occupying army and 'stribai' from Antazave and Obeliai counties. Six partisans

and 2 enemy soldiers are killed; 2 enemy soldiers injured.
LKA 1676, [DL43, 44] VA

July 6 or 7, 1945: Village of Jaskoniskiai, County of Antazave, District of Zarasai
After being betrayed by J. Markulis ["Agent Stankevicius"-"Agentas Stankevicius"] and being surrounded by

enemy troops, M. Kazanas ["Terror"-"Siaubas"], leader of the Bear ["Lokys"] Special Team, along with 2 team

partisans, use explosives to commit suicide. A. Streikus ["Little Tommy"-"Tamosiukas"] is appointed new leader

of the Bear Special Team. He continues to maintain contact with Latvian partisans.
L-297, LKA 1676, DL-43, 258, [LKA 14-56, LKA 16-15] VA

July 7, 1945
Lieutenant J. Alescikas ["Gediminas"], leader of the Lazdijai County Partisan Unit, visits J. Vitkus [Son of

Kazimieras"-"Kazimieraitis"], leader of the Dzukai Group. A decision is made to form the Seinai Special Team

from Lazdijai, Sangruda, Sventezeris and Rudamina counties partisans under the leadership of J. Alescikas. The

idea fails, J. Alescikas resigns, and partisans of above-mentioned counties join Gediminas Special Team of

Tauras Command.
L-191, 192 DA

July 1945: Between Vilnius and Kirdeikiai village, County of Saldutiskis, District of Svencionys
J. Markulis, LLA command post representative, is arrested by communists on his way from Vilnius to Kirdeikiai

village, but is released within a few days. By January of 1946, Markulis will become a a NKGB agent.
LKA 11-35, 36, LPK-660 OK

July 19 [or 22], 1945: Virtukai Forest, County of Kelme, District of Raseiniai
Led by J. Zemaitis and A. Zaskevicius, 54 partisans from 4 squads of the Zebenkstis Special Team battle

NKVD troops for 3 hours in Virtukai forest. 15 partisans are killed.
LKA 12-9, L-236, 486 [L-376] KA

July 19, 1945
Headquarters for Tauras Command is established in the presbytery of Skardupes, District of Marijampole. Key

leadership positions include:

Captain L. Taunys ["Raven"-"Kovas]: Chief of Staff
J. Pileckis ["Brokas"]: Outfitting and Weaponry
A. Ratkelis: Propaganda
V. Gavenas ["Vampire"-"Vampyras"]: Provost Section
Father A. Ylius ["Wolf"-"Vilkas"]: Sanitary Section

The groups decides to establish links with supreme partisan command post and partisan units, to rally

Lithuanians behind the partisan flag, and to dissemate information about current conditions.
L-160, LK-86, LKA 1-5,6 TA

August 1, 1945
J. Vitkus ["Son of Kazimieras"-"Kazimieraitis"], leader of the Dzukai Group, appoints A. Ramanauskas

["Hawk"-"Vanagas"] to lead the Merkine Batallion. The batallion soon becomes part of Merkys' Special Team

with
P. Petrenas ["Boss"-"Virsaitis] in command. The batallion includes members of the Marcinkonys and

Druskininkai Battalions.
LKA 9-22, L-192, 206, 223 DA

August 1, 1945: District of Telsiai
The ZL [Zemaitijan Legion] Satrija Special Team is formed on the basis of LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army]

Hawks ["Vanagai"] group. S. Beniulis becomes their first leader.

L-169, 487 ZA

August 3, 1945: Town of Keturvalakiai, District of Vilkaviskis
The town of Keturvalakiai is seized by 15 partisans who confiscate county documents and weapons abandoned

by fleeing NKVD operatives. 3 'stribai' are killed. Town residents convene a meeting.

AKL-83, LKA 17-114 TA

August 5-9, 1945: Town of Palios, County of Gudeliai, District of Marijampole
3 NKVD regiments, assisted by artillery and aviation support, attack a group of approximately 70 partisans. 17

Lithuanian freedom-fighters are killed, 5 captured. Numerous NKVD operatives are killed [Exact numbers

unknown].
AL-251, DP-87 TA

Early August [or September], 1945:
S. Girdziunas ["May"-"Geguzis"], leader of the 3rd Northern Command of LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army]

dies. Former command post officer-in-charge, V. Jazokas, ["Son of Peter"-"Petraitis"] assumes command
DL-4, PPS, (LKA 18-53, 55), (LKA 20-17) SA

Early August, 1945:
Following destruction of the LPS [Lithuanian Partisans' Union] command post in Vilnius [end of June 1945],

Gelezinis "Iron Wolf" Vilkas' Special Team joins the Dzukai group. Lieutenant L. Svalkus ["Wild

Boar"-"Sernas"] becomes interim leader. The special team consists of 2 battalions: Varena-Rudnia and

Valkininkai-Eisiskes-Onuskis, latter led by L. Tarasevicius ["Eagle"-"Aras"].
L-191 DA

August 15, 1945:
The Tauras ["Aurochs"] Command is formed. Key freedom-fighters attending the inaugural meeting include:

L. Taunys
V. Gavenas
J. Pileckis
A. Ratkelis
Lieutenant V. Bacevicius ["Vygandas'] from the Kazlu Ruda forests
Captain V. Navickas ["Thunder"-"Perkunas"] from the Distrct of Alytus
V. Radzevicius ["Bard"-"Vaidila]
V. Kulboka
J. Sackus ["Ash Tree"-"Uosis"]
Colonel L. Butkevicius from the District of Marijampole
Captain L. Taunys ["Raven"-"Kovas"], Appointed first leader of Tauras Command.

Five special teams are formed:

Stirna ["Deer"] [Later to become known as "Zalgiris"]
Gelezinis Vilkas ["Iron Wolf"]
Vytautas, ["Thunder"-"Perkunas"] [Later to be known as: "Gediminas"]
Patrimpas

Their arena of operations includes:

Districts of Marijampole, Vilkaviskis and Sakiai
Portions of the Districts of Lazdijai, Kaunas and Alytus

L-160, LKA 3-16 TA

August 8, 1945: Town of Lekeciai, District of Sakiai
Following a meeting near Lekeciai, the Supreme Command of LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army] is formally re-

established. General M. Peciulionis, S. Starkus-Starkevicius, A. Ruzgys, and A. Veverskis [brother of K.

Veverskis] attend the meeting. In November, the Command Post staff is arrested.
L-127, LKA 14-12 VV

August, 1945: District of Sudalaukis, County of Saldutiskis, District of Svencionys
During a meeting at the Petkevicius family home, the 4th ["Vytautas"] Command of the LLA [Lithuanian

Freedom Army] is formed. A Command Post is established to coordinate partisan activities in the Districts of

Utena, Zarasai, Svencionys, and [from 1946] Rokiskis. Leaders are selected as follows:

Lieutenant J. Kimstas, Command Post Officer-In-Charge
V. Mikulenas ["Fatty"-"Storulis"], Adjutant
P. Zinkevicius ["Skudutis"]: Chief of Staff
K. Zinkevicius ["Axe"-"Kirvis"], Propaganda Section

When Lieutenant Kimsta departs for Western Lithuania, V. Mikulenas assumes the responsibility of Command

Post Officer-In-Charge.
L-297, LKA 16-120, 121 VA

August, 1945
Partisans from Panevezys raid the hospital and liberate injured colleagues. Militia man Bistravicius is killed.
AKL-45 VCA

August 26, 1945: Near the Village of Medikonys, County of Rozalimas, District of Panevezys
In an ambush near Medikonys village, Captain I. Pucevicius ["Radvila"], leader of the Zalioji ["Green"] Special

Team, is killed. In September, Lieutenant V. Jazokas ["Son of Peter"-"Petraitis"] assumes leadership.
LKA 8-5, LKA 20-16 ALA 1945

September 4, 1945: Near the Village of Ilgbraste, District of Silute, County of Sveksna
Near Ilgbraste Village, partisans kill 3 "stribai" and capture a wounded militia man.
AKL-65 KA

September 8, 1945
Correspondence from Lieutenant General Tkacenka, USSR NKGB Chief in Lithuania, is dispatched to:

NKVD Committee Leaders
Soviet Army Divisions detached to Lithuania
Heads of "Smers" ["Whirlwind"-"Tornado"] - ["Detachments of Death"]Units
Military prosecutors of Soviet Army Divisions
NKVD Committees

A reprimand for poor work, the letter states, "[in] Over 5 days, 20 regiments have killed only 56 "bandits" [as

the Soviet authorities always called the partisans] and arrested only 158. A total of 187 weapons [have been]

seized. While the Soviet army is so slack, the "bandits" have intensified their resistance. Over just 4 days in

September, they have killed or abducted 27 Soviet activists".
LKA 11-112 OK

September 9, 1945
Leadership of the ZL [Zemaitijan Legion] is assumed by:

J. Semaska ["Linden", "Liepa", or "Rikis"],
S. Jazdauskas ["Nurmis"], Adjutant
V. Kucinskas ["Ipras"], Command Post OIC

An attempt is made to combine and create command posts for all Zemaitijan districts
L-262, 487, LKA 7-3 ZA

September 9, 1945
The LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army] 5th Command leadership appoints Captain A. Kamarauskas [Karijotas]

leader of the Tiger ["Tigras"] Special Team. The Tiger Team reports directly to the LLA [Lithuanian Freedom

Army] 5th Command until the creation of VA [Vytautas Command]. The Tiger Special Team is responsible to

two separate command posts.

The company commanded by V. Zaliaduonis refuses to obey Captain Kamarauskas. The conflict is exploited by

the NKGB.
L-300, LKA 16-56 VA

September 9, 1945
A. Ramanauskas ["Hawk"-"Vanagas"] is appointed leader of the Merkys Special Team within the Dzukai

group.
L-206, LK-198 DA

September 16, 1945: Village of Skardupiu, District of Marijampole
The first meeting of the LIK ["Lithuanian Liberation Committee"-"Lietuvos islaisvinimo komitetas"] conveys. In

attendance are:

Colonel L. Butkevicius ["Luobas"]
Captain L. Taunys ["Raven"-"Kovas"]
Father A. Ylius ["Wolf"-"Vilkas"]
Lieutenant V. Bacevicius ["Vygandas"]
J. Pileckis ["Brokas"]

Committee Membership is decided as follows:

L. Butkevicius, President
L. Taunys and A. Ylius, Deputies
V. Bacevicius, J. Pileckis, and V. Radzevicius, Members

Their primary goal is established: rally underground forces for the restoration of an independent Lithuanian state.

A manifesto is issued to the Lithuanian public and 6 partisan command regions are defined.
LK-240-242, LKA 1-5, LKA 2-3, L-127, 161 TA

September 17, 1945: Near the Forest of Papojas [not far from Upyte in the County of Naujamiestis, District of

Panevezys]
17 NKVD troops surround a group of 18 VCA [Vytis Command] partisans lead by Major P. Januskevicius

["Dad"-"Tevas"] near the forest of Papojas Ten partisans are killed, including Major Januskevicius.
SV-39, 40 VCA

September 28, 1945: Forest of Raudine, District of Zarasai
Battle in forest of Raudine, district of Zarasai. Troops from the Red Army attack the base of the VA [Vytautas

Command] Lokys ["Bear"] Special Team in the forest of Raudine. 11 [possibly 14] partisans loss their lives in

battle.

Although wounded, A. Streikus ["Tommy"-"Tamosiukas"], leader of the group, covers the retreating partisans

with machine gun fire, allowing ten partisans to escape. Not wanting to be captured, Streikus, takes his own life

using explosives. A. Keberza ["Preibys"-"Kartelis"] assumes leadership of the Lokys Special Team.
L-298, LKA 16-77 VA

Autumn, 1945
The Vegele command post is disbanded. By order of J. Ceponis, the remnants of the team join the Zebenkstis

Special Team.
L-236, 486 KA

June-October, 1945
132 partisans from the VA [Vytautas Command], Tigras [Tiger] Special Team, are killed and 140 partisans are

arrested during the "Cekist" operation.
LKA 16-57 VA

October 1, 1945
NKGB documents stored in Joniskis district indicate active partisan units in the area are led by M. Kliausius

["Vadas"-"Tautvydas"] [150 members], K. Linovskis [15 members], Nazaras [30 members], and P. Paltaroko

["Algimantas"] [25-30 members].
NPD-78 KA

October, 1945
By order of Major J. Semaska ["Linden"-"Liepa"], a command post is re-established in Zemaitija under the

control of the Zemaitijan legion and TGS [Tautos gelbejimo sajunga - National Assistance Union], a civilian-

controlled institute answerable to the leader of the military command post. To unite all armed structures in

Lithuania, the ZL leadership team establishes links with the 3rd and 5th LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army]

commands and the Dzukai group.
L-128 ZA

October 5, 1945
A meeting of the LIK [Lithuanian Liberation Committee] convenes. The missions of A. Ylius' ["Wolf"-"Vilkas"]

to i Telsiai and L. Taunys' [Raven - Kovas] to Kaunas [to establish chain-of-command] are discussed. A

decision is made to immediately establish [revive] the VLIK [Supreme Committee for the Liberation of

Lithuania] and to seek relations with resources outside Lithuania.
L-162, LK-243, 244 VV

October 12, 1945
USSR NKVD commissar L. P. Berija issues directive #497 ordering "all necessary steps" be taken to

strengthen the activities of its agents in Lithuania and widen the network of informers and agents in all districts

and counties of Lithuania where "bandits" are active.
LKA 11-115 OK

October 21, 1945: The presbytery of Skardupiai, District of Marijampole
The final meeting of the LIK [Lithuanian Liberation Committee] takes place in the presbytery of Skardupiai.

On the following day - October 22, 1945 - the arrests begin. 17 office-holders of the LIK and Tauras

Command are detained The work of the Committee and command post are paralysed. [L. Taunys and V.

Bacevicius are tried and shot on 20 July 1946.]

Escaping the dragnet are: J. Pileckis ["Brokas"], A. Ratkelis ["Kid"-"Ozelis"], and Major Z. Drunga ["Wild

Boar"-"Sernas"]. Drunga assumes leadership of the TA [Tauras Command] and assumes the code name

Mykolas Jonas [Michael John].
L-162, LKA 1-5, LKA 2-3, LPK-498 TA, VV

October 23, 1945
J. Vitkus, leader of Dzukai group reluctantly accepts the resignation of V. Gontis ["Alseika"], leader of Sarunas

Special Team. Gontis returns to civilian life. A. Bucionis is appointed interim leader of the Leipalingis battalion.
L-192, LKA 9-67 DA

October 28, 1945
J. Vitkus ["Son of Kazimieras"-"Kazimieraitis"], leader of the Dzukai group, begins to prepare the

"Organisational plan for [the] liberation of Lithuania." His plan includes the possible mobilisation of the entire

country. A comprehensive plan is completed on December 9, 1948, but never implemented. L-28, LKA 9-32

DA

October 29, 1945
Modeled after the LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army] Vanagai [Hawks] group, A. Narmontas

["Ivanauskas"-"Usorius"] creates the Alka Special Team of Zemaitijan Legion in the Mazeikiai area.
L-267, 487 ZA

November 3, 1945: In the village of Kiskeliai, County of Salakas, District of Zarasai
Agent Uosis I. Bivainis ["Ash Tree"]informs the NKVD of the location of VA [Vytautas Command], Bear

["Lokys"] Special Team, and Lieutenant A. Keberza ["Preibys, Kartelis"]. Partisans escape unscathed, killing

one NKVD man. Towards the end of 1945, A. Keberza is shot in his bunker by a traitor.
L-299, LKA 16-80, 81 VA

November 10, 1945: Town of Gaure, District of Taurage
Partisans led by G. Kisielius take over Gaure, liberate prisoners, and shoot 8 communist activists [and] NKVD

men living in the county. GP-193, L-486, AKL-70, RZ-60 KA

November 10, 1945
Dzukai group leader J. Vitkus ["Son of Kazimieras"-"Kazimieraitis"] meets with Liaison Officer A. Jauniskis

["Pine Forest"-"Silas"]at Supreme LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army] Command Post and Alytus. They discuss

the organization of Algirdas Command and possibility of J. Vitkus leading the Command which includes the

districts of Alytus, Trakai and Asmena. LLA leadership authorizes J. Vitkus to prepare a plan to mobilize all

Lithuanian men of conscriptable age. After the arrest of the LLA liaison officer in Jieznas and command posts

members in Kaunas, Dzukai links with LLA break off.
L-196, LKA 9-36 DA

November 15, 1945: Counties of Skuodas and Mosedis, District of Kretinga
J. Ozeraitis ["Whisker"-"Usas"] organizes the Kardas ["Word"] Special Team in the counties of Skuodas and

Mosedis in the district of Kretinga. On November 23, 1945, the Team becomes part of the Zemaitijan Legion

under the leadership of K. Kontrimas ["Dad"-"Tevas"].
L-266, LKA 7-4 ZA

November 18, 1945
By order of J. Vitkus, the Dzukai group command post is renamed Command Post A.
L-192 DA

November 19, 1945
Leaders of the Dzukai Group Sarunas Special team meet and discuss new links among partisan groups, financial

considertions, press organization, and winter provisions. Those attending include:

J. Vitkus ["Kazimieraitis"-"Son of Kazimieras"]: Group Leader
A. Perminas ["Jurininkas"-"Sailor"]: Adjutant
A. Kulikauskas ["Daktaras"-"Doctor"]: Head of 2nd Squadron
V. Stepulevicius ["Mindaugas"]
A. Grusauskas ["Siaubas"-"Terror"]: Seiriju Battalion Leader, Leipalingis Battalion Leader, and interim

Sarunas Special Team
A. Bucionis: Leader
J. Penkevicius ["Kalnelis"-"Hillock"]: Kapciamiestis Leader
V. Vabuolas ["Margis"-"Dapple"]: Veisiejai Team Leader

LKA 9-38 DA

November 20, 1945
Lieutenant A. Baltusis ["Zvejys"-"Fisherman"] is appointed as head of press and propaganda section of TA

[Tauras Command] and senior editor of the newspaper "Laisves zvalgas" ["Freedom Herald"].
L-166, 167 TA

November 20, [or 21] 1945
Stirna ["Deer"] with TA [Tauras Command] dies. Special Team leader B. Abromaitis [Spyglys - "Thorn"],

command post OIC S. Grigas [Aras - "Eagle"] and 2 partisans at the team's command post in Deguciai village,

Jankai county, Sakiai district. LBD-187, [LK 3-25] TA

November 28, 1945
J. Deksnys [Hektoras - "Hector"], VLIK [Supreme Committee for the Liberation of Lithuania] member enters

Lithuania illegally and meets with J. Vitkus [Kazimieraitis - "Son of Kazimieras"] in Kaunas. Also in attendance

is engineer K. Brunius ["Prapuolenis"]. A decision is made to precipitate creation of Supreme Partisan

Command Post.
L-130, 149, 196, LK-245 VV

November 30, 1945
J. Vitkus publishes the first edition of the Bell of Freedom [Laisves varpas]. Feature stories include the last

Instruction [Nr. 21] of the Dzukai group command post and the first Instruction of the Lithuanian Partisan

Command A.
LKA 9-41 DA

Late 1945
The LLA [Lithuanian Freedom Army] Kovas ["Raven"] Special Team, which had been operating in the

Kedainys district is destroyed. Leader J. Jasinevicius ["Margis"-"Dapple"] had maintained links, through D.

Rozgaitis, with Kaunas LLA Command Post's Colonel Matulionis, Lieutenant Tuinyla and General Listopadskis.
L-238, LKA 12-10, 11 KA

December 1, 1945: Village of Biliakiemis, District of Utena
An unknown traitor reveals the location of VA [Vytautas Command] Sarunas Special Team command post to

the enemy. Lieutenant V. Mikulenas, team Leader, interim commander of VA, and a former fourth year student

of Medicine, is killed. Command Post documents are seized.
L-299, 490, LPK-481, LKA 16-16, 17 VA

December 1, 1945
By order Nr. 1/19 of J. Misiunas ["Zalias Velnias"-"Green Devil"], the 5th Command of LLA [Lithuanian

Freedom Army] is renamed "Great Battle Command" ["Didziosios Kovos Apygarda"-"DKA"]. Two Special

Teams are established: Team "A" for Trakai district and Team "B" for Ukmerge district. "C" and "D" Teams for

Svencionys and Utena districts are never established.
L-327, VDr DKA

December 3, 1945
J. Vitkus ["Kazimieraitis"-"Son of Kazimieras"], leader of A Command, begins to draft regulations regarding

possible partisan court martials. [Karo Lauko Teismo - KLT]
LK-180, LKA 9-42 VV

December 4, 1945
Lieutenant L. Svalkus ["Sernas"-"Wild Boar"], leader of A Command Gelezinis Vilkas [Iron Wolf] Special

Team dies. L. Tarasevicius [Aras - "Eagle"] assumes leadership. Iron Wolf team members from the Rudnia

Battalion join Merkys Special Team.
L-191, LKA 9-43, 45, LKA 17-173 DA

December 11, 1945
Organizing Partisan Units: Drill Practice and Leadership, a publication of instructions from "A" Command leader

J. Vitkus, is distributed to partisan leaders.
LKA 9-45 DA

December 11-12, 1945
Under orders from A. Kamarauskas ["Karijotas"], leader of Tigras [Tiger] Special Team, a partisan group led

by K. Kaladinskas [Ersetis - "Blackthorn"] carries out the KLT [court martial] sentence against the family of A.

Miskinis, a local communist government leader in Magunai district.

A group of NVVD activists arrive at the scene of the incident and are ambushed by partisans. 13 NKVD

soldiers, under the command of Rimse county NKVD Lieutenant Bondarev, are killed.
LKA 16-58 VA

December 15, 1945: Town of Merkine, District of Alytus
Partisans from Merkys Special Team, led by A. Ramanauskas ["Vanagas"-"Hawk"], assume control of

Merkine. 15 enemy soldiers and 2 "stribai" are killed, J. Volungevicius ["Siaubas"-"Terror"]is fatally wounded,

and 5 Lithuanian freedom-fighters loose their lives in battle. Numerous "Stribai" and NKVD men take refuge in

a church tower.

The [communist-controlled] county administration building is set ablaze and important county/militia documents

are confiscated.
AKL-80, L-483, LK-201, LKA 9-47 DA

December 15, 1945
Over 5 months, VA [Vytautas Command] Sarunas Special Team is virtually destroyed - 362 partisans are

killed, 348 arrested, and 267 amnestied.
LKA 16-16, 17 VA

December, 1945
When V. Mikulenas ["Storulis"-"Fatty"] is killed in battle, B. Zinkevicius

["Skudutis"-"Kalvis"-"Blacksmith"-"Artojas"-"Ploughman"] is appointed officer-in-charge of VA [Vytautas

Command]. Command post headquarters is moved to the County of Kuktiskiai, District of Utena. On January

15, 1946, headquarters is again moved to Uskienes farmstead in the Village of Vejele, County of Tauragnai.
L-299, LKA 16-19, 20 VA

December 16, 1945
Partisans of Marcinkonys battalion, unable to join the attack on Merkine, take over Perloja and shoot several

soviet activists.
AKL-80, LKA 9-50, LKA 17-174, RD-135 DA

December 18, 1945
The Central Committee of the Communist Party renames the "stribai" [destroyer] battalions to "People's

Defense Groups", with their members to be called "People's Defenders".
L-381, LPK-106 OK

December 21, 1945: Near Seirijai, District of Alytus
A. Grusauskas ["Siaubas"-"Terror"], Leader of "A" Command Seirijai Battalion, and 76 partisans lay an ambush

for "stribai." 12 stribai are killed and a large quantity of weapons seized.
LKA 9-52 DA

December 30, 1945
Lieutenant-Colonel V. Stepulevicius ["Varguolis"-"Mindaugas"] is appointed leader of "A" Command Sarunas

Special Team. Later, he is removed from office for dereliction of duty. A. Kulikauskas ["Daktaras"-"Doctor"], a

member of the command post staff of "A" Command, is appointed interim leader. Sarunas Special Team

consists of battalions from Kapciamiestis, Veisiejai, Liepalingis and Seirijai.
RD-170, L-192, LKA 9-52 DA

Late 1945, Early 1946
Captain J. Noreika, together with S. Gorodeckis and O. Lukauskaite-Poskiene, begin to form the LTT

["Lietuviu tautines tarybos"-"Lithuanian National Council"]. Their goal: Unite underground and partisan

groupings.
L-129, LKA 7-172, 173 VV

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

War Chronicle of the Partisans: Part IV

January 1, 1946
J. Luksa joins partisans and is placed in charge of the press section of TA “Gelezinis Vilkas” [Iron Wolf] special

team.
DP-133 TA

January 6, 1946
leader of A Command J. Vitkus (“Kazimieraitis” – “son of Kazimieras”) prepares an instruction on "Drill training

for partisans” and guidelines for leaders of special teams on battle training for partisans.
LKA 9-54 DA

January 6, 1946 (07)
Battle between TA Gelezinis Vilkas [Iron Wolf] special team’s 3rd company and NKVD forces in Marijampole

district, Prienai county, Cepeliskiai village. J. Morkunas (“Rambynas”) was killed, as were 13 NKVD soldiers.
LBD-175, (219) TA

January 12, 1946
NKVD destroys A Command’s partisan command post by the River Skroblas near the village of Rudnia,

Marcinkonys county, Alytus district. They confiscated the command post’s diary of activities.
LKA 9-5 DA

January 15-16, 1946
Soviet troops and stribai surround the bunkers of M. Laurinenas’ [Mingaila’s] company of the VA “Tigras”

[Tiger] special team in the forest of Mincia, near the village of Prusai, county of Salakas, district of Zarasai. 23

partisans are killed, 2 arrested. The only ones to escape were the injured M. Laurinenas himself and several of

his fighters.
LKA 16-58 VA

January 25, 1946
Soviet troops attack the betrayed partisans of P. Mykolaitis in the village of Peiksva, district of Kedainiai. P.

Planciunas and A. Petrauskas killed; B. Karbocius manages to escape.
MK-65 VCA, PA

January 28, 1946
VCA partisans led by P. Blieka shoot 5 stribai and a militia chief from the city of Raguva, district of Panevezys.
LKA 10-16 VCA

January 31, 1946
TA Stirna [Deer] special team is renamed Zalgiris [Grünwald] special team.
LKA 3-25 TA

Early 1946
Destruction of VCA command post. Casualties: lieutenant A. Danyla-Kernius, B. Eglinskas-Saulius, M.

Smetona-Ripka.
LKA 10-19 VCA

Early 1946
VCA leader D. Vaitelis appoints as adjutants J. Dambrauskas and J. Survila-Sarunas; command consists of 13

partisan units from district of Panevezys and 6 from Ukmerge.
LKA 10-12 VCA

Early 1946
LTT decides that VGPVV (Lithuanian armed forces senior leadership) leader should be J. Noreika (“Generolas

Vetra”) [General Storm] and general secretary should be S. Gorodeckis-Radziunas.
LKA 7-174 VV

February 13, 1946
Failed military mission results in death of several command post staff including V. Jazokas- Petraitis, leader of

LLA 3rd Northern Command and Zalioji [Green] special team and Sakalas, leader of Pilenai group. Command

post not re-created. Special team’s interim leader is J. Skackauskas- Strausas. Special team’s nucleus (led by

P. Masilaitis-Virpsa) and 25th group (led by V. Cesnakavicius-Valas) begin to act independently.
LKA 20-19 ÐA

February 15, 1946
J. Bartasiunas, commissar of the NKVD in the Lithuanian SSR, promises no reprisals to partisans (which he

calls “bandits”) who surrender voluntarily. Promises they will be issued with passes and allowed to return to their

homes. Meanwhile, he orders that the bodies of dead partisans be publicly desecrated.
DP-183, 184, LPK-490, 491 OK

February, 1946 02
Destruction of “Laisves gyneju” [Defenders of Freedom] special team which had operated in the Jurbarkas

area. It was reformed in October under the leadership of P. Paulaitis-Barkus and named Battalion Nr. 8.
LKA 12-15 KA

February, 1946
DKA B special team, led by A. Morkunas (“Plienas”) [Steel] and command post OIC Sibaila (“Diedukas”)

[Gramps] consisted of 3 battalions: one led by Petronis (“Audra”) [Storm] in the counties of Zelva and Moletai;

one led by lieutenant K. Alisauskas-Spartakas in the counties of Zemaitkiemis, Pabaiska and Sesuoliai; and one

led by warrant officer Balninkai, Kurkliai, and part of the county of Zelva. Later a new battalion led by S.

Markauskas-Galijotas was established in the counties of Vepriai and Jonava. In 1946 a 5th battalion under the

leadership of B. Jakubonis (“Stiklas”) [Glass] was established in the counties of Taujenai and Kovarskas.
VDr DKA

Late February, 1946
LGPVV leader J. Noreika (“Generolas Vetra”) [General Storm] issued directive Nr. 7 to the effect that in the

case of more mass deportations the partisans should organise "suicide squads" of 3-5 people with the motto

"Our lives to help others"; one such squad of young people in Vilnius was led by student A. Janulevicius (also

known as “Alfonsas” or “Lapinas” [Fox].
LKA 7-175 VV

February-March, 1946
After the death in December 1945 of A. Keberza, leader of VA Lokys [Bear] special team, his place was taken

by K. Kaladinskas (known as “Ersketis” [Blackthorn] or “Sarka” [Magpie], who united the partisans of the

Zarasai district. The partisans of Rimse and Duksta counties continued to answer to Tigras [Tiger] special team.
L-299, LKA 16-81, 82 VA

February-March, 1946
3rd Northern Command of LLA ceases action. 4th LLA Command (“Vytautas Command”) renamed “3rd LLA

Vytautas Command”.
LKA 16-5 VA

March 5, 1946
The “Cold War” starts when Winston Churchill makes speech in US city of Fulton and warns of USSR’s

dangerous policies and "Iron Curtain" separating East and West. Partisans optimistic.
LKA 7-173 VV

March 15, 1946
LGPVV leader J. Noreika (“Generolas Vetra”) [General Storm] meets underground leader of Telsiai district,

ZL leader major J. Semaska, and appoints him leader of Siauliai Command.
LKA 7-173 VV

March, 1946
New partisan unit named after Povilas Luksys is formed from remaining members of annihilated “Kovas [Raven]

Special Team” in Kedainiai district. First leader is J. Jasinevicius (“Margis”) [Dapple]. New leader lieutenant A.

Ragauskas-Ragelis chosen on 28 September.
L-238, 486, LKA 12-10, LKA 22-198 KA

March, 1946
through their agent Kipsas (Devil), allegedly a representative of the National Committee in Vilnius, the MGB

establish relations with DKA leader J. Misiunas (Zalias Velnias) [Green Devil].
L-330 OK

March 16, 1946
Arrest of LTT founders J. Noreika, S. Gorodeckis and O. Poskiene; betrayed by O. Poðkienë’s friend poet V.

Valsiuniene, MGB agent “Oras” [Weather] or “Agnesë”. More LTT members, including author K. Boruta, later

arrested in O. Poskiene’s flat in Vilnius. LTT destroyed.
L-129, 264, LKA 7-176, 177, LKA 8-58, LKA 17-225 VV

March 24, 1946
Death of DKA chief of staff A. Zepkus (Piliakalnis) [Castle Hill], replaced by B. Trakimas (Genelis) [Little

Woodpecker].
L-330, 493 DKA

April 5, 1946
TA leader Z. Drunga (Mykolas Jonas) [Michael John] issued decree Nr. 11 which created awards for

distinguished service of partisans: ribbons for bravery, diligence, and for civilians assisting partisans. V. Navickas

(Auksutis) [Goldie], leader of Perkunas [Thunder] special team appointed interim second-in-command.
L-479, LKA 3-25, 27 TA

April 9, 1946
Meeting of leaders of Tauras [Aurochs] and A Command near the village of Ricieliai, Seirijai county, Alytus

district. Formation of PLP (Partisans of Southern Lithuania) command post,
led by J. Vitkus (Kazimieraitis) [Son of Kazimieras],
assisted by. Z. Drunga (Mykolas Jonas) [Michael John].
Operational section headed by S. Staniskis (Antanaitis) [son of Anthony];
A. Kulikauskas (Daktaras) [Doctor] appointed interim director of information section.
PLP command post was intended to be supreme command post of all Lithuanian partisans. Dzûkai special team

was to be incorporated into Tauras [Aurochs] and A commands.
L-150, 196, 477, 483, LKA 1-10, 11, LK-247, 248 PL

April 10, 1946
Death of 10 partisans of VCA group of J. Survila-Sarunas in battle with NKVD troops near the village of

Varzai, Taujenai county, Ukmerge district.
L-492, LKA10-12 VCA

April 13, 1946
Meeting of Lydis (Pike) special team in the forest of Pavidauja, district of Taurage. Participation of 4 partisan

units and command post staff members H. Danilevicius (Vidmantas), J. Zickus (Viksva), J. Kasperavicius (Silas)

[Pine Forest]; consideration of possibility of forming a new command.
L-238 KA

April, 1946
Zaibas [Lightning] command formed in southern Zemaitija (Samogitia) under the leadership of J. Zemaitis.

Unification of separate partisan units commenced, culminates in the formation in autumn of the JKA (Joint

Kæstutis Command).
L-237 KA

April, 1946
Arrest of 32 ZL leaders and signalmen J. Semaska (Liepa) [Linden], V. Kucinskas (Ipras) and others.
L-487, LKA7-3 ZA

April 19, 1946
Death of TA Zalgiris [Grünwald] Special Team leader J. Kleiza (Zalvaris) [Bronze] in a battle in the village of

Katinai, Jankai county, district of Sakiai. New leader J. Ilgunas (Sarunas).
LBD-183, LKA3-25 TA

April 23, 1946
PLP general staff meeting accepts Declaration on Lithuanian Partisans, which includes principles of how

Lithuania’s nationhood should be restored. Dzukai Special Team assigned to A Command; Sarunas Special

Team removed from A Command and transferred to Tauras (Aurochs) Command. D. Jecys (Azuolis) [Oak]

given charge of A Command, remains leader of Dzukai Special Team.
KDK, L-150, 196, LK-249, LKA2-50, LPK-681 PL, DA, TA

May 2, 1946
J. Deksnys (“Alfonsas” or “Hektoras”) and V. Staneika (“Andrius” or “Meskis”) travel from Germany to

Lithuania without authorisation from VLIK to suggest to the partisans that they create VLAK (Supreme

Lithuanian Restoration Committee) as their centre of political leadership and BDPS (General Democratic

Resistance Union) as their centre of military leadership. They told the Lithuanians that this was the will of the free

world, while telling the West that this was the wish of the Lithuanian freedom fighters.
DP-548 VV

May 7, 1946
DKA leader J. Misiunas (Zalias Velnias - Green Devil) falls victim to Soviet disinformation and mistakenly

contacts spurious Cheka-controlled “partisan command centre" in Vilnius asking them to send him a

commanding officer and chief of command post staff. On 18 May MGB sends agent Gediminas (Margis -

Dapple] (also known as kapitonas Grieztas – Captain Severe). His true identity may have been J. Stravinskas, a

former military service colleague of J. Misiunas.
L-331 DKA

May 15, 1946
(1946 06) D. Jecys (Azuolis) [Oak] takes charge of A Command, changes its name to Dainava Command. It

consists of about 300 fighters in 3 teams: Dzuku (led by D. Jecys), Merkys (A. Ramanauskas) and Gelezinis

Vilkas [Iron Wolf] (V. Kukë – also known as Aitvaras [Goblin] or Silas [Pine Forest]).
L-150, 197, (KDK) DA

May, 1946
J. Markulis (MGB undercover agent Azuolas [Oak] – but known as Erelis [Eagle] to the partisans) makes

contact with DKA in the name of the spurious “underground resistance centre”, and through it with TA and DA

command posts. Thus begins the MGB infiltration and beginning of their influence over the leaders of the

partisans.
L-131, 331 OK

May 19, 1946
In accordance with order Nr. 2-19 Soviet secret agents acting in the name of the spurious “underground

resistance centre” appoint kapitonas Grieztas – Captain Severe (MGB agent Gediminas) interim leader of

DKA. J. Misiunas stays on as his adjutant.
L-331, LKA11-36, LPK-511 DKA, OK

May 25, 1946
ZL order Nr. 10 proclaims new ZL resistance movement structure effective from 1946 04 17: ZA (Zemaitija

Command) leader is F. Asoklis (Vilkas - Wolf); command post chief of staff is A. Ruzgys (Margis) [Dapple];

propaganda chief is B. Staliuniene (Vysnia - Cherry Tree). The Command consisted of special teams from

Telsiai district (Ðatrija Special Team); Mazeikiai district (Alka Special Team); and Kretinga district (Kardas

[Sword] Special Team).
L-264, 487, LKA7-3 ZA

May 28, 1946
PLP command post 2IC Z. Drunga (Mykolas Jonas) [Michael John] meets with J. Markulis (Erelis) [Eagle], a

representative of "Aukðtaiciu partizanu ir Vienybes komiteto" [Highlands Partisan Unity Committee].

Discussions about possibility of forming a common partisan leadership and establishing links with Zemaitijan

(Samogitian) partisans. Meeting attended by J. Stravinskas (Ziedas) [Bud], leader of TA Gelezinis Vilkas (Iron

Wolf) Special Team; also J. Luksa (Vytis), K. Pyplys (Mazytis) [Littlie] and others.
L-151, LK-101, 250, LKA1-16, LPK-524 VV

May 31, 1946
TA leader Z. Drunga (Mykolas Jonas) [Michael John] meets with visitors from abroad J. Deksnys (Alfonsas)

and V. Staneika (Andrius), who encourage the earliest possible creation of a Supreme Partisan Leadership.
L-151, LK-101, 252, 253 VV

June 3, 1946
Meeting of TA (Tauras Command) special team leaders in Skaisciunai village of Marijampolë district.

Participants:
Tauras Command leader Z. Drunga (Mykolas Jonas) [Michael John];
adjutant J. Pileckis-Sarunas; Fr J. Lelesius (Krivaitis); editor of "Laisves zvalgas" [Freedom Herald], A. Baltusis

(Zvejys) [Fisherman]; leader of Vytautas Special Command, Special Team leader V. Gavenas (Vampyras)

[Vampire]; leader of Gelezinis Vilkas (Iron Wolf), J. Stravinskas (Ziedas) [Bud]; leader of Gediminas, V.

Navickas (Auksutis) [Goldie]; leader of Zalgiris (Grünwald), J. Ilgunas (Sarunas) and others. Decision to

arrange training courses for leading administrators; motion to establish a civilian political party for partisans

(Lietuvos demokratu partija) [Lithuanian Democrats’ Party] to enable the partisans, once independence is

regained, to participate in the political life of the country; operational territory of special teams redefined.
A. Baltusis appointed chief of staff of command post,
V. Navickas his deputy.
J. Luksa (Vytis) appointed editor of "Laisves zvalgas" (“Freedom Herald);
V. Stepulevicius (Mindaugas) appointed leader of Gediminas Special Team.
L-163, LBD-43, LK95-109, LKA3-25, LKA1-12 TA

June 4, 1946
Partisans of TA (Tauras Command) ambush and kill about 20 stribai and communist activists in the village of

Grybine, near Sunskai in the district of Marijampole.
L-169, AKL-37 TA

June 6, 1946
LSSR NKGB-NKVD Colonel Nesidov of the Kaunas operational sector writes: "comrade Berija [...] has

assigned us the task of smashing Lithuanian bandit groups [...] and cleansing Lithuania of anti-Soviet nationalist

elements within 2-3 weeks".
LKA11-103

June 6, 1946
Meeting at TA (Tauras Command) Gelezinis Vilkas (Iron Wolf) command post. Participants: J. Luksa, A.

Varkala (Zaliukas) [Greenie], J. Markulis, J. Deksnys, V. Staneika. Formation of VLAK and BDPS. Decision

to form VGPS (Vyriausiasis ginkluotuju pajegu stabas) [Supreme Armed Forces Headquarters] from

representatives of armed partisans. At the suggestion of J. Deksnys it is agreed that until the final formation of

VLAK a “Unity Committee” under the leadership of J. Markulis should perform the required tasks. Thus did

MGB agent J. Markulis become de facto leader of the resistance movement, and unknown to J. Deksnys, his

activities were controlled by the MGB.
L-131, LK-254, LKA11-37, LPK-524 VV

June 9, 1946
Death of J. Stravinskas (known as “Ziedas” [Bud] or “Kardas” [Sword]), who had been leader of TA (Tauras

Command) Gelezinis Vilkas (Iron Wolf) Special Team since September 1945. With him perished six partisans

in a skirmish in the grove of Pagraizis, Ðilavotas county, Marijampole district.
LBD-190, LK-625 TA

June 12, 1946
PLP operation “Hit the spies”. In one night several dozen spies were destroyed; the huts of fugitive communists,

including that of the president of the Merkine branch of the party, were torched.
RD-229 PL

June 12, 1946
PLP command post adjutant and Tauras Command leader Z. Drunga (Mykolas Jonas) [Michael John] killed in

a battle with NKVD troops in the forest of Agurkiske, Luksiai county, district of Sakiai, as he was on his way to

Zemaitija. Also killed were the adjutant of Zalgiris Special Team and 4 partisans; 13 NKVD men were killed.

V. Navickas (Auksutis) [Goldie] becomes interim leader of TA.
L-152, 479, LBD-186, 194, LK-111, 607, LKA3-26 TA

June 13, 1946
Upon the death of the leader of the Vaidotas group of Dzukai Special team, K. Degutis (Raginis), in the forest

of Balbieriskis, Marijampole district, new leader is J. Petraska (also known as Patrimpas or Lapaitis [Foxie]).
LKA9-90 DA

June, 1946
On the orders of P. Zinkevicius, interim leader of VA, the Liutas (Lion) Special Team was formed from the

remnants of the Sarunas Special Team. The command post staff structure was decided by July: leader V.

Pakstas (Naras, Vaidotas); deputy B. Kalytis (Siaubas) [Terror], former leader of Kestutis company. Area of

operation: district of Utena and parts of districts of Svencionys, Zarasai, Rokiskis. Newsletter "Laisves sauklys"

(“Freedom Herald”) published.
L-299, 490, LKA16-32, 121, 125 VA

Summer of 1946
J. Vasiliauskas (Skydas [Shield], Algimantas) appointed chairman of TA (Tauras Command) court martial

tribunal. LBD-193 TA ? 1946 06 21 As part of a misinformation initiative MGB agent Kipsas (Devil) gave J.

Misiunas (Zalias Velnias) [Green Devil] 15 copies of the newspaper "Vienybe" (Unity), which had been

published by the MGB as an alleged "underground journal" with the help of collaborators in DKA (Great Battle

Command). This ruse deceived J. Misiunas into thinking that Kipsas represented a bona fide partisan

organisation. At that time DKA had 2 086 members, of which 836 were partisans.
L-327, 331, LPK-510 DKA

July 2, 1946 (12) (17)
PLP (South Lithuanian Partisans) leader Lieutenant Colonel Juozas Vitkus (Kazimieraitis) [son of Kazimieras]

unexpectedly encounters NKVD troops at Zaliamiskis, near the village of Liepiskiai, Leipalingis county, Lazdijai

district; kills 2 enemy soldiers, is himself heavily injured and dies on the way to Leipalingis. Interim leader is

command post chief S. Staniskis (Antanaitis) [son of Anthony].
L-152, 483, LBD-190, LK-601, (L-477, LPK-681, RD-236), (KDK) PL

July 4, 1946
At a meeting of TA (Tauras Command) leaders A. Baltusis (Zvejys) [Fisherman] is appointed Commander. J.

Jasulaitis (Kazokas) [Cossack] is appointed leader of Gelezinis Vilkas (Iron Wolf) Special Team; however, he

failed to perform his duties and at the end of October A. Varkala (Zaliukas, Daumantas) was appointed leader.
L-166, 479, LK -110, LKA3-27 TA

July 5-6, 1946
TA (Tauras Command) leader A. Baltusis (Zvejys) [Fisherman] issues orders Nr. 23 and Nr. 24 proclaiming

that the freedom fighters constitute a military organisation and therefore its members are bound by military

discipline, and are required to respect their leaders and unhesitatingly carry out their orders; the partisans are to

wear Lithuanian Army uniforms with insignia showing their rank.
L-167, 479, LK-111, LKA3-29 TA

July 6, 1946 07 06
Battle of Pyragiai forest in the district of Raseiniai: NKVD troops attack the fortified camp of Zebenkstis Special

Team, which had 27 bunkers. One partisan killed in the 3-hour battle; the partisans retreat. L-86 KA

July 24, 1946 07 24
Through MGB agents Kipsas (Devil) and Kibirkðtis (Spark) DKA (Great Battle Command) leader J. Misiunas

(Zalias Velnias) [Green Devil] gives kapitonas Grieztas (Captain Severe) information about the Command’s

leadership and the composition and weaponry of A and B special teams. Acting on this information MVD

troops begin a mass search for partisans.
L-332 DKA

August 12, 1946
At the request of J. Deksnys, MGB agent J. Markulis calls a meeting of representatives of all the Commands of

the Lithuanian partisans. Meeting takes place in Vilnius, in a flat owned by the MGB. VGPS is formed,

consisting of 2 representatives of each partisan region and also individuals recommended by BDPS. Hence the

VGPÐ was effectively under the control of BDPS.
L-131, 332, LKA3-50, LKA8-64, LKA11-37, LPK-528 OK, VV

August 12-13, 1946
Military Court in Vilnius sentences 19 members of youth groups for having participated in the underground

resistance movement at the behest of LTT (Lithuanian National Council).
LKA7-206, 207 VV

August 13, 1946 08 13
At the insistence of DKA leader “kapitonas Grieztas” (Captain Severe) J. Misiunas (Zalias Velnias) [Green

Devil] comes to Vilnius to attend a meeting of partisan command leaders organised by J. Markulis. The next day

(14 June) J. Misiunas is arrested and later killed.
L-332, LK-625, LKA8-60, LKA11-37, LPK-720 DKA

August 15, 1946
TA (Tauras Command) leadership accepts "Drausmes nuostatai" (Code of Discipline) for Lithuanian Freedom

Fighters.
LK-149 TA

August, 1946
Zebenkstis Special Team, operating in Raseiniai district, is renamed Sernas (Wild Boar) Special Team; after

leading it for only 20 days A. Zaskevicius (Salna) [Frost] leaves to take up a job in Vilnius in the administration

of the BDPS set up by J. Markulis. In September command of the Special Team is taken over by J. Zemaitis; in

November he renames it “Volunteer Special Time” for the purpose of dissimulation.
L-238, 486, LKA12-11 KA

August 23, 1946
DA (Daina Command) Gelezinis Vilkas (Iron Wolf) special team disbanded; its operational territory is assigned

to Dzukai and Merkys Special Teams.
L-201, 483, KDK DA

August 25, 1946
On the orders of P. Zinkevicius, interim leader of VA (Vytautas Command), the leader of Liûtas (Lion) Special

Team, V. Pakstas (Vaidotas) is appointed Deputy Commander; new leader of Liutas Special Team is V.

Kaulinis (Miskinis) [Bushman], former leader of Gediminas Company.
L-299, 490, LKA 16-36, LPK-681 VA

September 1, 1946
TA (Tauras Command) leader A. Baltusis (Zvejys) [Fisherman] order team leaders to keep a record of

atrocities committed by the Soviet invaders against the people of Lithuania.
LK-558 TA

September, 1946
Formal presentation ceremony of service medals to partisans of Vytautas Special Team takes place in village of

Ungurine, Liudvinavas county, district of Marijampole.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

War Chronicle of the Partisans: Part V

September of 1946
Following the arrest of ZA (Samogitian Legion) leader F. Asoklis, the new leader is Captain K. Antanavicius

(Tauras – "Aurochs"); his adjutant is P. Antanavicius; organisational section leader A. Ruzgys (aka Margis

["Dapple"], Algimantas or Algis); command post members K. Malakauskas (Bimba) and German Army officer

Major Vilis (Willis?). Three special teams and their companies formed.
AL-283, L-264, 487, LKA7-3 ZA

September 17, 1946
Partisans of Zagariai village, Balbieriskis county, Prienai district, liquidate LKP CK functionary Bobrikov,

district Komsomol [Communist Youth] 2nd secretary Jucys and 3 stribai.
AKL-50 TA

September 25, 1946
Following a meeting of Special Team representatives on August 12 and 21, JKA (Joint Kestutis Command)

formed from Lydys ("Pike"), Zaltys ("Snake"), Sernas ("Boar"), Vytautas Didysis ("Vytautas the Great") and

Lietuvos laisvës gynëjai ("Defenders of Lithuania's Freedom") Special Teams. Lieutenant J. Kasperavicius (aka

Angis, later Visvydas) appointed Commander; P. Bartkus (Rimgaila) appointed leader of organisational section;

information section - P. Paulaitis-Barkus; representative on J. Markulis' BDPS (General Democratic Resistance

Movement) - A. Zaskevicius (Salna – "Frost"); liaison officer N. Nausedaite (Rasa – "Dew"). The Command

included the regions of Klaipeda, Taurage, Raseiniai and part of the regions of Kaunas, Kedainiai and Siauliai.

Corps of 2,000 fighters, about 500 armed partisans.
L-242, 486, LK-114-132, LKA12-15, 30, 64 KA

September 28, 1946
Group of VÈA (Vytis Command) partisans led by J. Survila (Sarunas) attack town of Siesikai in Ukmerge

district, burn down MVD building, shoot several county activists (communists).
L-491, LKA10-12 VCA

Autumn, 1946
TA (Tauras Command) leader J. Baltusis (Zvejys – "Fisherman") issues instructions to leaders of Special Teams

on destruction of stribai groupings in order to frighten and demoralise the stribai; also instructions on obtaining

grain for the winter from stocks that had been confiscated from farmers by the communist authorities.
DP-213, 216 TA

Autumn, 1946
VA (Vytautas Command) command post consists of interim leader B. Zinkevicius (Artojas – "Ploughman");

command post OIC V. Pakstas (aka Naras – "Diver Bird" or Vaidotas); organisational sector leader V.

Zaliduonis (aka Rokas or Diakonas "Deacon"); military intelligence and liaison section leader J. Buterliauskas

(Tarzanas – "Tarzan"). The command post published the newspaper "Aukstaiciu kova" ("Struggle of the

Highlanders").
L-299, LKA16-21 VA

Autumn, 1946
Following an attack by 3,000 MVD soldiers VA (Vytautas Command) Liûtas ("Lion") Special Team suffers

huge losses; organisational structure saved only by diligent leadership of V. Kaulinis (Miskinis – "Bushman").
LKA16-36 VA

Autumn, 1946
Genys ("Woodpecker") company, which had been active in Joniskis and Siauliai districts, reorganised into JKA

(Joint Kestutis Command) Voverë ("Squirrel") Special Team. Command post located in Zagare county; leader

A. Valancius (Oksas, Tauras) killed in action on 11 August 1947.
NPD-95 KA

Autumn, 1946
2 partisans of VA (Vytautas Command) Tigras ("Tiger") Special Team killed in an attack by MGB troops in

Dvariskiai village, Tvereèius county, Svencionys district. MGB allows 2 other partisans to escape so that they

can tell the other partisans about the feigned death of Team leader A. Kamarauskas (Karijotas), who had been

MGB agent Vlasov since June 1946) and was being withdrawn by the MGB from Tigras Special Team.
L-301, LKA16-61 VA

October 1, 1946
By order of the leader of VA (Vytautas Command), A. Kamarauskas (Karijotas) who could not see eye to eye

with the VA leadership, is replaced as leader of Tigras ("Tiger") Special Team, V. Zaliaduonis (aka Rokas or

Diakonas ("Deacon"), who was at that time in Belarus and not contactable; Tigras Special Team without leader

for about six months.
L-301, LKA16-61 VA

October 11, 1946 (01)
Treachery leads to death of interim leader of VA (Vytautas Command), B. Zinkevicius (Artojas – "Ploughman")

in command post bunker on the Petkevicius farmstead in the settlement of Sudalaukis, Saldutiskis county,

Svenèionys district. Enemies seize command post maps and other documents. V. Pakstas (aka Naras "Diver

Bird" or Vaidotas) believed to have become interim commander.
LKA16-21, 61, (L-302, 490) VA

October 13, 1946
DA (Dainava Command) adjutant A. Ramanauskas (Vanagas – "Hawk") visits site of PLP (South Lithuanian

Partisans) command post in territory of Sarunas Special Team, decides that command post no longer functional

after the death of J. Vitkus (Kazimieraitis – "son of Kazimieras"). A. Kulikauskas (Daktaras – "Doctor") departs

for Vilnius to join J. Markulis' BDPS (General Democratic Resistance Movement); S. Staniskis (Litas)

withdraws from partisan movement; DA leader D. Jecys (Azuolis – "Oak") offered task of reviving PLP

command post activity.
RD-260, L-152 DA

October, 1946
Previously autonomous Algirdas and Dobilas companies of Sarunas Special Team (led by A. Slucka –

"Sarunas") in the Kupiskis district become part of VA (Vytautas Command).
LKA16-121 VA

October, 1946
ZA (Samogitian Command) Alka Special Team now headed by K. Venckus (Adomaitis); confirmed as leader

on 25 July 1947. L-267, 487
ZA

October 22, 1946
TA (Tauras Command) leader A. Baltusis (Zvejys – Fisherman) and several of his fighters attacked by NKVD

troops in village of Viltrakiai, Zvirgzdaiciai county, Sakiai district. Death of leader of Zalgiris Special Team, J.

Ilgunas, also TA founder J. Pileckis (Sarunas) and several partisans. J. Jasulaitis (Kazokas) becomes leader of

Zalgiris Special Team.
L-170, 479, LBD-145, 185, 187, LK-616 TA

October 23, 1946
VA (Vytautas Command) Lokys ("Bear") Special Team partisans, led by A. Ivaska, assail Communist party

branch meeting in Suviekas village, Imbradas county, Zarasai district, killing E. Misiunas, executive committee

chairman for Zarasai district, also Suviekas electorate committee chairman P. Berdinskas, and wounding owner

of the house, P. Malinauskas and Zarasai Communist party committee instructor P. Aruliene.
LKA16-83 VA

November 1, 1946
MGB agent "Vlasov" (VGPS [Supreme Armed Forces Command] leader A. Kamarauskas – "Colonel Vytis")

gives J. Luksa the rank of captain, appoints him adjutant of VGPS command post, member of the Military

College, and puts him in charge of VGPS organisational matters and liaison with other partisan Commands.
DP-210, 211, 478 VV

November 1, 1946
DA (Dainava Command) leader D. Jecys (Azuolis – "Oak") takes charge of PLP (South Lithuania Partisans),

makes leader of TA (Tauras Command) his deputy.
L-152, (L-477) PL

November 14, 1946 (15)
Partisans led by V. Voveris (Zaibas – "Lightning") kill 18 MVD agents and stribai, including the MVD chief of

Daugai county, near Rakatanskai village, Daugai county, Alytus district.
AKL-12, LK-218, LKA6-8, (L-220) DA

November, 1946
Meeting of leaders of TA (Tauras Command) with participation of TA leader A. Baltusis (Zvejys –

"Fisherman"), TA political section leader A. Vabalas (Gediminas) and leaders of Special Teams, J. Luksa and J.

Markulis. VGPS (Supreme Armed Forces Command) leadership role in partisan activity acknowledged;

meeting of all Lithuanian partisan district commanders scheduled for 18 January 1947, when creation of BDPS

(General Democratic Resistance Movement) and VLAK (Supreme Committee for Restoration of Lithuania)

would be officially confirmed.
DP-484 PL, OK, TA, VV

November, 1946
Destruction of LPS (Lithuanian Partisans' Union)Gediminas organisation, which had been operating in Uzpales,

Juzintai and Svedasai counties. Remaining members joined VA (Vytautas Command) Lokys ("Bear") Special

Team.
L-295 VA

November 20-22, 1946
Vilnius War Tribunal passes death sentence on LTT (Lithuanian National Council) activists J. Noreika ir Z.

Serksnas. S. Gorodeckis is sentenced to ten years in prison.
LKA7-176 VV

November 26, 1946
Arrest in Vilnius of DA (Dainava Command) partisan representative on BDPS (General Democratic Resistance

Movement), A. Kulikauskas (Daktaras – "Doctor").
DP-521, 522, LK-594 VV

End of 1946
First VGPS (Supreme Armed Forces Command) meeting takes place in the headquarters (Zygio Street,

Vilnius). BDPS (General Democratic Resistance Movement) represented by J. Markulis; VGPS by A.

Kamarauskas ("Colonel Vytis"), J. Luksa (Kazimieras) and A. Zaskevicius (Tautvaisa). VGPS issues first edict,

prepared by J. Luksa, confirming division of Lithuania into 3 regions of partisan activity; regional partisan leaders

confirmed.
DP-482 OK, VV

End of 1946
A. Morkunas (Plienas – "Steel"), leader of DKA (Great Battle Command) B Special Team refuses to report

state of weaponry and liaison to DKA leader "Kapitonas Grieztas" – "Captain Severe".
L-334 DKA

December 7, 1946
Arrest of author K. Bajercius, organiser and supporter of South Lithuania partisans, lecturer at Alytus Teachers'

College. Did not betray anyone; tortured to death by MGB in Alytus prison at the beginning of 1947.

Posthumously awarded Laisves Kovos Karzygis (Hero of Freedom Struggle) medal honoris causa.
LK-586 PL

December 9, 1946
Partisans attack Skapiskis railway station in the district of Rokiskis killing stationmaster and 2 individuals.
L-25, AKL-33 VA

December 20, 1946
Leader of DKA (Great Battle Command) MGB agent "Kapitonas Grieztas" ("Captain Severe") orders

submission of DKA to J. Markulis' BDPS (General Democratic Resistance Movement); appoints active partisan

leaders B. Trakymas (Genelis – "Little Woodpecker"), L. Kupciunas (Tigras – "Tiger"), P. Klimavicius (Uosis –

"Ash Tree") and others to DKA command post. During 1947 "Captain Severe" arranged false documents for all

of these so they could live in Vilnius. In February-March 1948 they were arrested and sentenced, some being

unwittingly used for MGB purposes.
L-332, 333 VDr DKA

December 22, 1946
Meeting of leaders of JKA (Joint Kestutis Command). Participation of Commander J. Kasperavièius

(Visvydas), organisational sector leader P. Bartkus (Rimgaila), also J. Markulis (Erelis – "Eagle"), J. Luksa

(Kazimieras), A. Zaskevièius (Tautvaisa). Those present agreed to participate in another leaders' meeting on 18

January 1947. J. Markulis was able to ascertain approximate position of command post location.
L-243, DP-485, LKA12-16 VV, OK

December 25, 1946
MVD troops attack partisans of LKA Special Team led by Povilas Luksys as they celebrate Christmas in the

belltower of the chapel on Labunava Manor in Kedainiai district. Despite their spirited resistance, 4 partisans

and 7 supporters – among them 4 women – were killed or shot themselves. A. Dalbokas (Imperatorius –

"Emperor"), leader of the partisans of 4th region, and liaison officer A. Muralis (Vingis) surrendered and

betrayed their comrades. As a result, 28 team members were arrested, including deputy leader, team founder

Sub- Lieutenant J. Jasinevicius (Margis – "Dapple").
MK-118, 123. LKA22-198 KA

December 28, 1946
After considering available evidence, J. Lukða, A. Zaskevicius and B. Barzdziukas realise that J. Markulis is an

MGB agent. J. Luksa leaves Vilnius to take news of J. Markulis' treachery to TA (Tauras Command).
L-133, LKA11-40 VV

January 3, 1947
Partisans of Dainava Command operating in the forest of Gediminas cut down telephone poles along a 2.5 km

stretch of the Alytus-Daugai road, destroying 2 lorries and 1 car and killing an MVD officer.
LBD-228 DA

January 4, 1947
Betrayal causes death of TA (Tauras Command) Zalgiris Special Team leader J. Jasulaitis (Kazokas) in the

village of Kampines, Veiveriai county, Marijampole district. Also killed was chief of finance section, A.

Martinaitis (Kapsas). V. Strimas (Sturmas - "Storm") becomes new leader.
LBD-183, 184, LK-601 TA

January 6, 1947
On his return to Vilnius after his errand to TA (Tauras Command), J. Luksa meets with B. Barzdziukas, A.

Varkala, A. Zaskevicius, S. Luksa and N. Nausedaite. Attempting to expose the suspect J. Markulis they

invited him to visit Vytautas Command. J. Markulis declined the offer, possibly having been warned off by A.

Zaskevièius.
LKA12-158 VV

January 10, 1947
By order of MGB agent, BDPS (General Democratic Resistance Movement) Chairman J. Markulis, A. Baltusis

(Zvejys - "Fisherman") is appointed leader of PL (Southern Lithuania) region. On 12 January J. Kimstas is

appointed leader of RL (Eastern Lithuania) region. Through its front organisation, the BDPS, the MGB sought

to lead the partisan movement. J. Markulis advised that he was changing his code name of Erelis ("Eagle") to

"Doctor Narutavicius". He also changed the code name of secret MGB agent Azuolas ("Oak") to "Noreika"),

thus hoping to mislead the partisans who suspected him.
L-401, LKA11-41 RL, OK

Early January, 1947
TA (Tauras Command) leaders, Zemaitijan (Samogitian) partisans and legally documented secret underground

activists warned of J. Markulis' treachery.
LKA11-6 VV

January 12, 1947
On order of TA (Tauras Command) leader A. Baltusis (Zvejys – "Fisherman") Birute Special Team is created

to strengthen partisan activity in Kaunas and surrounding districts. From 20 January 1947 Team leader is J.

Luksa (Skirmantas). Kestutis Special Team is formed in Vilkaviskis district from Vytautas and Zalgiris Special

Teams. K. Pinkvarta (Desinys – "Right Hander") appointed leader but unable to take up appointment because

of illness. On 10 April K. Greblikas (Sakalas – "Falcon") is appointed leader.
LKA3-30 TA

January 15-16, 1947
As J. Markulis' treachery becomes clear, TA (Tauras Command) convenes urgent meeting of fighters'

representatives at its command post. TA represented by leader A. Baltusis (Zvejys – "Fisherman"), political

section leader V. Vabalas (Gediminas) and Special Team leaders A. Varkala (Zaliukas – "Greenie"), V. Strimas

(Sturmas "Storm") and V. Gavenas (Vampyras – "Vampire"). DA (Dainava Command) represented by J.

Kriksciunas (Rimvydas). Also present were former VGPS (Supreme Armed Forces Command) 2nd group

leader A. Zaskevicius (Tautvaisa) and former VGPS adjutant J. Luksa (Kazimieras). KA (Kestutis Command)

and VA (Vytautas Command) representatives were not able to attend. It was decided to marginalise MGB

provocateur J. Markulis from all sensitive dealings and to form a new BDPS (General Democratic Resistance

Movement) and VGPS; to establish links abroad; to invite Commands which were not represented at the

meeting to cooperate with the new BDPS and VGPS. An interim BDPS committee was formed chaired by A.

Vabalas (Gediminas). VGPS command post established under A. Baltusis. Commands invited to nominate

representatives for command post.
L-133, LK-269-273, LKA11-17 VV

January, 1947
JKA (Joint Kestutis Command) Battalion Nr. 8 (formerly called Lithuanian Freedom Defenders Special Team)

renamed Trys Lelijos ("Three Lilies") Special Team. Leader P. Paulaitis (Barkus).
L-242, 258, 485, LKA12-15, LKA18-84, 85 KA

January 17, 1947 01 17
inaugural meeting of VLAK (Supreme Committee for Restoration of Lithuania) delegation abroad in Stockholm.

Decision to maintain links and exchange information with still-operating Lithuanian diplomatic missions abroad

through Head of Diplomatic Corps, S. Lozoraitis; also with VLIK executive committee. Overseas delegation

consisted of J. Deksnys, V. Staneika, Vokietaitis, Bieliukas and S. Zakevièius (Zymantas). LKA8-71 VV

Early 1947
VCA (Vytis Command) command post consists of Commander D. Vaitelis and staff members Will(is) [a

German], J. Kilijokas (Mikas – "Mike"), A. Kadzys, A. Sivys (Salapka), V. Darguzis (Zvirblis – "Sparrow"), A.

Pakeltis, V. Burbulis (Begunas – "Runner"), J. Jaskonis (Anukas – "Grandson"). It is believed that the VCA

command post had no sectional structure in 1946-1947 and did not issue any edicts, instructions or

publications. Command post staff visited partisan units and conveyed verbal orders to them.
LKA10-19, 20 VCA

February 14, 1947
TA (Tauras Command) legal adviser Budrys publishes Act No. 4 concerning bolshevik crimes in relation to

illegal elections of 9 February 1947; 18 breaches of electoral statutes listed. Act signed by Budrys and 2

witnesses: A. Baltusis (Zvejys – "Fisherman") and Father J. Lelesius (Gafas).
DP-248 TA

February, 1947
MGB agent L. Maksimov (Antanas) goes to Poland to see partisan liaison officer Peèeliûnas to clarify channels

of communication. Peceliunas informed Vokietaitis and J. Deksnys in Stockholm of the discussion.
LKA8-69 OK

February 16, 1947
Duktas forest near Siauliai: death of KA (Kestutis Command) Vytautas Didysis Special Team leader Senior

Warrant Officer J. Beloglovas (aka Algis or Zydrunas), who had been with the partisans since the autumn of

1944. Also killed were 3 command post members. New leader is J. Puslys (Gailius).
LKA8-54, 56 KA

February 18-19, 1947
Under instructions from TA (Tauras Command) Vytautas Special Team leader V. Gavënas (Vampyras –

"Vampire") J. Senkutë – (Puselë – "Little Pine") organises a Shrovetide ball, which is also supposed to be an

"engagement party", to which she invites several Communist party activists from Marijampole. The "fiancé",

Vytautas Special Team command post member K. Pyplys (Mazytis – "Littlie") kills 4 Communists, including S.

Bakevicius, district Communist Party First Secretary, a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR;

Gurevicius, director of internal passports section; and county executive committee chairman Jasiunas.
DP-248, L-169, LK-228, VT-155 TA

March 5, 1947
Partisans of TA (Tauras Command) Gelezinis Vilkas ("Iron Wolf") Special Team engage in battle with NKVD

troops from Garliava in Jurgiskiai village, Garliava county, Kaunas district. Death of 4 partisans and 8 NKVD

men.
LBD-176, 214, 220 TA

March, 1947
At the DA (Dainava Command) headquarters in the pine forest of Punia, PLP (South Lithuania Partisans) leader

D. Jecys (Azuolis – "Oak") authorises A. Baltusis (Zvejys – "Fisherman") to represent DA in discussions with

the partisans of Zemaitija (Samogitia). He also endorsed A. Baltusis' efforts to establish links with the West.

These decisions of D. Jecys were confirmed by A. Ramanauskas, who became leader of DA in the autumn of

1947. J. Zemaitis (Vytautas) considered A. Baltusis to be de facto leader of PLP.
L-153, 154, 477 DA

March, 1947
JKA (Joint Kestutis Command) command post prepares operational guidelines for the OS (organisational

sector).
LK-157 KA

March 19, 1947
Partisans of TA (Tauras Command) Vytautas Special Team, led by V. Gavenas (Vampyras – "Vampire") took

over the Bukta "sovchoz" (State collective farm) located on the former Bukta estate in the county of

Liudvinavas, Marijampole district, destroying sovchoz and local forestry documents. An ambush was set for

NKVD men, border guards and stribai who came to investigate. In the ensuing shoot-out they shot about 20

NKVD soldiers and stribai (9 according to MGB sources); 2 partisans were killed.
DP-262, LBD-162, LPK-535 TA

Spring of 1947
Mass interrogations of residents of Suvalkija as MGB endeavours to ascertain partisan gathering points, extent

of their weaponry and suchlike.
DP-235 OK

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

War Chronicle of the Partisans: Part VI

April 6, 1947 Partisans of VA (Vytautas Command) Lokys (“Bear”) Special Team led by A. Ivaska kill

Sokolov, head of MGB of Latvian SSR Ilukste region; also MGB operative Usov and 2 MGB soldiers.
LKA16-83 VA

April 9, 1947 MGB agent activity causes destruction of ZA (Samogitian Command) command post on the

outskirts of Plunge; Commander K. Antanavicius (Tauras – “Aurochs”) killed; new self-proclaimed leaders of

ZA are K. Juozaitis (Meteoras – “Meteor”) head of Satrija Special Team and J. Ivanauskas (Vygandas).

MGB-incited internal wrangling leads to destruction of K. Juozaitis’ command post; new leader is J. Ivanauskas.
L-265, AL-283, LKA7-4, LKA15-286 ZA

April 10, 1947 TA (Tauras Command) establishes 24th (“Maironis”) Company to guard command post and

expand operations; leader is K. Pyplys (Mazytis – “Littlie”). In December 1947 K. Pyplys goes abroad; new

leader is J. Ciplijauskas (Sakalas - “Falcon”).
LKA3-31 TA

April 12, 1947 (09) (10) (18) MVD soldiers attack JKA (Joint Kestutis Command) command post bunker on

the Jukna farmstead near the town of Batakiai, Taurage district. JKA leader J. Kasperavicius (Visvydas) and his

adjutant A. Biliunas (Dziugas) destroy documents and blow themselves up.
L-486, LK-622, LKA7-60, (LKA7-77, (LK-584), (RD-238, RZ-44, 51) KA

April 12 or 13, 1947 JKA (Joint Kestutis Command) agitation and propaganda section head P. Paulaitis (Aidas

“Echo”) arrested at the house of J. Zickus in Poskai village, Skaudvile county, Taurage district.
LKA18-85, 86, (LKA13-113) KA

Spring of 1947
Seeking to involve legally registered civilians in the newly- formed BDPS (General Democratic Resistance

Movement) and thereby to solve the problem of political representation, A. Baltusis (Zvejys – “Fisherman”)

establishes Central Partisan Leadership in Kaunas. Members of new BDPS are J. Bazilevicius (Taucius), Father

Stankunas (Stonis), poet A. Miskinis (Kaukas “Goblin”), former operatic soloist A. Kucingis (Kalvaitis) and

others. Interim chairman is V. Seliokas, who used to sign documents with the code name “Gintautas”. 25th

Company formed to maintain links with other Commands.
L-134, 135, 169, 170, LKA11-9, 80 VV

April of 1947
Traitor J. Markulis organises personal documents for VA (Vytautas Command) leader J. Kimstas (Zalgiris –

“Grünwald”) in order to lure him from his forest hideaway and get him arrested.
LKA11-42 VA

April of 1947
J. Luiksa (Skrajunas – “Pilot”) and J. Kriksciunas (Rimvydas) cross Polish border on their way to the West to

for liaison and to denounce treachery of J. Markulis.
LK-478 VV

April of 1947
Meeting of BDPS (General Democratic Resistance Movement) chaired by A. Baltusis (Zvejys – “Fisherman”)

with representatives of PLP (South Lithuania Partisans). Discussion centres on matter of maintaining

representatives of the armed resistance movement abroad. It is noted that given the present conditions there may

be too many partisans; 5-6 Commands with about 100 fighters in each might be enough.
LKA11-92 VV

April 22-34, 1947
DA (Dainava Command) leaders meeting in the pine forest of Punia. Discussion of Command leader D. Jecys’

(Àzuolis – “Oak”) conflict with former group leaders (now withdrawn from partisan movement) of Juozapavicius

ir Kestutis groups. Decision to intensify action against occupying regime.
L-203, KDK, RD-300-308 D

April 26 or 27, 1947
Death of ZA (Samogitian Command) Kardas (“Sword”) Special Team Palanga Company leader A. Grabys

(Vaidila). New leader, S. Skersys (Kovas – “Raven”), is wounded and captured in 1948, dies in transit to

Vilnius.
LKA21-142, 143 ZA

April 27, 1947
Death of officer-in-charge of TA (Tauras Command) Vytautas Special Team command post, V. Vabalas

(Kunigaikstis – “Duke”), the head of the security subsection A. Peciulis (Baritonas – “Baritone”) and

communications officer J. Senkute (“Pusele” – “Little Pine”) when they are surrounded by MVD troops in the

“Seklycia” (“Chapel”) command post bunker in Gulbiniskiai village, Liudvinavas county, Marijampole district as

a result of betrayal by the command post liaison officer. Rather than surrender, they blew themselves up.
LBD-189, 206, L-170, LKA3-35 TA

May 1, 1947
By order of J. Kimstas, leader of SRL (Northwest Lithuania partisans) and VA (Vytautas Command), a new

Algimantas Command (ALA) is formed. Leader is A. Slucka (Sarunas); command post OIC is A. Starkus

(Monte); head of agitation and propaganda is J. Urbonas (Lakstutis); finances S. Slucka (Bistrunas); leader’s

adjutant Kisielius (Sakalas – “Falcon”). Command consisted of 4 companies of Sarunas Special Team, called:

Grazina, Algirdas, Butageidis and Jovaras. Area of operations is districts of Rokiskis and Utenos as well as

some counties of Panevezys district.
L-336, LK-616, VAr ALA

May of 1947
New command structure of KA (Kestutis Command) Vytautas Didysis (“Vytautas the Great)” Special Team.

Leader is S. Raziulis (Mazylis); head of information section is L. Grigonis (Zveinys); head of organisational

section is V. Sniuolis (aka Svajunas [“Dreamer”] or Savanoris [“Volunteer”] – ex leader of former Zebenkstis

or Sernas (“Boar”) Special Team); team leader is E. Krutinaitis (Kalnius); command post OIC is B.

Neverdauskas (Papartis – “Fern”).
LKA8-56, L-249, LK-614, LKA13-6 KA

May 17, 1947
New ZA (Samogitian Command) Satrija Special Team leader is S. Jazdauskas (Nurmis); arrested on 24

November 1947.
L-269, 487 ZA

May 18, 1947
TA (Tauras Command) command post member V. Stepulevicius (aka Stepulis or Mindaugas – former leader of

Sarunas Special Team) dies as a result of betrayal in Janenai village, Sventezerio county, Lazdijai district.
LBD-200 TA

May 19, 1947
J. Luksa and J. Kriksciunas meet in Poland with J. Deksnys and denounce the treachery of J. Markulis. They

also conveyed the call of VGPS (Supreme Armed Forces Command) to Lithuanian organisations abroad to

support the partisans. Convinced by J. Deksnys of the desperate situation in Lithuania, they return on 5 June to

join in battle of Liubavas. With them came A. Marcinonis (Balandis – “Dove”), former member of Vytautas

Special Team, who had been working in Poland.
DP-280, L-47-9 VV, TA

May 20-25, 1947
JKA (Joint Kestutis Command) leaders’ meeting: J. Zemaitis (aka Dainius [“Bard”], Tylius [“Quiet”] and Zaltys

[“Grass Snake”] elected leader. Command post OIC is P. Bartkus (Zadgaila); operational section led by V.

Guzas (Kardas “Sword”); information section by A. Liesys (Tauras – “Aurochs”). In the spring of 1948 V.

Ivanauskas (aka Vytenis or Gintautas) joined the command post staff.
L-249, LKA13-5,6 KA

June 6, 1947
Marijampole district, Kalvarija county, Menkupe village: MVD troops attack TA (Tauras Command) Vytautas

Special Team 4th company’s command post hide-out, code named “Baltieji rumai – White House”. V.

Gurevicius (Ateitis – “Future”) and B. Rutkauskas (Apuokas – “Eagle Owl”) shoot themselves; A. Marcinonis

(Balandis – “Dove”) is captured alive.
LKA3-36 TA

June 13, 1947
Meeting of VA (Vytautas Command) and ALA (Algirdas Command) leaders. SRL (Northwest Lithuania)

regional leader J. Kimstas (Zalgiris – “Grünwald”) tells regional leaders he would like to resign as VA leader,

but no suitable candidate for replacement is available.
LKA16-23, PAK ALA, RL, VA, VV

June 15, 1947
VGPS (Supreme Armed Forces Command) issues order to Command leaders to prepare operational plans for

possible war, mass deportations of civilians and general mobilisation.
LK-281 VV

June 24, 1947
Partisans flee as enemy troops surround grove of Simonys in the district of Panevezys. Fleeing partisans capture

2 enemy collaborators, one of whom – the wife of J. Kimsta – had brutally tortured to death a farm boy.
L-338 VA

Summer of 1947
A. Baltusis (Zvejys – “Fisherman”) organises establishment of replacement organisation for BDPS (Bendrasis

demokratinio pasipriesinimo sàjudis - General Democratic Resistance Movement). Called BDLS (Bendrasis

demokratinis Lietuvos sàjudis - General Democratic Union of Lithuania), its aim was to make a distinction

between it and the BDPS, which had now come under MGB control through J. Markulis. A. Baltusis

established links with Algimantas, Vytautas, Vytis, Dainava, and the Joint Kestutis Command. This lessened the

pernicious influence of J. Markulis and the MGB on the partisan movement.
L-134, LKA11-8,9 VV

Summer of 1947
DKA (Great Battle Command) Special Team A has 4 battalions, each of 40-50 people; controlled by MGB,

no active operations accomplished.
L-333 DKA

Summer of 1947
Total destruction of LKA (Freedom Battle Command) Trys Lelijos (Three Lilies) Special Team.
L-243 KA

July 1, 1947
Valas Company of Zalioji (Green) Special Team joins ALA (Algimantas Command). Team active in Gelezes

and Rozalimas counties, led by V. Cesnakavicius (aka Valas or Daujotas); command post leader J. Janusevicius

(aka Raksnys or Vilkas – “Wolf”).
L-337, 338, LKA8-33

July of 1947
J. Kimstas (Zalgiris) appoints V. Kaulinis (aka as Miskinis – “Bushman” or Utenis, former leader of Liutas

[Lion] Special Team) leader of VA (Vytautas Command). V. Kaulinis invites Liutas colleagues V. Laucius

(Kirvis – “Axe”) and V. Grigaliunas (Sakalas – “Falcon” to join him on the staff of VA command post. New

leader of Liutas Special Team is J. Morkunas (aka Viesulas [“Whirlwind”], Siaurys [“North Wind”] or Vejas

[“Wind”].
L-303, LKA16-121 VA

August 11, 1947
Acting on information from an MGB agent, enemy troops attack DA (Dainava Command) headquarters in the

pine forest of Punia. In the 1½ hour battle DA and Dzukai Special Team leader D. Jecys (Àzuolis “Oak”) is

killed, as are the leaders of the Punia, Margiris and Vaidotas groups. A. Ramanauskas (Vanagas – “Hawk”)

becomes interim leader of DA.
L-201, 204, 483, LK-284, RD-362 DA

August 14, 1947
Partisans of VA (Vytautas Command) Lokys (“Bear”) Special Team led by J. Streikus (Stumbras – “Bison”)

liquidated Ilukste (Latvia) MGB chief Major M. Bunin and his second-in-command. This was done with the

assistance of former MGB agent E. Pleps, who was installed in the group by Bunin himself, but had been

exposed by the partisans. At that time the group was operating in Latvia.
DL-69 VA

August of 1947
First TA (Tauras Command) partisan training course. Attended by about 70 people including command post

personnel and fighters from Zalgiris, Vytautas, and Kestutis special teams. Course graduates became non-

commissioned officers.
DP-317, L-479 TA

August of 1947
ALA (Algimantas Command) leader A. Slucka (Sarunas) and VA (Vytautas Command) leader V. Kaulinis

(Miskinis – “Bushman”) come to Vilnius at the invitation of J. Markulis. A. Slucka is injured, but sensing

treachery they manage to escape danger.
LKA16-23, PAK ALA, VA

August of 1947
Injured A. Slucka seeks refuge with leader of ALA (Algimantas Command), DKA (Joint Kestutis Command)

Special Team B leader A. Morkunas (Plienas – “Steel”). The latter, on finding out about J. Markulis’

collaboration with the MGB, severs relations with MGB-controlled DKA command post.
L-333, VDr DKA

August of 1947
The governing body of BDLS (Bendrasis demokratinis Lietuvos sàjudis - “General Democratic Union of

Lithuania) of A. Baltusis (Zvejys - “Fisherman”), the supreme Lithuanian partisan leadership, undergoes name

change to BDPS Presidium (Bendrasis demokratinio pasipriesinimo sàjudis prezidiumas– “General Democratic

Resistance Movement Presidium”).
L-134, LKA11-8 VV

August 20, 1947
TA (Tauras Command) leader A. Baltusis (Zvejys - “Fisherman”) announces organisational changes. J. Luksa

(Skirmantas) appointed interim head of military intelligence section of the Command. Vytautas Special Team

leader V. Gavenas (Vampyras – “Vampire”) is relieved of command and transferred to Zalgiris (“Grünwald”)

Special Team. Kestutis Special Team leader K. Greblikas (Sakalas – “Falcon”) appointed leader of Vytauto

Special Team. Sarunas Special Team leader P. Kucinskas (aka Apinys – “Hop” or Ainis – “Grandson”)

becomes leader of Kestutis Special Team.
L-170, LKA3-34,36 TA

August 20, 1947 (30) (06 26) (1947 06)
By order Nr. 27 of A. Baltusis of 30 August 1947 Sarunas Special Team is transferred from TA (Tauras

Command) to DA (Dainava Command).
L-168, LKA3-31, (L-477, 479), (L-202), (L-483, KDK) DA, TA

August 27, 1947
Sitting of J. Markulis’ BDPS (General Democratic Resistance Movement) War College in the territory of Vytis

Command, near the village of Adomonys, Panevezys district. J. Markulis insisted that the new BDPS (later

renamed BDLS - General Democratic Union of Lithuania) reformed at the beginning of 1947 by A. Baltusis

(Zvejys – “Fisherman”) and J. Luksa (Skirmantas) was actually just a power grab and the allegations of treason

were only a smear against him. VCA (Vytis Command) leader D. Vaitelis did not believe that J. Markulis was a

collaborator.
L-317, 492, LKA11-44 VCA

September 1, 1947
BDPS (General Democratic Resistance Movement) Presidium Chairman issues edict Nr. 22 stipulating the

formation of six partisan commands in Lithuania, which would be headed by BDPS staff and would answer to

the leadership of VGPS (Supreme Armed Forces Command). The War Council (Karo taryba) would be

composed of Command leaders and would have the right to change the composition of the BDPS Presidium

and VGPS.
LKA11-8, L-134 VV

September 4, 1947
Avikilai village, Marijampole county: Treason leads to attack on TA (Tauras Command) Vytautas Special Team

command post. Death of command post finance section head, M. Zilionis (Plunksna – “Feather”) and employee

L. Lisauskaite (Ramune – “Chamomile”); command post documents and flag of Vytautas Special Team

confiscated.
L-171, LKA3-36 TA

September of 1947
Arrest in Vilnius of Lieutenant A. Ragauskas (Ragelis), leader of JKA (Joint Kestutis Command) Povilas Luksys

Special Team as he was on his way to try to eliminate the traitor A. Dalbokas, who had become the leader of a

group of MGB assassins. In November deputy Team leader J. Paliunas (Rytas – “Morning”) gathers the

remaining team members in the forest of Paliepiai and assigns them to JKA Savanoris (“Volunteer”) Special

Team.
LKA22-199 KA

September of 1947
Mass arrests begin after MGB infiltration of VA (Vytautas Command) Lokys (“Bear”) Special Team. Leader

K. Kaladinskas (aka Ersketis [“Blackthorn”] or Sarka [“Magpie”]) orders partisans to hide in groups of 2-3

people.
LKA16-85 VA

September 20, 1947 (02)
J. Kimstas (Zalgiris) issues order Nr. 19 which directs partisan leaders to cut off all relations with the BDPS

(General Democratic Resistance Movement) led and controlled by J. Markulis (Erelis – “Eagle”).
L-284, 317, LKA10-21, (LKA16-24) RL

September 21, 1947
Arrest in Kaunas of TA (Tauras Command) Birute Special Team leader S. Jakstavicius. He reveals

whereabouts of command post bunker.
DP-352, L-171, LBD-196, 219, LK-590, 603, LKA3-36 TA

September 24, 1947
Destruction of TA (Tauras Command) Birute Special Team command post bunker on Daunoras farmstead near

Veiveriai township, Marijampole district. Death of Team leader Captain J. Bulota (Anbo), chaplain L. Lelesius

(Grafas – “Duke”) and four command post staff. New leader is J. Alescikas (Rymantas).
DP-352, L-171, LBD-196, 219, LK-590, 603, LKA3-36 TA

September 24-25, 1947
Meeting of leaders of DA (Dainava Command) in the forests of Marcinkonys county. Participation of 27 leaders

of special teams, battalions, groups, units. A. Ramanauskas (Vanagas – “Hawk") is elected leader of the

Command; S. Staniskis (aka Antanaitis – “Son of Anthony” or Litas) becomes OIC of command post; J.

Kriksciunas (Rimvydas) in charge of communications; J. Baliukevicius (Dzukas) in charge of press and

propaganda. Battalions are called “groups”; Merkys Special Team is named in honour of Partisan Kazimieraitis.

Juozapavicius and Kestutis groups are brought into the Command structure.
L-206, 483, RD-380-382 DA

End of September, 1947
B. Labenas (Kariunas – “Warrior”) appointed leader of DA (Dainava Command) Sarunas Special Team,

replacing interim leader J. Mikelionis (Vargdienis – “Battler”).
L-203 DA

September 30, 1947 (03)
Death of J. Survila (Sarunas) assistant of VCA (Vytis Command) leader D. Vaitelis; replaced by Lieutenant P.

Blieka. A. Stimburys (Tankistas “Tankman”) becomes leader of VCA partisans in Ukmerge district.
LKA10-12, 14, (L-316) VCA

October of 1947
SRL (Northwest Lithuania) leader J. Kimstas (Zalgiris), now convinced of J. Markulis’ treachery, recognises

BDPS (General Democratic Resistance Movement) Presidium of A. Baltusis (Zvejys – “Fisherman”).
DP-508 VV, RL

October of 1947
ZA (Samogitian Command) leader J. Ivanauskas (Vygantas) goes to Vilnius to meet with J. Markulis and BDPS

(General Democratic Resistance Movement) leadership; sends “his” instructions to Command: they are to

change their modus operandi and go over to passive resistance. At the end of October. J. Ivanauskas and all

command post staff are arrested. ZA is without leadership until spring of 1948.
L-266, 488, LKA7-4 ZA

October 25, 1947
Meskuciai village, Marijampole district. Death by treason of TA (Tauras Command) Vytautas Special Team

head of military intelligence, TA foundation member A. Ratkelis (Ozelis – “Kid”) and command post staff

member A. Salinka (Dainius – “Bard”): suicide by explosives in bunker.
L-171, 479, LBD-190, LKA3-37 TA

October 28, 1947
Palaima village, Keturvalakiai county, Vilkaviskis district. Betrayal leads to death of TA (Tauras Command)

Vytautas Special Team 42nd Company leader Lieutenant V. Zaloneris (Perlas – “Pearl”), clerk S. Bubnys

(Gusaras – “Hussar”) and communicator J. Kazeliute (Saulute – “Daisy”), who had been involved in the

“Shrovetide Ball” incident.
LK-613, LKA3-37 TA

November 12 (or 16), 1947
Obsrutai village, Pilviskiai county, Vilkaviskis district.
Leader of TA (Tauras Command) Zalgiris Special Team V. Strimas (Sturmas “Storm”) and 70 partisans

surround village where 15 families of Russian colonists were living. Thirty-five of the Russians were armed, two

had machine guns. When the colonists disobeyed the partisans’ order to evacuate the village, the partisans

opened fire, killing 31 colonists, the others fleeing.
DP-355, GM-64, LKA3-34, (AKL-83, VT-199) TA

Between 12 and 15 November 1947
Puziniskis village, Zarasai district.
Traitor J. Lukosevicius reveals whereabouts of VA (Vytautas Command) Lokys (“Bear”) Special Team

command post. Soviet soldiers surround command post, start battle; death of Team leader K. Kaladinskas

(Ersketis – “Blackthorn”), his adjutant A. Skuncikas (aka Koltas, Kursis) and 2 fighters. P. Cicenas (Zalgiris)

becomes interim leader of Team.
LKA16-85, (L-303), (DL-258) VA

November 1947
JKA (Joint Kestutis Command) leader J. Zemaitis (Tylius – “Quiet”) appoints P. Bartkus (Mazrimas) and B.

Liesys (Kaukas – “Goblin”) to organise PA (Revival Command) in the districts of Joniskis and Siauliai on the

basis of Vovere (“Squirrel”) and Atzalynas (“Regrowth”) Special Teams.
L-274 PA

November 18, 1947
Partisans capture the town of Batakiai in the Taurage district for the second time; prisoners liberated.
AKL-70, L-486, RZ-60 KA

November 18, 1947
Leaders of Tauras and Dainava Commands agree to proposal for structure of BDPS (General Democratic

Union of Lithuania) Presidium and send it with endorsements to leaders of other Commands.
LKA11-9 DA, TA

1947 autumn
Partisans of ALA (Algimantas Command) Zalioji (Green) Special Team take over town of Vaskai in Pasvalys

district, confiscating 110,000 roubles from office of tax inspectors.
LKA8-38, LKA17-117 ALA

end of 1947
V. Rukuiza (Lampeo), leader of one of the VCA (Vytis Command) partisan groups and six of his partisans are

enticed by MGB agent J. Markulis to “legalise” their status using false documents supplied by him and to settle

in Vilnius. At the end of December all are arrested.
LKA10-20 VCA

end of 1947
Dainava Command issues new guidelines re awards for partisans. Each partisan or supporter could be

decorated up to three times for diligence and three times for bravery. Awards for diligence were 1st, 2nd or 3rd

class medals of LKK (Laisves Kovos Kryzius – “Freedom Struggle Cross”); awards for bravery were 1st, 2nd

or 3rd class medals of LKK (su kardais – “with swords”).
RD-416 DA

1947 12 14
BDPS (General Democratic Resistance Movement) Presidium edict Nr. 1002 authorises departure to West of

J. Luksa (Skrajunas – “Runner”) and K. Pyplys (Audronis) in order to publicise the situation in Lithuania, to

garner support for the nation’s struggle, and to clarify relations between VLIK (Supreme Committee for the

Liberation of Lithuania and BDPS delegates abroad. These two partisans also delivered to Pope Pius XI a letter

from the Roman Catholics of Lithuania, as well as samples of underground press publications, documents,

photographs, partisan songbooks, lists of people deported by the Russians to Siberia, military intelligence

reports, and documents authorising J. Deksnys to further represent the Lithuanian resistance movement abroad.
L-136, LK-(464-477), LKA5-47 VV

December 1947
S. Staniskis (Litas) becomes leader of DA (Dainava Command) Dzukai Special Team.
L-201 DA

December 1947
Formation of DGA (Darius & Girenas Command) from six partisan groups operating in the Birzai and Pasvalys

districts. Command leader is P. Tupenas –Àzuolas (“Oak”), command post OIC is J. Kucinskas.
LPK-567 VCA

December 21, 1947
Returning from Poland with an escort of armed partisans, J. Luksa (Skrajunas – “Runner”) and K. Pyplys

(Audronis) are involved in a skirmish with Soviet border guards at the bridge over the Rominta River in a stretch

of the Heinemune Forest (former German East Prussia). Three partisans killed.
LKA5-60, DP-367 TA

December 26, 1947
Sardokai village, Vilkaviskis county.
Death by treachery of TA (Tauras Command) Kestutis Special Team leader P. Kucinskas (Ainis –

“Grandson”).
LBD-190 TA

October 1947 to January 1948.
Discussions between TA (Tauras Command) leader A. Baltusis (Zvejys – “Fisherman”) and JKA (Joint

Kestutis Command) leader J. Zemaitis (Lukas) about the formation of VGPV (Vyriausioji ginkluotuju pajegu

vadovybe - Supreme Armed Forces Leadership). A. Baltusis proposed that each Command should have two

representatives on VGPS (Vyriausiasis ginkluotuju pajegu stabas - Supreme Armed Forces Headquarters); in

between meetings of the Leadership the partisans would take orders from the leader of the Armed Forces and

the Chairman of the BDPS (General Democratic Resistance Movement) Presidium. J. Zemaitis proposed that

political leadership should be limited to Southern Lithuania; military leadership would stay with JKA (Joint

Kestutis Command). He suggested that A. Baltusis transfer to Zemaitijà; the latter declined.
L-136, LKA11-11 VV

January 6, 1948.
Marijampole district, Veiveriai county, Pinciske village.
Death of TA (Tauras Command) Gelezinis Vilkas (“Iron Wolf”) Special Team command post OIC Captain P.

Vanagas (aka Nemunas or Vylius), Kestutis Special Team leader J. Jasaitis (Naktis – “Night”), 24th Maironis

Company leader Lieutenant J. Ciplijauskas (Sakalas – “Falcon”) and Lieutenant J. Balevicius (Briedis –

“Moose”). New leader of Kestutis Team is Lieutenant J. Brazys (Klajunas – “Wanderer”).
L-479, LK-607, LKA3-37 TA

16 January, 1948
Destruction of JKA (Joint Kestutis Command) Vaidotas Special Team bunker in Pagausantis village, Ariogala

county, Kedainys district. Death of leader Captain J. Ceponis (Tauragis) and other command post staff.

Destruction of printing press which was used to publish newspaper Laisves varpas (“Bell of Freedom”).
L-249, 486, LK-618, LKA13-6 KA

January 16, 1948
Hand grenade attack on premises of Communist Executive Committee of Merkine county, Varena district, site

of discussions about elections to local “soviets” (Councils). Lithuanian SSR finance minister Drobnys, LSSR

MGB interrogation squad deputy leader Lieutenant Colonel Mackevicius and LSSR MGB 2-N committee

operative Popov escape with minor injuries.
LPK-541 DA

Beginning of 1948.
VCA (Vytis Command) command post consists of: leader D. Vaitelis, deputy J. Kilijonas (Mikas – “Mike”),

command post district leader A. Sivys (Salapka), adjutant A. Smetona (Zygaudas) and A. Pakelaitis.
LKA10-21 VCA

Beginning of 1948.
Revival of ZA (Samogitian Command) Satrija Special Team command post. First leader is I. Sapkunas

(Meisteris – “Master”), then from April 1949 K. Andriuska (Linksmutis – “Happy”).
L-269, 487 ZA

February 2, 1948
Gulbiniskiai village, Pilviskiai county, Vilkaviskis district.
Death of head of VGPS (Supreme Armed Forces Headquarters) and leader of PLP (South Lithuania Partisans)

and TA (Tauras Command), A. Baltusis (Zvejys – “Fisherman”) in his native village, betrayed by female enemy

agent Tiesa (“Truth”). Finding himself surrounded by enemy troops he shot himself, as did two command post

guards, partisans J. Balsys (Dobilas – “Clover”) and P. Zaldaris (Sapalas – “Chub”).
L-172, LK-626, LKA3-37 VV, TA

February 2, 1948
Death, on the day of his 41st birthday, of head of ALA (Algirdas Command) press and eduction section, editor

of partisan publications, former teacher at Niuronai village (Anyksciai county) school, poet Jurgis Urbonas

(Lakstutis – “Nightingale”).
VAA ALA

February 13, 1948
Budvieciai village, Liubavas county, Lazdijai region.
Death in battle of seven fighters of TA (Tauras Command) Vytautas Special Team 43rd Company; another

captured alive. Company commander A. Rutkauskas (Miskinis – “Bushman”) manages to escape.
L-172, LKA3-37 TA

February 1948
J. Markulis informs VCA (Vytis Command) leader D. Vaitelis that he is leaving Vilnius and transferring

responsibility for communication with “Vilnius headquarters” to others. D. Vaitelis agrees to keep in touch with

J. Markulis to a certain extent, but rejects the idea of “passive resistance” and refuses to come out of the forest.
LKA11-46 VCA

March 1, 1948
S. Grumbinas (Audra – “Storm”) appointed leader of VA (Vytautas Command) Lokys Special Team. Deputy is

P. Racinskas (Zaibas – “Lightning”), adjutant - P. Cicenas (Zalgiris). S. Grumbinas arrested on 19 March.
DL-108, L-303, LKA16-132 VA

March 18, 1948
Ciudiskiai village, Prienai county.
Death of A. Varkala (aka Zaliukas – “Greenie” or Daumantas), head of military intelligence section of TA

(Tauras Command) and leader of Gelezinis Vilkas (“Iron Wolf”) Special Team and two command post staff.

New leader is J. Baltrusaitis (Tigras – “Tiger”).
L-173, 479, LK-625, LKA3-38 TA

March 20, 1948
Council of Ministers of Lithuanian SSR decides to begin establishing collective farms in Lithuania. G-119 OK

March 24, 1948 By order of commander of VA (Vytautas Command) P. Racinskas (Zaibas – “Lightning”) is

appointed interim leader of Lokys (“Bear”) Special Team, adjutant - P. Cicenas (Zalgiris). Team has two

companies: Ersketis (“Blackthorn”) and Vytis. Newsletter Sutemu keleivis (“Twilight Traveller”) resumes

publication.
L-303, LKA16-86 VA

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

War Chronicle of the Partisans: Part VII

April 1, 1948
Foundation of Prisikelimo apygarda (PA) [Revival Command], led by P. Bartkus (Mazrimas); consisted of

Vovere ("Squirrel"), Atzalynas ("Regrowth") and P. Luksys' teams; command post in forest of Duktas, Siauliai

district.
L-274, 281, 488 PA

April 3, 1948
Zibininkai forest, Kretinga district. Partisans ambush and kill P. Jasinskis, head of soviet militia of Palanga

county.
AKL-30 ZA

April 4, 1948
Lieutenant J. Alescikas (Rymantas) is elected leader of TA (Tauras Command), while continuing to lead PLP

(South Lithuania Partisans) and Birute Special Team.
L-173, 479, LKA3-38 TA

April 18, 1948
Partisans explode a mine during a dance at a club in Merkine, killing a NKVD lieutenant and 2 civilians, injuring

19 people.
L-33, AKL-81 DA

April 23, 1948
Re-established Zalioji ("Green") Special Team is incorporated into PA (Revival Command). This Team later

absorbs partisans who were former Sauliai (“Shooters” – Army Reserve Riflemen) from former (Atzalynas -

"Regrowth") Special Team, which is disbanded in September 1948. Leader of Zalioji (Green) Special Team is

P. Masilaitis (aka as Margis ["Dapple"] or Virpsa).
L-274, 488, LKA8-6, 22 PA

April 28, 1948
Kulcikai village, Barzdai county, Sakiai district. Death of TA (Tauras Command) command post OIC, leader of

Zalgiris* ("Grünwald") Special Team, V. Strimas (Sturmas - "Storm"). L-173, 479, LK-617 TA * Zalgiris

(which means 'green wood') is the Lithuanian translation of the Prussian place-name Grünwald, site of the

famous Battle of Grünwald (also known as the Battle of Tannenberg) of 1410 in which a combined army of

Lithuanians and Poles, led by Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania, defeated the armies of the Teutonic Knights

and effectively put an end to Germanic expansion in Eastern Europe. Therefore, in Lithuanian, Zalgiris is

synonymous with victory.

May 1, 1948
Meeting of leadership of VA, ALA and DKA, with participation of STL leader J. Kimstas (Zalgiris).

Condemnation of treasonous activities of J. Markulis; decision to change LLA (Lithuanian Freedom Army) to

LP (Lithuanian Partisans) in the names of the Commands. Founders of collective farms are to be considered

saboteurs and suitably punished; collectivisation condemned as an impoverishment of the country.
L-285, LK-285, LKA16-5, 24, 121 ALA, DKA, RL, VA

May 5, 1948
VLA-Jura (Western Lithuania – Maritime Command) formed from JKA (Joint Kæstutis Command), ZA

(Samogitian Command) and PLA (Southern Lithuania Command). Leader is J. Zemaitis (Zaltys – “Grass

Snake”), deputies are PLA leader P. Bartkus and ZA leader A. Milasevicius (aka Radvila or Ruonis – “Seal”).

Main aim of this region’s leadership is to form a Supreme Leadership for the Lithuanian underground movement.
L-226, 250, 485, LKA13-8 KA, PA, VL, ZA

May 7, 1948
Varena county, near Barciai village. Partisans prepare an ambush for Soviet sympathisers and Communist Party

activists who were selling Soviet government bonds. Of the accompanying military and collaborators, nine were

killed and ten injured.
AKL-82, LKA17-117, LPK-546 DA

May 13, 1948
Ukmerge district, Taujenai county, near Juodvisine village. Death of VCA (Vytis Command) leader D. Vaitelis

(Briedis – “Moose”), deputy J. Kilijonas (Mikas) and district command post chief A. Syvis (Salapka). Surviving

deputy A. Smetona (Zygaudas) becomes new leader of Vytis Command.
L-318, 492, LKA10-21, KV-68 VCA

MAy of 1948
Bubiliai forest, Kretinga district. Death of ZA (Samogitian Command) Kardas (“Sword”) Special Team leader

(since 1946) J. Kekstas (Drulis); new leader is J. Jucius (Antanaitis – “Son of Anthony”).
L-266, 487 ZA

May 22-23, 1948
Mass deportations; families of partisans and their supporters targeted.
LGT-424 OK

May 25, 1948 05 25
VA (Vytautas Command) leader publishes edict Nr. 2, stipulating that any citizen of Lithuania who refuses to

assist people fleeing deportation should by punished by total confiscation of property; any who betray the

refugees’ hiding place should be shot as traitors to the nation.
DL-101 VA

June 1, 1948
First issue of PA (Revival Command) newspaper Prisikelimo ugnis (“Revival Fire”). PA also publishes several

anthologies of poems and prose. Several poets worked at the PA command post, including P. Bartkus

(Alkupenas), V. Sniuolis (Vytenis), B. Liesys (Naktis – “Night”) and others.
L-278, 279 PA

June 6, 1948
Partisans of ZA (Samogitian Command) Nemunas brigade attack the town of Veivirzenai in the district of

Kretinga: 4 stribai shot dead, 3 wounded, 1 captured.
AKL-29, L-488, LKA17-115 ZA

June 8, 1948
VL (Western Lithuania) regional leader J. Zemaitis begins creation of Supreme Leadership. A. Milasevicius

(Ruonis – “Seal”) appointed leader of VL; command post OIC is V. Guzas (aka Zigmas or Galiandra); agitation

and propaganda chief is A. Liesys (aka Tonis or Idenas); other command post staff were V. Ivanauskas (aka

Vytenis or Henrikas). The command post did not have a fixed location; its staff went about assisting other

command posts to reorganise.
L-226, 227, 485, LKA13-8 VL, VV

June of 1948
VA (Vytautas Command) military intelligence chief J. Buterliauskas (Tarzanas – “Tarzan”) is arrested; under

torture he reveals the location of several meeting places and about 10 bunkers; 11 people arrested as a result.
LKA16-24, 42 VA

June of 1948
New leadership of ZA (Samogitian Command): leader is V. Montvydas (Zemaitis); deputy N. Kersys

(Napoleonas – “Napoleon”); command post OIC J. Cesna (Zentas – “Son-in-law”); finances director B. Aluza

(Bedalis); agitation and propaganda chief V. Stirbys (former parish priest of Pasile); liaison officer J. Kentra

(Tigras – “Tiger”).
L-227, 269, 488, LKA7-4, LPK-692 ZA

June 26, 1948
Armaliskis village, Aukstoji Panemune county, Kaunas region. Betrayal leads to death of A. Vabalas

(Gediminas), last member of the BDPS (General Democratic Resistance Movement) Presidium founded by A.

Baltusis (Zvejys – “Fisherman”). He was president of the Court Martial Tribunal and editor of TA (Tauras

Command) newspaper Laisves zvalgas (“Freedom Herald”).
LBD-195, 196, LPK-672 TA, VV

June 30, 1948
VCA (Vytis Command) leader A. Smetona (Zygaudas) issues order Nr. 3 which divides the Command into 4

regions: 2 of the regions are in Panevezys district, and 1 each in Ukmerge and Kedainiai districts.
L-318, 492, LKA10-21, 23 VCA

By 1948
MGB tracks down and annihilates Rambynas Special Team, which had been operating in the Klaipeda region.

Arrest of 30 partisans and Team leader J. Jurkaitis.
LKA13-13 KA

Summer of 1948
JKA (Joint Kæstutis Command) is renamed Kæstutis Command (KA).
L-233 KA

July 5, 1948
Daugai town, Alytus district. Partisans throw a hand grenade into a dance club: 3 communist activists killed, 8

wounded.
AKL-13, L-220 DA

July 7-9, 1948
Baden-Baden, West Germany. Meeting of VLIK (Supreme Committee for the Independence of Lithuania) and

representatives of the Lithuanian resistance movement. Participants were prof. J. Kaminskas, academic M.

Krupavicius, J. Brazaitis, V. Sidzikauskas, J. Luksa, J. Deksnys and (with observer status) J. Pajaujis. It was

decided that the Lithuanian freedom-fighting activities within Lithuania should be directed by a body which

united the various resistance movements; outside the country activities would be coordinated by VLIK. The

Lithuanian underground movement would have an official representative to liaise with VLIK abroad. J. Deksnys

resolved to abolish the BDPS (General Democratic Resistance Movement) delegation abroad by the first of

August 1948. Later J. Deksnys founded LRS (Lietuvos rezistencine santara - Lithuanian Resistance Council),

which aspired to represent abroad the interests of the Lithuanian resistance.
L-137, LK-489-495, 6-68 VV

July 10-12, 1948
Creation of VLKSO (Vieningos laisves kovos sàjudzio organizacija - United Freedom Fight Movement

Organisation) under the leadership of J. Zemaitis (Vytautas) and deputies - the zone leaders. Aim was to re-

establish a Supreme Leadership for the Lithuanian resistance movement, since the BDPS (General Democratic

Resistance Movement) of A. Baltusis (Zvejys - "Fisherman") was now completely destroyed.
L-139, LKA3-52 VV

July of 1948
Creation of KA (Kæstutis Command) command post in Erzvilkas county, Taurage district. Leader is H.

Danilevicius (Vidmantas), former leader of Lydys ("Pike") Special Team. Command post OIC is R. Gedvilas

(aka Remigijus or Sidabras - "Silver"). The command post operated until April of 1949 and published the

newsletter Laisves varpas ("Bell of Freedom").
L-250, 486, LKA13-8 KA

July of 1948
MGB agent Obelinskas (J. Rudzionis, partisan code name Cerberlenas) infiltrates PA (Revival Command)

Zalioji ("Green") Special Team. At the end of 1948 he becomes the Team's command post OIC. In 1949 the

Team is destroyed. On 11 April 1949 a PA court martial tries J. Rudzionis in absentia and sentences him to

death.
L-275, LKA8-7 PA

July 27, 1948
VLKSO (United Freedom Fight Movement Organisation) leader J. Zemaitis (Vytautas) appoints L. Grigonis

(aka Uzpalis or Krivis) leader of PA (Revival Command) in place of P. Bartkus (Zadgaila), who had become

chief of the organisational sector at the VLKSO command post.
LKA3-52, LKA7-79 PA

July 27, 1948
VLKSO (United Freedom Fight Movement Organisation) leader J. Zemaitis (Vytautas) comes to PA (Revival

Command); it is decided to create a Supreme Leadership base in the forest of Duktas, district of Siauliai.
LKA3-52, LKA7-79 VV

August 4, 1948
Meeting of partisan leaders in northeast Lithuania decides: delegates to Supreme Leadership to be regional

leader J. Kimstis (Zalgiris) and DKA (Great Battle Command) command post OIC J. Sibaila (Diedukas –

“Grandad”); northeast Lithuania leadership to be named after King Mindaugas (code name in written texts -

Kalnu [highlands] ); DKA Special Team B is elevated to the status of a Command, leaders are A. Sluckas

(Sarunas), deputy V. Kaulinis (aka Miskinis – “Bushman”, or Utenis), adjutant B. Zukauskas (Commandant),

communications officer A. Kubilius (Rugstimis), VD chief B. Kazickas (aka Saulius or Krivaitis).
L-140, 285, 334, 489, 494, LKA3-54, LK16-5 RL, DKA

August 5, 1948
Leader of SRL (northeast Lithuania) region appoints A. Morkunas (Plienas – “Steel”), former leader of DKA

(Great Battle Command) Special Team B, as leader of DKA.
VDr DKA

August 10, 1948
Jonuciai village, Garliava county, Kaunas district. Death of PLP (South Lithuania Partisans) and TA (Tauras

Command), J. Alescikas (Rymantas). Zalgiris (“Grünwald”) Special Team leader V. Vitkauskas (Saidokas)

becomes interim TA leader.
L-173, 477, 479, LKA3-39 PL, TA

August 10, 1948 (14)
Alove township, Alytus district. Death of 8 people, including an MGB officer, when partisans throw a bomb into

the Alove community hall during the screening of an MGB propaganda film.
L-33, AKL-13, (L-220) DA

August of 1948
MGB agents shoot all the members of ZA (Samogitian Command) Alka Special Team command post, which

had been led by K. Venckus Adomaitis. In its place the MGB establish spurious Alka command post controlled

by them. Alka Team ceased operations in 1949.
L-267, 487 ZA

August of 1948
Kunigaikstis Margiris (“Duke Margiris”) Special Team, which had been active in Rokiskis, Kupiskis, Panevezys

and Anyksciai districts under the leadership of J. Kemeklis (aka Rokas or Rimtutis) becomes part of ALA

(Algimantas Command).
L-337, 493 ALA

August 21, 1948
Near Sabaliskiai village, Zarasai district. Partisans of VA (Vytautas Command) Lokys Special Team led by P.

Racinskas destroy an automobile carrying 7 armed pro-Soviet activists.
LKA16-87 VA

September of 1948
Hired assassins in the pay of MGB murder a group of partisans of DKA Special Team A led by A. Praskevicius

(Narsuolis – “Intrepid”) and J. Cerniauskas (Vaidotas). The murderous mission was overseen by MGB agent

“Bagdonas” (A. Zaskevicius), on orders from MGB headquarters.
L-333, LPK-66 DKA

September 1, 1948
DKA (Great Battle Command) leader A. Morkunas (Plienas - "Steel") issues Order Nr. 1 which changes the

name of DKA Special Team B to DKA, appoints J. Sibaila (Diedukas - "Grandpa") command post OIC;

organisational section - J. Jurys (Zilvinas; V. Dleiznys (Sarunas) - military intelligence; A. Lescius (Salteksna) -

information and press; V. Imbrasas (Tarzan) - finances; F. Snyrys (Timuras) - finances.
VDr DKA

September 8, 1948
Purviskiai village, Taurage county. Betrayal causes death of 15 partisans; 2 wounded and captured.
RZ-60 KA

September of 1948
VLKSI / VLKSO ( United Freedom Fight Movement Organisation) leader J. Zemaitis (Vytautas) meets with S.

Raziulis (Mazylis), leader of Siauliai (aka as Vytautas Didysis [Vytautas the Great] or Atzalynas [Regrowth])

Special Team. They decide to dissolve the Team; S. Raziulis is transferred to Maritime region command post,

the rest of the Team members are transferred to Zalioji (“Green”) Special Team.
LKA8-56 VL, PA

September of 1948 (11 25) (08)
V. Voveris (Zaibas – “Lightning”) is appointed leader of DA (Dainava Command) Kazimieraitis Special Team.
L-202, LPK-719, (LN-434), (6-178) DA

Autumn of 1948
A. Liesys (Tonis) appointed to lead a special group of ZA (Samogitian Command) to maintain liaison between

the command posts of ZA and VL (Western Lithuania) or Jura (Maritime) regions and among the various units

of ZA.
LKA7-4A ZA

October 8, 1948
A. Grybinas (Faustas) appointed leader of TA (Tauras Command).
L-174, 480 TA

October 20, 1948
Meeting at the TA (Tauras Command) Gelezinis Vilkas (Iron Wolf) command post between TA leader A.

Grybinas (Faustas) and DA (Dainava Command) representative S. Stabiskis (Litas). They decided that, given

the death of PLP (South Lithuania Partisans) command post OIC J. Alescikas (Rymantas), TA and DA

Commands would merge to form Pietu Lietuvos (PL) [South Lithuanian) region. DA leader A. Ramanauskas

(Vanagas – “Hawk”) is appointed interim leader of PL region.
L-154, 477, 483, LK-287, 288, LKA9-183 TA

October 27, 1948
Trakai district, near Onuskis. Partisans of Kazimieraitis Special Team led by V. Voveris (Zaibas – “Lightning”)

arrange an ambush and kill all 18 (or 19) members of an operative-military group, capturing 2 machine guns and

other weaponry.
L-220, LPK-551, (LBD-259, 309) DA

October-November of 1948
DA (Dainava Command) command post infiltrated by 2 agents of Lithuanian SSR MGB “2nd committee”:

Kostas Kubilinskas (MGB code name Varnas – “Raven”; underground name Kapsas) and A. Slinkys (MGB

code name Rytas – “Morning”; underground name Vilnis – “Wave”).
L-207, LBD-259, LKA-165 DA, OK

November 10-12, 1948
Duktas (town), Siauliai district. Meeting of representatives of VL (Western Lithuania) and RL (Eastern

Lithuania) regions. J. Zemaitis (Vytautas), J. Sibaila (Merainis), P. Bartkus (Zadgaila) and J. Kimstas (Zygunas)

re-establish Supreme Leadership for underground movement, retaining for it the name BDPS (General

Democratic Resistance Movement) and the name VLKSO (United Freedom Fight Movement Organisation) for

the Defence Forces (Ginkluotosios pajegos - GP). J. Zemaitis is appointed interim BDPS Presidium chairman;

J. Kimstas - BDPS GP command post OIC; J. Sibaila - BDPS community section; B. Bartkus – secretary. The

meeting condemned the provocative activities of J. Markulis and expressed gratitude to fighters of the PL (South

Lithuania) region for their work in helping to centralise the movement. They introduced a new battle unit – the

tevunija (squad) and a new structural unit – the rajonas (region).
L-140,488, LK-289, LKA3-54, LKA16-88, LKA10-31 VV

November 14, 1948 (1948 09)
A. Ramanauskas (Vanagas – “Hawk”), leader of DA (Dainava Command) and interim leader of PL (South

Lithuania) region, departs for partisan leaders’ meeting in West Lithuania, appoints as acting DA leader B.

Labenas (Kariunas – “Warrior”), the leader of Sarunas Special Team; S. Staniskis (Litas) is appointed DA

deputy leader.
L-207, LK-293, (LK-601) DA

November of 1948
SRL (Northeast Lithuania) partisan region is renamed RL (East Lithuania) region.
L-285, LPK-559 RL

December 10, 1948
Acceptance by UN of Universal Declaration of Human Rights gives partisans new hope.
VV

December 16, 1948
Vytis Company leader B. Vaicenas (Liubartas) is appointed leader of VA (Vytautas Command) Lokys (“Bear”)

Special Team press and education section.
DL-72 VA

December 31, 1948
MGB creates another spurious BDPS (General Democratic Resistance Movement) from its agents; appoints

agent “Vytautas” chairman of the spurious BDPS Presidium.
LKA5-47, LKA8-59 OK

January 20, 1949
Liepynai village, Marijampole county. Treachery leads to death of TA (Tauras Command) Vytautas Special

Team leader K. Greblikas (Sakalas – “Falcon”), command post OIC J. Vasiliauskas (aka Skydas [“Shield”] or

Algimantas) and head of finances section, V. Krunkaitis (Herbas – “Blazon”); in May V. Gavenas (Granitas –

“Granite”) is appointed new leader.
L-480, LBD-185, LK-620, LKA3-41 TA

January 25, 1949
GP (Defence Forces) leader J. Zemaitis issues order Nr. 15 about the establishment of an occasional

information bulletin for leaders.
LKA7-71 VV

February 2-22, 1949
Minaiciai village, between Baisiogala and Radviliskis. Meeting of partisans from all parts of Lithuania at the PA

(Revival Command) command post. Participants: BDPS (General Democratic Resistance Movement) Presidium

chairman J. Zemaitis (Vytautas); secretary P. Bartkus (Zadgaila); community section leader J. Sibaila (Merainis);

interim leader of PL (South Lithuania) Region A. Ramanauskas (Vanagas – “Hawk”); TA (Tauras Command)

leader A. Grybinas (Faustas); PA (Revival Command) leader L. Grigonis (Uzpalis); VL (West Lithuania) region

command post OIC V. Guzas (Kardas – “Sword”); PA command post leader B. Liesys (Naktis – “Night”). 23

items on the agenda. In order to avoid confusion with the MGB-run organisation calling itself BDPS , it was

decided that from 10 February the real BDPS would be renamed LLKS (Lietuvos laisves kovos sàjudis –

“Lithuanian Freedom Fighters’ Union”). Approval was given to sections 1 and 2 of the LLKS constitution

drawn up by J. Zemaitis and P. Bartkus. On 16 February (Lithuanian Independence Day) participants signed a

declaration stating that the ultimate aim of the partisans’ campaign was the re-establishment of a Lithuanian

parliamentary republic on the model of that which existed 1920-1926. Awards were presented to partisans with

distinguished service. Consideration was given to future directions for tactical activity, links with groups abroad

and activity in the Klaipeda region. An appeal was issued to all armed underground participants and to the

whole nation. LLKS Presidium elected: chairman - J. Zemaitis (also interim leader of Defence Forces);

members - P. Bartkus, B. Liesys, J. Sibaila. Two places on presidium reserved for PL representatives. J.

Zemaitis is awarded rank of General (of freedom fighters).
L-141, 142, 155, 488, LK-(296-307), 584, LKA3-54, 55, LKA7-70 VV

February 10, 1949
Meeting of partisans from all parts of Lithuania renames PL (South Lithuania) region “Nemunas” region; A.

Ramanauskas (Vanagas – “Hawk”) is confirmed region leader.
L-155, 478 PL

February 13, 1949
Village of Siauliai, Anyksciai county. Death by betrayal of ALA (Algimantas Command) Sarunas Special Team

Jovaras Company leader J. Grazys (aka Viesulas – “Whirlwind” or Leonas), P. Mameniskis (aka Jonas or

Spekuliantas – “Speculator”) and J. Zàsinas. TRr, LKA16-126 ALA 1949 02 Forest of Vareikiai, Jonava

county. Chekist* army led by MGB officer Luzgin destroys DKA (Great Battle Command) Slyva group

bunker, killing group leader E. Svilas (Slyva – “Plum”), V. Vinckus (Kardys), Viktoras (surname unknown, aka

Titnagas “Flint”) and a partisan known as Gintaras (“Amber” – real name not recorded).
GK DKA

February 25, 1949
LLKS (Lithuanian Freedom Fighters’ Union) executive meeting decides to launch an official LLKS Supreme

Leadership publication "Prie rymancio Rupintojelio".
LK-320, LN3-310 VV

March 7, 1949
Kalesninkai forest, Daugai county, Alytus district. MGB agents K. Kubilinskas and A. Skinkys in DA (Dainava

Command) command post bunker shoot Sarunas Special Team leader B. Lapenas (Kariunas – “Warrior”) and

tell MGB the location of DA Kazimieraitis Special Team command post bunker, resulting in an attack on the

bunker by enemy forces, who kill Team leader V. Voveris (Zaibas – “Lightning”) and 3 other partisans.
L-202, 207, LBD-282-292, LK-601, LN3-432, 489, KDK DA

March 14, 1949
Destruction of PA (Revival Command) Zalioji (Green) Special Team command post; death of leader P.

Masilaitis (aka Margis [“Dapple”], Virpsa, or Giria [“Grove”]).
L-488 PA

March 15, 1949
Partisans of Lokys (“Bear”) Special Team, acting on orders from the leadership of RL (East Lithuania) region,

begin a widespread anti-kolchoz (collective farm) campaign: by year’s end they have liquidated 14 communist

activists and their families; they cut off the hair of kolchoz "pioneers" and shaved off the beards of pro-Soviet

Russian Orthodox “old believers”.
LKA16-89 VA

March of 1949
TA (Tauras Command) Kæstutis and Birute Special Teams dissolved due to diminishing number of partisan

fighters available. Four “tevunijos” (squads) formed in Zalgiris (“Grünwald”) Special Team: Sturmas (“Attack”);

Vasario 16- oji (“16th February” [Lithuanian Independence Day]); Darius and Girenas [Lithuanian pioneer

aviators]; and Trispalve veliava (“Tricolour Flag”) – which was dissolved in June 1950. In Vytautas Special

Team three “tevunijos” (squads) formed: Àzuolas (“Oak”); Kæstutis; and Gediminas – which was dissolved in

February 1950. Three squads also formed in Gelezinis Vilkas (“Iron Wolf”) Special Team: Gediminas, Vytis

and Desinys. The command structure was not changed after this.
L-175, 183-185, LKA3-42 TA

March 17, 1949
Latvia, forest of Lielauce. Enemy troops surround joint Lithuanian- Latvian partisan unit in fortified bunker. 3

hour battle: partisans led by P. Gelazius (Kluonis), deputy of Krauja Kârlis (“Bloody Charles”). Eight Latvians

and seven Lithuanians killed, including P. Gelazius. Seven Latvians and two Lithuanians captured.
NPD-97, 98 PA

March 18, 1949
Siauliai district, Pakruojis county, Laipuskiai village. Death in battle of ALA (Algimantas Command) command

post OIC and leader of Zalioji (“Green”) Special Team, V. Cesnakavicius (Daujotas). J. Janusevicius (Raksnys)

becomes new command post OIC and Team leader.
L-339, LK-595, LKA-34, 38 ALA

March 24, 1949
Utena district, Leliunai county, Nonenai village, farmstead of J. Simonelis. Acting on advice from MGB agent

Eserys (“Redfin”), enemies destroy VA (Vytautas Command) command post bunker. In a two hour battle 7

partisans are killed, including Commander V. Kaulinis (Miskinis – “Bushman”). New Commander is leader of

Liutas (“Lion”) Special Team, B. Kalytis (aka Siaubas [“Terror”] or Liutauras).
AL-283, L-304, 490, LK-606, LKA16-24, 43, LPK-559 VA

1949 (late March)
A. Ramanauskas, leader of Nemunas district, calls meeting of TA (Tauras Command) leaders, explains

decisions of LLKS (Lithuanian Freedom Fighters’ Union) executive meeting.
L-155 TA

March-May of 1948
Mass deportations (to Siberia) of the families of the partisans and their supporters. The Soviet authorities

referred to them as “bourgeois elements”, in slang "buozes" (which literally means “knobs” – “kulak” in Russian).
LGT-424 OK

April of 1949 (03)
Leadership of Jura (Maritime) region dismiss from his duties KA (Kestutis Command) leader H. Danilevicius

(Vidmantas) for going AWOL [absent without leave] in Kaunas. “Vidmantas” continued partisan service with

ALA (Algimantas Command), acting as VL (West Lithuania) representative. He was replaced as leader of KA

by A. Miliulis (aka Neptunas [“Neptune”] or Algimantas), the former leader of Butageidziai Special Team; new

deputy is S. Venckaitis (Biliunas); R. Gedvilas (aka Remigijus, Sidabras [“Silver”]) continues as command post

OIC.
L-227, 251, 486, LKA13-9, (LK-621) KA

April 20, 1949
VCA (Vytis Command) leader A. Smetona (Zygaudas) issues Order Nr. 2 to establish two special teams:

Kristaponis Special Team, to operate in Panevezys district, led by J. Baltusnikas (Vienuolis – “Monk”); and

Briedis (“Moose”) Special Team, to operate in Ukmerge and part of Kedainiai districts, led by M. Semezys

(Aras). A. Smetona’s deputy – who is also command post OIC – is K. Tvaska (Rugelis – “Rye”). The

command post publishes a newsletter "Lietuva brangi" (“Dear Lithuania” [the name of a popular patriotic song]).
L-315, 318, 492, LKA10-23, 26 VCA

May 1, 1949
Swedes assist 3 Lithuanians, 2 Estonians and 1 Latvian to come ashore in Lithuania near the village of

Manciske. K. Pyplys (Audronis) rejoined TA (Tauras Command). J. Deksnys (Prapuolenis) was captured by

the MGB and became “agent Petrenko”. The MGB used him to spread disinformation abroad via “radio

games”, and for propaganda purposes within Lithuanian via press and cinema.
LK-499, LKA5-54 TA, VV
To Be Continued

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © November, 1998 by Lithuanian Global Resources for Algis Rupainis.

All Rights Reserved. Commercial use strictly prohibited. Printing of this file for non-commercial purposes and by

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For source, go to:

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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Double Orthography in American Lithuanian Newspapers

noreply@blogger.com (paulwarnz@warnagiris.org (CDW)) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:59:00 +0000

Giedrius Subačius

University of Illinois at Chicago; Lietuvių Kalbos
Institutas, Vilnius

1. Letters <č>, <š>
There has been a great deal of research done on the origin of the
Lithuanian standard language. Many linguistic features have been described
as representing the initial stage of the standard.
This article will deal primarily with the letters <č>, <š>, i.e., the letters
that posses diacritical marks in shape of small letter above them (<ˇ>),
which is called a “caron”. Lithuanians had borrowed these two letters <č>,
<š> from the Czech orthography.
There have been numerous attempts to trace the very beginning of the
occurrence of letters <č>, <š> in Lithuanian texts. Petras Jonikas claimed
that they were used in the newspaper of Lithuanian students at Moscow
university Kol saula uztekes, rasa ir akis išes in 1860 (issues have not,
however, survived; Jonikas 1972:151-152, 196). Jonikas also spotted the
letter <š> in Jonas Juška’s article of 1861 “Kałbos lëtuviszko lëżuv’o ir
lëtuviszkas statraszimas arba ortograpija” (1972:194-195) and in Stanislovas
Raila’s letters to Nikodemas Baukus Venckavičius in 1876 (1972:211).
Jonikas and Jonas Palionis noticed that Jonas Basanavičius ordered the
typesetters of the newspaper Aušra to set the letters <č> and <š> instead of
traditional digraphs and in 1883, no. 5. (Jonikas 1972:227;
Palionis 1979:225). There were even attempts to claim that it was probably
Kazimieras Kristupas Daukša who had been the first to introduce and
regularly use the letter <š> (Palionis 1979:209).2
My objective, however, is not to find the initial traces of those letters.
My major concern is their implementation. According to Einar Haugen’s
theory, acceptance by the community is the last of the four aspects that are
critical for a dialect to become a language, i.e., for a vernacular to become a
standard (Haugen 1972:249-254).3 Accordingly my objective is to examine
the particular linguistic situation that led to the radical acceptance of the
letters <č>, <š> in American Lithuanian newspapers and in the community
(first of all in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New York) at the very end of the
nineteenth century and at the beginning of the twentieth.
No one has attempted to research the method whereby the letters <č>,
<š> were accepted by American Lithuanian newspapers and community.
The Lithuanian newspaper Varpas (1889-1905), which was printed in East
Prussia and smuggled to Lithuania during the ban of Latin letters (1864-
1904) by Russian government in Lithuania, was influential and prestigious.
Around 1890 Varpas had circulated Vincas Kudirka’s “Statrašos ramsčiai”
(‘Buttresses for Orthography’) to many newspaper editors with
Subačius: 2 of 12
recommendations about Lithuanian orthography. Among these
recommendations were the letters <č>, <š> (Kudirka 1890:1). This paper
investigates some of the methods whereby the use of these letters was
accepted and implemented by the American Lithuanian newspapers.
2. Theoretical Acceptance of <č>, <š> in 1898-1899
In issue no. 1 of 1898, Varpas invited all newspaper editors “to use
invention of the new epoch”—the letters <č> and <š> to denote the sounds
[č] and [š] respectively. Varpas urged the use of more modern orthography
even though it was not as familiar to Lithuanian readers as the older one
with the corresponding digraphs for [č] and for [š]. Varpas had
abandoned the digraphs and in favor of letters with caron <č>
and <š> in 1890. By 1898 (eight years later), although many of Varpas’s
orthographical features were in use by American Lithuanian newspapers,
most of them still did not set type with <č>, <š> (cf. Varpas 1898:1:13-14).
Most Lithuanian language newspapers in America agreed in theory to
follow Varpas’s invitation. Vienybė Lietuvninkų, issued in Plymouth, Penn.,
wrote: “We absolutely agree with Varpas conception [...]. The most
important substitution in the alphabet is to change sz and cz to š and č”
(Mar. 23, 1898:137). Five months later Vienybė Lietuvninkų returned to the
topic: “we had promised to change our orthography from the next New
Year,” i.e., to change the letters to <č> and to <š>, among other
orthographic amendments. But “[...] it is not profitable to start this change
on your own. [...] What do other editors think about this?” (Aug 17,
1898:389). Thus, Vienybė Lietuvninkų, although ready to change
orthography, was unwilling to do this alone. This editorial clearly illustrates
the authority of Varpas.
The main Lithuanian newspaper of Chicago, (Ill.), Lietuva, also spoke
out:
We agree that the alphabet of Varpas is handiest, but how can we force other
newspapers and book editors to accept it? [...] Though our editors can see that the
current alphabet is worthless, they cannot change it without the approval of our
subscribers. (Lietuva, Apr. 1, 1898:2.)
In the same year (1898), the Pennsylvanian newspaper Tėvynė, an organ
of the Lithuanian Alliance of America (in different periods issued in
different cities—Mount Carmel, Plymouth, Philadelphia, Shenandoah),
declared that the next congress of the Lithuanian Alliance of America would
probably decide to print Tėvynė in the orthography that will be used by all
other or at least the majority of Lithuanian newspapers in America
(1898:4:141).
Tėvynė also quoted the newspaper Garsas Amerikos Lietuvių (issued in
Shenandoah, Penn., in 1894-1899; from 1901 Garsas Amerikos Lietuvių
was replaced by Žvaigždė; see further 3.6.):
Subačius: 3 of 12
Let all American Lithuanian newspapers [...] become united in at least this enterprise
[orthography] [...] let’s hope that they all (maybe with an exception of Saule alone)
will undertake modification of their present orthography according to that of Varpas
and Ukinįkas, which is recognized as the most convenient and has the majority of
supporters. [...] We can dream that from the New Year 1899, all American
Lithuanian newspapers will be printed in the unified orthography. (Garsas Amerikos
Lietuvių; cited in Tėvynė, 1898:4:141.)
The next year (1899) a new newspaper, Viltis, was established in
Shenandoah, Penn. In January 21, 1899, in the second issue it proclaimed at
once:
The orthography that is used in Varpas and Ukinįkas is the most widely known. It is
accepted by the most American Lithuanian newspapers (except for Saule, that does
not keep any orthography). Only two letters used in Varpas remain unaccepted: š
and č [...]. From now on we will always use š and č in editorials and other more
important articles. (Viltis, Jan 21, 1899:2.)
Thus, it is apparent that the theoretical stance of most American
newspapers was to switch to Varpas orthography approximately from 1899
on, i.e., to begin set the letters <č> and <š>. All of the newspapers agreed in
theory that Varpas’s orthography was the best. Practically, however,
printing <č>č <š> with carons was neither very simple nor a one-time
action.
3. Practical Efforts to Implement Letters <č> and <š>
3.1. Double Orthography in Vienybė Lietuvninkų
American Lithuanian newspapers of this period frequently had a section
in almost every issue where they set type not in the usual narrow columns
(ca. 5.5 mm width), but in wider columns (ca. 7.5 mm and wider). These
texts of greater width were usually serialized texts that lasted through many
issues of a newspaper. Wider columns probably were composed in that way
to facilitate later printing separate books with the same typeset matter.
The newspaper Vienybė Lietuvninkų was issued in Plymouth (Penn.) at
that time. If we look at the text “Mythai, pasakos ir legendos Żiamaicziu“ in
Vienybė Lietuvninkų of Mar. 29, 1899 (pp. 158–159), where this serialized
text, set in a wide measure, ended, we will see that it contains orthography
with only the digraphs (czebatus 159, greicziaus 159, jauczio 159) and
(iszėjo 159, szyksztus 159, użmuszo 159). The same observation is
valid for all of the text of that issue.
Fourteen days later, in the Apr. 12, 1899 issue (pp. 182–183), a new
serial set in a wide measure was started: “Vilius Tell [...]. Parašė Friedrich
Von Schiller”. This text is probably the first in which Vienybė Lietuvninkų
began composing type with <č> and <š>. Cf. the following letters in the
body of the text: <č>—čia 183, pačią 183, pučia 182; <š>—išpildyt 183,
šaltas 182, švelnus 182.
Subačius: 4 of 12
It is evident that from Apr. 12, 1899, Vienybė Lietuvninkų modernized
its orthography. However, in the remaining text of the same issue the
typesetters used only the traditional digraphs , . Thus we can
speak about the birth of a double spelling, a double orthographical standard
in the same Vienybė Lietuvninkų.
Antanas Mažiulis noted that the editor of Vienybė Lietuvninkų Petras
Mikolainis “eradicated cz and sz from a part of Vienybė Lietuvninkų, though
finally they were rejected only in 1904” (Mažiulis 1965:33:542).
An examination of the use of the letters <č>, <š> in later issues of
Vienybė Lietuvninkų up to the mentioned year 1904 and a little later show
that serialized texts set in the wide measure were printed in the more
modern orthography (with <č>, <š>) than other texts (with , ) up
until the very beginning of 1904.
More than ten serialized wide-measure texts with that more modern
orthography appeared during this period: (1) “Vilius Tell [...] Parašė
Friedrich Von Schiller” (till the second half of 1899); (2) “Latviu Tauta, [...]
Parašė Jonas Šliupas“ (in 1899 and 1900); (3) “Pasikalbejimai apie dangu ir
žeme” (from 1901, no. 1 till 1901, no. 11); (4) “Musu dieles” (from 1901,
no. 15 till 1901, no. 18); (5) “Parsidavimas ir pelnas” (from 1901, no. 20 till
1901, no. 25); (6) “Żemiu Dulkės. [...] parašyta M. Radzevičiutės” (from
1901, no. 28 till 1902); (7) “Kur musu iszganymas?” (in 1902); (8) “Jurgis
Durnelis. [...] parašė Brolis” (in 1902); (9) “Nuskintas ziedas. Parašé
Bijunas” (till 1902, no. 49); (10) “Kainas. Misterija Byron’o parašyta” (in
1903); (11) “Lietuviu tauta senoveje ir sziadien [sic!] Parašė J. Sliupas” (in
1903).
Most of these texts were printed and sold as separate books later.
Evidently the more modern orthography with <č>, <š> was intended to be
used in the texts that were destined to be turned into books afterwards.
These texts were oriented not just to newspaper readers, but also to the
readers of the books.
This double orthography in Vienybė Lietuvninkų lasted until the issue of
Jan 6, 1904, no. 1, approximately three and a half years later. Then a radical
turning-point took place. In texts other than just the wide-measure serialized
stories the letters <č>, <š> emerged, cf. in the body type of that issue:
<č>—laikraščiai 5(9), lapkričio 1(5), mokesčių 5(9); <š>—brošiurą 1(5),
išgamas 1(5), lietuvišką 1(5).
This turning-point was an essential change in Vienybė Lietuvninkų’s
orthography, since from then on letters <č>, <š> dominated. Mažiulis was
right to claim that , were finally rejected only in 1904. After this
turning-point, however, traces of older orthography remained, especially in
smaller types, in advertisements, and in headings. It apparently took much
longer to get rid of the last remains of the older orthography.
3.2. Book and Newspaper Orthography
We can say that the distinction made between the two different
orthographies in the same issue of a newspaper was a deliberate conscious
Subačius: 5 of 12
orientation to the shape of a book, not to that of a newspaper; to the readers
of books, not to those of newspapers (if we can divide readers in such a
manner).
Newspapers expressed their opinion about which orthography is suitable
for books and which for newspapers:
Sz, cz is not needed for our orthography, [...] especially in books. In a
newspaper, however, [...] we think it is important to facilitate reading as much as
possible. [...] There’s no advantage to it in a popular newspaper, but I say, let’s
have the letters š, č in books. (Tėvynės sargas, 1898:5-6.)
Tėvynės sargas, issued in East Prussia primarily for Lithuanian readers
in Lithuania, believed that the orthography had to be settled in books first.
And since readers, according to the investigations of the editors, were
inclined to have newspapers printed with traditional orthography including
, , there apparently was no need to introduce the new orthography.
Tėvynės sargas advises book publishers to be the innovators. A pivotal
difference is being made between which types are to be set in a newspaper
and which in a book.
American Lithuanian newspapers were also reflecting the situation.
Let the intelligentsia in Lithuania take care to diffuse as many useful writings as
possible among people in their own alphabet and spelling; this way people
themselves will force American editors to use Varpas’s alphabet and spelling. Let
them hurry, since the longer they wait, the more Lithuanian books are printed in
America in different spelling; the longer it takes, the more difficult it will be for
European orthography to take over. (Lietuva, Apr 1, 1898:13:2.)
This implementation [of the new orthography] should be made by European
Lithuanian intelligentsia [...]. It is they, who have to print as many little books as
possible in the alphabet that is used in Varpas [...]. This way they would accustom
all Lithuanians to their alphabet and would force American book editors and
printers to use it. (Tėvynė, 1898:4:141.)
American newspaper editors clearly understood that books are very
important to the introduction of the new orthography. They did not speak,
however, about newspapers. The dominant idea is quite clear to them that
the new modern Lithuanian orthography should come through books first.
Priest Motiejus Juodišius wrote:
The articles that I give to newspapers may be set in type as anybody likes. Still
when I prepare for publication a little bigger work, I would like to see it dressed in
a more appropriate and stronger cloth, that wears out slower than the orthography
of present-day newspapers and small books. (Žvaigždė, May 9, 1901:14:2.)
Juodišius wanted another, better orthography for his books that were
intended to endure, but he did not care about newspaper orthography, as that
did not last long. Double standard, double requirements, double orthography
for books and for newspapers were obviously consciously understood.
Subačius: 6 of 12
This is why I suggest that it is possible to speak of two different
orthographies—that of books (with <č>, <š>) and that of newspapers (with
, ). In American Lithuanian newspapers double orthography lasted
for several years (depending on the newspaper). The end of this double
orthography period meant that the book orthography prevailed. It is actually
the standard Lithuanian orthography.
3.3. Double Orthography in Lietuva
The double orthography was quite a popular phenomenon among most
American Lithuanian newspapers. Following is a summary of the use of the
double orthography in the major newspapers of that period.
The Chicago (Ill.) newspaper Lietuva was issued in newspaper
orthography until Jun. 30, 1899, no. 26. In widely set text “Senų Gadynių
Išnykę Gyvi Sutvērimai. Pagal Hutchinsoną” (p. 3) book orthography was
introduced probably for the first time in Lietuva, cf. <č>—aprašančią 3,
suteikiančias 3, tirpstančių 3; <š>—augščiaus 3, iš 3, paviršius 3.
Lietuva’s other texts in the book orthography were: “Musų żemēs
augmenys. Pagal Lunkevyčių ir kitus” (until Jan. 25, 1901, no. 4);
“Biologia. [...] Pagal prof. Nusbaumą” (until May 24, 1901, no. 21); “Iš kur
atsirado musu naminiai gyvuliai ir auginami augmenys? Pagal Lunkevyčių”
(from May 31, 1901, no. 22 to Jul. 26, 1901, no. 30); “Ethnologija. [...]
Pagal Drą M. Haberlandtą” (from Jul. 26, 1901, no. 30 to Jan. 16, 1903, no.
3); “Gamtos Istorija. Prof. Povilo Berto” (from Jan. 16, 1903 to Jun. 26,
1903, no. 26).
The turning-point in the domination of the book orthography was May
8, 1903, no. 19 for Lietuva. After this turning-point, advertisements and
headings still appeared in the old newspaper orthography, as they did in
Vienybė Lietuvninkų. But it is evident that from that date newspaper
orthography with , becomes marginalized and book orthography
prevails.
3.4. Double Orthography in Viltis, Darbininkų viltis
Viltis had been issued since the beginning of 1899 in Shenandoah
(Penn.). Its editors declared almost at once (in issue no. 2), that they
intended to begin using Varpas’s orthography in the main texts of the
newspaper at first.
Book orthography appears first in the article on orthography in Jan. 21,
1899, no. 2 (p. 2): <č>—laikraščiai 2, priderysčių 2, Trečioji 2; <š>—Iš 2,
rašējas 2, viršaus 2. However, in the same article there are many adjacent
newspaper-style digraphs , . Other articles in that issue have no
<č>, <š>.
From that point on, almost all issues have some examples of book
orthography. For instance, the editorial published on Feb. 4, 1899, no. 4, p.
2; “Margi paiszineliai” (subtitled “The most important article in all of the
newspaper”) on Feb. 11, 1899, p. 3; “Svarbiausios knygos” on Mar. 11,
Subačius: 7 of 12
1899, no. 9; editorial on Apr. 1, 1899, no. 12, p. 2; also on Apr. 8, 1899, no.
13, p. 2; on Sep. 10, 1900, no. 37, p. 5; on Dec. 8, 1900, no. 49; etc.
Some issues were published with no book orthography (<č>, <š>) at all
(Mar. 18, 1899, no. 10; Mar. 25, 1899, no. 11).
It is evident that during these two years (1899 and 1900) Viltis was
published in double orthography. Some major texts were set in the
orthography with <č>, <š>, but the preponderance of other texts—in
newspaper orthography with , . “Better” orthography in relation to
books was not emphasized in Viltis; it was attributed to the importance of
particular texts in the newspaper. After all, it was only a small format
newspaper of four pages per issue that probably could not afford to publish
serialized texts and to make up them as books later. At any rate Viltis tried
to keep pace with the other American Lithuanian newspapers and to comply
with the agreement among those papers.
The last known issue of Viltis was Dec. 8, 1900, no. 49, but its publisher
Vincas Šlekys (signed as V. Stagaras) started another newspaper
Darbininkų viltis (Shenandoah, Penn.) later. In the first issue of Jan. 2,
1904, no. 1, the book orthography form already prevails, cf.: <č>—
bażnyčios 1, čia 1, paslapčių 1; <š>—angliškus 1, prieš 1, susimušē 1. In
some texts, mostly in advertisements and headlines, the older newspaper
orthography is still present in both this issue and later ones, but it remains a
defeated one. Darbininkų viltis from 1904 on is published predominantly
with book orthography (with the letters <č>, <š>).
3.5. Double Orthography in Tėvynė
This small format Pennsylvanian newspaper Tėvynė, an organ of the
Lithuanian Alliance of America (issued in Mount Carmel, Plymouth,
Philadelphia, Shenandoah, etc.), also began allocating book orthography for
some serial texts. In 1898, no. 8 (probably August) p. 13-14, the book
orthography was introduced for the first time. Tėvynė began the serialized
publication of Adomas Mickevičius’ poem “Gražina” in book orthography,
cf. <č>—kunįgaikščiui 14, pučia 13, tuščią 14; <š>—augštai 14, šaipos’ 14,
šešēliai 13. Other serialized texts were also often set in the book
orthography, e.g., one more poem of Adomas Mickevičius’ “Konradas
Valenrodas” (started in 1899); also “Iš Kelionės Po Europa. Parašē Kun. J.
Žilinskas” (from Mar. 2, 1901, no. 8). The majority of other texts, however,
were set in newspaper orthography.
In the issue of Mar. 23, 1901, no. 12 an author named Selimas wrote an
article (p. 91) about the Petras Kriaušaitis’ newly published Lithuanian
grammar (the first grammar of standard Lithuanian by Jonas Jablonskis) and
complained about the shortcomings of Tėvynė’s type fonts:
It will take a lot of time before we, especially Americans, introduce the unified
spelling that is presented in the grammar of P. Kriauszaitis, which was published
by the means of Lithuanian Alliance of America. We are short of many types,
and people are not very accustomed to š, č, etc. so far. (Tėvynė, Mar 23,
1901:12:91.)
Subačius: 8 of 12
The same complaint was made by the editor of Tėvynė Antanas Kaupas:
The central committee of Lithuanian Alliance of America decided in the
meantime to publish a reader, prepared according to the spelling of Kriauszaitis.
[...] We do not have the required types in our printing house, so we have sent an
inquiry to the editors of Vienybē and Lietuva, also to Mr. Stagaras [...]. Stagaras
possesses many beautiful type faces and can print not only in “pica” but also in
“small pica”, so we entrusted the work to Stagaras. (Tėvynė, Mar. 23, 1901, no.
12, p. 92.)
It is obvious that Tėvynė did not have the required type to set the reader
they needed (first of all type for <č>, <š>, the representatives of the book
orthography). Kaupas told his readers that the central committee was
informed about the capabilities of the other printers who published the
newspapers Vienybė Lietuvninkų, Lietuva, and Viltis (Mr. Stagaras; real
name Vincas Šlekys). As I have mentioned above, all three newspapers
printed some texts using the book orthography. Kaupas’s article convinces
us that the capability of those three newspapers to publish in the book
orthography (the future standard) were known to him and, by assumption, to
the Lithuanian community as well. Kaupas even knew that the shape of
letters owned by Stagaras were more beautiful than those owned by Vienybė
Lietuvninkų or Lietuva.
3.6. Double Orthography in Žvaigždė
The fifth adherent to the double orthography was the Catholic
newspaper Žvaigždė, published from 1901 in Philadelphia (Penn.), Brooklyn
(N.Y.), and Shenandoah (Penn.) by the priest Antanas Milukas. Žvaigždė
was a successor of Garsas Amerikos Lietuvių (Lietuviški periodiniai
leidiniai 1993:1027). From the very beginning some texts were set in the
book orthography. Cf. serailized text set in a wide measure in 1901, no. 2:
“Ausztant. T. T. Ježo Apysaka”, p. 25–28 (until Aug. 15, 1901, no. 28):
<č>—čigonka 25, grinčią 25, išvaikščiojau 25; <š>—aštuonių 24, sušuko
25, šendien 25. Other book orthography texts were “Pasakojimas Antano
Tretininko. Vyskupo Motiejaus Valancziaus“ (from Feb. 14, 1901, no. 3 to
May 2, 1901, no. 13); “Vyskupas M. Valanczius” (Mar. 7, 1901, no. 5);
“Misionieriai Rosijos ‘Szventosios’. (Isz Lanskajos)” (May 16, 1901, no.
15); etc. Most of the other main texts, however, were set in the newspaper
orthography.
In the above mentioned issue no. 2 of 1901 Žvaigždė writes:
We undertake to publish the fifth book in the form of the newspaper Dirva, and to
use the orthography that we find in no. 2 of Żinyczia, i.e. according to the
grammar of Petras Kriauszaitis. (Žvaigždė, 1901:2:28.)
Using Kriaušaitis’ grammar meant using the book (or standard)
orthography with <č>, <š>. So Žvaigždė clearly understood that it was
Subačius: 9 of 12
expected to publish books in a different orthography than the one prevailing
in their newspaper.
It is worth mentioning the publication of excerpts from the Gospels in
1903-1904. Better, more prestigious book orthography was used to set the
serialized text of the Gospels. In the issue of Feb. 5, 1904, the adjacent text
of “Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII about Savior Jesus Christ” (also serialized)
was still set in the lower prestige newspaper orthography without the letters
<č>, <š>. The turning-point in the usage of the book orthography was Feb.
19, 1904, no. 7, where most of Žvaigždė texts were set with the letters <č>,
<š>. That day the excerpt of the Pope’s Encyclical was switched to the
prestigious book orthography as well.
3.7. Five Newspapers with the Book Orthography
These five newspapers that were described above partially applied the
book orthography (future standard) in their newspapers from 1898 and from
1899 on. Chronologically we can trace the concept of different orthography
for books in Tėvynė (1898, no. 8, probably August), then in Viltis (Jan. 21,
1899), then in Vienybė Lietuvninkų (Apr. 12, 1899), and then in Lietuva
(Jun. 30, 1899), as illustrated in table 1. Consequently we can make the
conclusion that in the middle of 1899s, major American Lithuanian
newspapers formed the idea that Varpas’s orthography is better than theirs,
that they should use it primarily in books (a more stable, longer surviving
media than newspapers), and that at least some texts in their newspapers
should be published in that better, more prestigious orthography. They
implemented the idea of a double orthographical standard, and published
texts set in both orthographies on the same page of the same newspaper.
It can be firmly claimed that the year 1899 was crucial to the deliberate
introduction of Varpas’s (book) orthography (cf. table 1) in American
Lithuanian newspapers. However, it was only the beginning. The period of
double orthography lasted until approximately 1904, for four and a half
years. And only then did the newspapers switch to the book (or Varpas’s, or
standard) orthography in most of the texts (although still not in all of them)
(cf. table 1).
Lietuva, which was a little tardy introducing the book orthography, was
probably the first to make the crucial turning-point switch in May 8, 1903.
Approximately seven months later Vienybė Lietuvninkų (Jan. 6, 1904)
switched, then more than a month later Žvaigždė (Feb. 19, 1904). We don’t
have exact data about the time of turning-point in Darbininkų viltis’s and
Tėvynė’s orthography, but we know that by the beginning of 1904
Darbininkų viltis was also predominantly typeset in book orthography (cf.
table 1).
Thus, book (standard) orthography triumphed in American Lithuanian
newspapers at the beginning of 1904. In essence, Varpas’s orthography,
produced in East Prussia in texts intended primarily for Lithuania, was
accepted by American newspapers in 1904. This date was almost three years
after the codifying grammar by Jablonskis was published in 1901.
Subačius: 10 of 12
The acceptance of standard orthography by the American Lithuanian
newspapers also implies that the Lithuanian community in America became
accustomed to that previously unusual standard in approximately four and a
half years. We can claim that afterwards American Lithuanian community
generally accepted this orthographical standard.
This acceptance occurred in the period when some months still
remained until the end of the ban of Latin letters by the Russian government
in Lithuania (1864-1904). American Lithuanians accepted it before
Lithuanian newspapers and books began being published in Lithuania
legally. The standard was accepted in America before the beginning of
massive free publication in Lithuania.
Table. 1. Usage of graphemes <č> and <š> in American Lithuanian
newspapers at the turn of the twentieth century
1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907
Saulė
Katalikas
Žvaigždė
Tėvynė
Viltis; Darbininkų viltis
Lietuva
Vienybė Lietuvninkų
newspaper not yet established or no data available ,
double orthography: <č>, <š> and , <č>, <š> dominate
4. Deviations of the Double Orthography
It is important to introduce, at least briefly, two more newspapers that
evidently behaved differently than the five newspapers described above.
Subačius: 11 of 12
4.1. Katalikas
The weekly newspaper Katalikas was started in Chicago in 1899.
However, it was not among the early reformers of spelling. We do not really
find book orthography in Katalikas until Jun. 11, 1903, no. 24, when it
began using it in the first piece of serialized wide-measure text “Šiapus Ir
Anapus Grabo. Paraše J. Gerutis”.
Editors of Katalikas waited approximately four years longer than other
newspapers to introduce the book orthography. In the very first issues in
1899, in the serialized text “Matter of Spelling,” Katalikas made a great
effort to convince its readers and competitors that Kazimieras Jaunius’s
orthography, which was not accepted by Varpas and was refused by many
others, among them by most of the American Lithuanian newspapers, was
the best way to write and print! Varpas’s orthography was indirectly called
strange. To prove their knowledge of Lithuanian grammar and orthography,
the editors of Katalikas published long articles containing Jaunius’s,
Kuršaitis’s, and other Lithuanian grammatical theories and rules. Katalikas
was not ignorant in the matter of spelling; it wanted to demonstrate that it
knew a better orthography than that with the letters <č>, <š>.
After printing two serialized texts in book orthography in Katalikas (the
above-mentioned text “Šiapus Ir Anapus Grabo” continued until Sep. 17,
1903, no. 38 and “Kaimynai. Rašo Dēdē Antanazas” from Sep. 17, 1903,
no. 38 to Nov. 5, 1903, no. 45) other wide-measure texts were printed only
in newspaper orthography again! Book orthography disappeared until Jan.
12, 1905, no. 2 (a year and two months!), when it returned only in some
wide-measure texts (p. 3). And the final triumph of book orthography (by
that time definitely the standard) occurred very late in Katalikas, only in
Aug. 17, 1905, no. 33.
Thus, the editors of Katalikas stubbornly avoided book orthography
until Jun. 11, 1903. They made a final decision to comply to the living
standard—both in Lithuania and in the U.S.—only on Aug. 17, 1905 (cf.
table 1). Katalikas was simply forced to comply to the accepted standard.
4.2. Saulė
A biweekly newspaper Saulė, published in Mahanoy City (Penn.) by
Dominikas Tomas Boczkauskas, did not comply with the standard
orthography for a considerably longer period than even Katalikas. It might
be sufficient to say that not only in 1899, but in 1904, and even in 1907 the
digraphs , were used in Saulė (cf. table 1). Apparently, Saulė did
not care about the book or standard Lithuanian orthography. It also used
many other orthographical features that were typical for mid-nineteenth
century Lithuanian texts but not for the standard Lithuanian. Saulė was
exclusively set with Polish orthography letters. Other newspaper editors,
preparing their readers for the changes of orthography in their own
newspapers, mentioned that they had no hope Saulė would ever change its
orthography. Saulė was among those who were the last to accept the
Lithuanian standard.
Subačius: 12 of 12
References:
Haugen, Einar. 1972. “The Ecology of Language”, Stanford, California:
Stanford University Press, 237-254. (First published in 1966.)
Jonikas, Petras. 1972. Lietuvių bendrinės rašomosios kalbos kūrimasis
antrojoje XIX a. pusėje. Čikaga: Pedagoginis lituanistikos institutas.
Kriaušaitis, Petras [Jonas Jablonskis]. 1901. Lietuviškos Kalbos Gramatika.
Rašytojams ir Skaitytojams Vadovėlis. Tilžė: Otto v. Mauderode.
Kudirka, Vincas. 1890. “Statrašos ramsčiai” (Vilnius University Library,
call no. f. - E 333).
Lietuviški Periodiniai Leidiniai 1823-1940. Kontrolinis Sąrašas. Vilnius,
1993.
Mažiulis, Antanas. 1965. “Vienybė Lietuvninkų”. Lietuvių Enciklopedija,
vol. 33, 540-543.
Palionis, Jonas. 1979. Lietuvių literatūrinės kalbos istorija. Vilnius:
Mokslas.
1 Here I want to express my sincere gratitude to Jurgita Venckienė, who
shared some data with me, and to Elizabeth Novickas, who edited the style
of this article.
2 It is impossible to date precisely the introduction of the letter <š> in
Kazimieras Kristupas Daukša’s texts. Very roughly, we can speak of the
middle of the nineteenth century or of the second half of it.
3 In 1966 Einar Haugen introduced his theory which divided the
history of the development of a standard language into four aspects:
(1) selection of norm, (2) codification of form, (3) elaboration of function,
and (4) acceptance by the community (Haugen 1972:249-254

www.uic.edu/classes/lith/lith410/SUB_2004_double_orthography_SCHMA.pdf

How Bronze-Age Riders From the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World.

noreply@blogger.com (paulwarnz@warnagiris.org (CDW)) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:49:00 +0000

March 2, 2008

By CHRISTINE KENNEALLY

New York Times

THE HORSE, THE WHEEL, AND LANGUAGE

How Bronze-Age Riders From the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World.

By David W. Anthony.

Illustrated. 553 pp. Princeton University Press. $35.

The first and most intimate affiliations we have are the genetic ties we share with our family and the language we speak. In the first case, the links are pretty straightforward. Without exception, everyone is created by two parents, who each had two parents, who themselves had two parents, and on and on, so that behind every reader of this review, thousands of mothers and fathers fan out and multiply in a completely predictable way.

Linguistic inheritance, by contrast, is a story of irreducible patterns and historical contingencies. In “The Horse, the Wheel, and Language,” David W. Anthony argues that we speak English not just because our parents taught it to us but because wild horses used to roam the steppes of central Eurasia, because steppe-dwellers invented the spoked wheel and because poetry once had real power.

English belongs to the very large Indo-European language family. All of the Germanic, Baltic, Slavic, Celtic, Latin, Hellenic, Iranian and Sanskrit languages (among other families) are Indo-European, which means that Lithuanian, Polish, English, Welsh, French, Greek, Kurdish and Punjabi, to name just a few, descend from the same ancient tongue. It is known as Proto-Indo-European, and it was spoken around 3500 B.C. Thanks to a careful comparison of the daughter languages (as linguists call them), thousands of Proto-Indo-European words have been reconstructed, including those for otter, wolf, lynx, bee, honey, cattle, sheep and horse. The way some words group together in Proto-Indo-European shows that its speakers believed in a male sky god, respected chiefs and appointed official warriors. One word for wheel sounded something like “roteh.” The word for axle? “Aks.”

Where Proto-Indo-European came from and who originally spoke it has been a mystery ever since Sir William Jones, a British judge and scholar in India, posited its existence in the late 18th century. As a result, Anthony writes, the question of its origins was “politicized almost from the beginning.” Numerous groups, ranging from the Nazis to adherents of the “goddess movement” (who saw the Indo-Europeans as bellicose invaders who upended a feminine utopia), have made self-interested claims about the Indo-European past. Anthony, an archaeologist at Hartwick College who has extensive field experience, makes the persuasive case that it originated in the steppes of what is now southern Ukraine and Russia, a landscape consisting mainly of endless grasslands and “huge, dramatic” sky. Anthony is not the first scholar to make the case that Proto-Indo-European came from this region, but given the immense array of evidence he presents, he may be the last one who has to.

Anthony lays out crucial events that built up the economic and, later, military power of Proto-Indo-European speakers, increasing the reach and prestige of the language. It’s a linguistic version of the rich getting richer, with the result that more than three billion people around the world today speak a descendant of this mother tongue.

Perhaps the most important moment came with the domestication of horses, first accomplished around 4,800 years ago, at least 2,000 years after cattle, sheep, pigs and goats had been domesticated in other parts of the world. Initially, horses were most likely tamed to serve as an easy source of meat, particularly in winter; it wasn’t until centuries later that they were ridden, and then eventually used to pull carts with solid wheels, turning the Proto-

Indo-European speakers into mobile herders and the steppes into a conduit for themselves and their language. Later, they became skilled warriors whose spoked-wheel chariots sped them to battle and spread their language even farther.

The impact of horses on the reach of language is particularly important to Anthony, and he conveys his excitement at working out whether ancient horses wore bits (and were therefore ridden by Proto-Indo-Europeans) by comparing their teeth to those of modern domesticated and wild horses. He muses on the “deep-rooted, intransigent traditions of opposition” that existed along the Ural River frontier, slowing the spread of herding and the cultural innovations that went with it. He also cites remarkable genetic analyses suggesting that although all the domesticated horses in the world may have come from many different wild mothers, they might all share a single father.

Anthony also describes a world in which spoken poetry was the only medium, one that helped spread Proto-Indo-European through what he calls “elite recruitment.” It wasn’t enough for the newcomers to assume a dominant position: in order for their language to be picked up, they also had to offer the local population attractive opportunities to participate in their language culture — a process that continues today, incidentally, with the spread of English as a prestige language.

“The Horse, the Wheel, and Language” brings together the work of historical linguists and archaeologists, researchers who have traditionally been suspicious of one another’s methods. Though parts of the book will be penetrable only by scholars, it lays out in intricate detail the complicated genealogy of history’s most successful language.

Christine Kenneally is the author of “The First Word: The Search for the Origins of Language.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/books/review/Kenneally-t.html

Gate of Dawn

noreply@blogger.com (paulwarnz@warnagiris.org (CDW)) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 14:07:00 +0000

Religious meaning

The painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy of Aušros Vartai (the Gate of Dawn) is the only one in Lithuania so widely known for miraculous recoveries and other graces and visited by pilgrims from many surrounding countries. The Blessed Virgin Mary of Aušros Vartai is considered a guardian of Lithuania as well as the symbol of concord. Four peoples and two religious confessions come together to worship her: Lithuanians, Poles, Byelorussians and Russians, Catholics and Orthodox.

Place

The chapel is arranged over the former Eastern Gates of the ancient defensive City wall of Vilnius. Now, when the city has expanded, the chapel and the gates are in the center. Nearby there is a Catholic church of St. Teresa and an Orthodox monastery of The Holy Spirit.

History

Terrified by the Tatar invasion in 1503 citizens of Vilnius asked Aleksandras, the Grand Duke of Lithuania for a permission to fence the town. The stonewall had defensive towers and five gates. It was finished in 1522. The Gate of Dawn with the picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary then was in the most dangerous eastern part of the wall.

The Carmelite monks who established themselves nearby the Gate began to take care of the picture in 1626. In 1671, seventeen miracles were already confirmed under a vow and documented in the chronicles.

In 1702 Vilnius was occupied by the Swedes. They forbade to venerate the picture publicly and to gather in the street in front of the Gate. In the battle trying to regain the Gate, a bullet was put through the picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Since 1671 the picture was placed in a wooden chapel on the Gate. The chapel was destroyed in the Vilnius fire of 1715. The painting however was saved by the Carmelites and returned to a new brick chapel four years later.

Under the order of the tsarist government the wall of the town was pulled down in 1799–1802. Still due to the respect to the picture, honored by both Catholics and Orthodox, the Gate of Dawn was left.

Before World War II liturgies were celebrated in the Gate of Dawn chapel from sunrise until noon, and in the evening a litany and hymns were sung in praise of Mary. During the services not only the chapel but the entire street used to be filled with worshipers. Pilgrims were especially numerous on the third Sunday after Easter, Whitsuntide, and Nov. 16, the feast of the Mother of Mercy. Men, who passed by the Gate of Dawn removed their hats; this old custom was observed even by non-Catholics.

During Soviet times many pilgrims from Byelorussia, who were deprived of all of their sanctuaries, used to come and visit the Gate.

On September 4, 1993 the Pope John Paul II prayed the rosary in Aušros Vartai. He told he had this desire since he prayed in front of the Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Aušros Vartai in the Lithuanian Chapel in the Basilica of St. Peter in Vatican right after his inauguration.

The highest Russian Orthodox and Lithuanian Catholic hierarchs – Alexy II, the Patriarch of Moscow and the whole Russia and Audrys Juozas Bačkis, Archbishop of archdiocese of Vilnius – prayed together in Aušros Vartai on July 28, 1997. They encouraged couple thousand believers who had gathered in front of the Gate to live in the spirit of Christian love, peace and concord.

Many visitors as well as residents of Vilnius like to come and pray at Aušros Vartai.

The day of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy is celebrated on November 16. Devotions, lasting for a week around this date attract many pilgrims from all over the country.

The painting of the Gate of Dawn

The picture is one of five crowned pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lithuania. But it is the only one where Mary is depicted without a Baby Jesus.

According to tradition, two paintings were exposed on the Gate of Dawn when it was built. Facing outward was the picture of the Savior, facing in toward the city, a picture of the Blessed Virgin. The grandeur and monumentality of the latter leads to the idea that the picture was destined to be looked at from distance and that it was painted specially for the gate of the town according to the European tradition of the time. A silver garment covers all but the face and hands of the Virgin, who is portrayed with her arms crossed on her chest. The crowned head is inclined toward the right and surrounded by a halo with rays.

The public veneration of the picture started in 1655-1661 during the war with the Russians. Citizens of Vilnius asked the Our Lady for intercession. It is believed that at nights they used to see the image of Mary of Aušros Vartai in the sky over the town. In gratitude for guardianship, in 1671, the jewelers of Vilnius made a splendid silver garment for the picture. During the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century everyone, even people of another belief passing the Gates had to take off their hats.

Since 1765 the picture has been honored in the songs.

The painting of the Virgin of the Gate of Dawn became known for its alleged miraculousness in the 17th century. 17 miracles, sworn to under oath were recorded between 1671-1761. The hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church refrained from comment on the matter throughout the 17th century. But from the 18th century both bishops of Vilnius and the Popes acknowledged the painting’s miraculous character. In 1773 Pope Clement XIV granted an indulgence to worshipers at the Gate of Dawn. In 1927 Pope Pius XI allowed the painting to be solemnly crowned and granted it the title of Mary, Mother of Mercy.

The fame of the miraculous painting spread, largely because of the efforts of the Carmelites and Jesuits. The Vilnius Academy, a Jesuit institution, designated the Virgin of the Gate of Dawn its guardian and patron in 1676.

http://www.lcn.lt/en/bl/sventoves/ausrosv/
Catholic Internet Service, kit@lcn.lt

LITHUANIAN PHILOSOPHY-Preface

noreply@blogger.com (paulwarnz@warnagiris.org (CDW)) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:18:00 +0000

CULTURAL HERITAGE AND CONTEMPORARY CHANGE

SERIES IVA, EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE, VOLUME 17

LITHUANIAN PHILOSOPHY:

Persons and Ideas

LITHUANIAN PHILOSOPHICAL STUDIES, II

edited by

Jurate Baranova

PREFACE: George F. McLean

Volume I of Lithuania Philosophical Studies was entitled Personal Freedom and National Resurgence. The title reflected the strong emphasis upon the distinctive Lithuanian cultural identity needed in order to support the claim to independence from Russia. The title reflected, moreover, concern lest this emphasis become a threat to personal freedom.

The present volume II in this series of Lithuanian Philosophical Studies, does not advance that issue, but focuses rather on providing a longer view of the history of the development of Lithuanian philosophy. In undertaking the work Professor Jurate Baranova was inspired by an earlier volume in this series, Czech Philosophy in the XXth Century done by a team of philosophers at Masaryk University in Brno. In turn, the present work has encouraged similar volumes in other regions.

Chapter I, "Lithuanian Philosophy: the Search for Authenticity" by J. Baranova is the true introduction to this work. It not only identifies the context of the chapters, but goes much further to identify in detail the various historical philosophical schools, their circumstances and bibliography. The parts of the work reflect in general the history of their development.

Part I, "Lithuanians: Their History and Culture", reaches far back into the history and even prehistory of Lithuania and its peoples. Chapter II, "Glimpses of Lithuanian History," by Alfredas Bumblauskas and Chapter III, "A Latecomer to Latin Civilization: The Lithuanian Way to World History", by Edvardas Gudavicius provide preliminary overviews of this early background.

Perhaps nowhere is this continuity more evident than at the Cathedral in Vilnius. Legends identify the area as the location of the oracle where the dream of the Iron Lion was interpreted as foretelling the development of a great people. In time the King’s palace was built on this location, and over that the Cathedral was later built. For years during the Communist regime the Cathedral was reduced to a museum. The real moment of the reinstitution of a free Lithuania was the day when the Cathedral was restored to the people and began to serve once again as a Cathedral. Perhaps no people are so constituted of an interweaving of legend and history, of palace and Cathedral, as are the people of Lithuania,

Chapter IV, "Lithuanian Mythology," by Gintaras Beresnevicius goes in detail into this heritage of myth, its terms and their etymologies, its themes and their goods in this life and the next. He shows how the ancient myths depicted the human as accidental, taking God by surprise and therefore as lacking meaning; this makes manifest the essential significance of the Christian message in adding the sense of meaning and the spiritual dignity of humankind to Lithuanian culture.

Chapter V, "Lithuanian Messianism: Its Beginnings and Origin," by Vytautas Berenis, is a very sophisticated analysis of the way in which this has constituted a special messianic sense for the nation, a sense of mission for the people and of Providence in its realization. In this it reflects the magnificent volume in the series edited by Leon Dyczewski on Values in the Tradition of Polish Culture. By locating human dignity in the people, the issue became not only law but justice. This engages and indeed epitomizes the people. The limitation of messianism is, however, that it is out of history and hence does not engage directly the issue of social progress,

Part II, "Academic Philosophy through the Centuries" provides an overview of the development of professional philosophy in Lithuania. This is provided by Romanas Pleckaitis in Chapter VI, "The Development of Professional Philosophy at The University of Lithuania," providing a detailed account of the development of the faculty of the philosophy department at the University, listing the courses and professors in detail. The last half of the chapter constitutes a veritable tour de force by distinguishing the various fields of philosophy and providing a detailed history of the work done in each in the university. It parallels a similar survey of philosophy in Pakistan by the late Richard DeSmet, published recently as an appendix to Philosophy in Pakistan in this series. Especially notable in this survey is the extent of the work done on the philosophy of culture. This was much advanced beyond the work of philosophers further West.

As will be seen in subsequent chapters, in order to take account of culture, it is necessary to be able to treat especially of values and hence of the teleology of human life and action toward the good. Adequate appreciation of this heritage of the philosophy of culture and the way it relates to the transcendent character of human nature may require more distance from the Marxist materialist period.

This appeared in the first meeting of the Council for Research in Values and Philosophy (RVP) teams from Central and Eastern Europe in the early ‘90s. Everything that was not contained within a materialist horizon was referred to as irrational. Upon discussion it became clear that this was the effect of the previous Marxist ideology and that they had no philosophical terminology to express the new areas of freedom which their people had just acquired. In other words as philosophers they were still prisoners of the old ideology. Their people could not advance in freedom to explore their cultural identity and evolve new dimensions for the future to which they aspired until the philosophers freed themselves from this bondage of the mind. This is an issue which philosophers in Lithuania, with their tradition of attention to the issue of terminology, are especially fitted to address.

Part III, "Philosophy between the Two World Wars" is especially detailed and effective in illustrating the great riches and varied dimensions of the Lithuanian philosophical heritage. Chapter after chapter proceeds to unfold not only the rich systematic Thomistic centuries ago, heritage of Christian philosophy upon which the University was founded over four centuries ago, but a broad range of ingenious individual thinkers and a broad range of interests even to Hindu philosophy.

Chapter VII, "Vydunas: the Essential Features of His Philosophy," by Vaclovas Bagdonavicius manifests the extraordinary reach of this heritage of Lithuanian thought. Vydunas, though not a trained philosopher — or could it also be because of this? — was able to reach across cultures to find in the Hindu philosophical tradition direct statements of the spiritual dimensions for Lithuanian culture which are not available in Western philosophical traditions.

He describes a twin process of involution from the absolute as plenitude into time and space, and evolution as a return ascension of human life to the spiritual, social and cultural. In fact, Ramaniya’s thought will take him only to the sense of plenitude and divine attributes. To complete his cycle and achieve a realism, rather than an idealism, he needs the notion of creation and the thought of Madhva.

Chapter VIII, "Stasys Salkauskis: The Contours of His System," by Arunas Sverdiolas provides an excellent example of the original efforts of Lithuanian thinkers, often without extensive formal training in philosophy, to develop and organize a level of philosophical reflection which reflects their national culture and identity. Stasys Salkaukis was an early example of just such an effort. His work was theoretical especially as regards ontology, but had a practical focus with insights into the philosophy of culture and of religion.

Chapter IX, "The Social Philosophy of Fabijonas Kemesis," by Adolfas Poska, reflects the heritage of the Catholic philosophical tradition in which many of the philosophers were trained and which they reflected while retaining their own critical stance. This tended to develop a social philosophy which set them in a critical relationship to socialism.

Chapter X, "Between Ideology and the Criticism of Culture: the Case of Julijonas Lindë-Dobilas," by Almantas Samalavicius, studies an attempt to develop a philosophy of culture that would value the cultural creativity of the Lithuanian people and attend to their aspirations as a people and as a nation. This attention to culture is again a special mark of Lithuanian philosophy which bridges its own folk heritage of wisdom to the classical content of the ancient Greek and Christian traditions of Homer and Dante.

Chapter XI, "Oscar Milosz — Theoretician of Love," by Andrius Konickis, analyses analogous dimensions in the thought of Oscar Milosz which he traces to a combination of Jewish, Christian and Cabalistic sources. This focus on love brings out the essential character of the teleological element in any philosophy which is based on the life project or culture of a people. Approaches to philosophy which are unable to relate to this may be able to perform some tasks in philosophy, but are incapable of taking account of the reality of the life and culture of a people however much they may claim to be related to concrete facts or individual choices. In this sense these dimensions of the earlier thought of Lithuania are particularly essential for the development of a philosophy related to the aspirations and creative efforts of the Lithuanian people.

Three philosophers treated here have been concerned with developments in existential philosophy. Chapter XII, "Two Existentialists: Antanas Maceina and Juozas Girnius," by Ruta Tumenaite, describes richly the efforts of these two thinkers to develop philosophy on the bases of the life-world of the people, which indeed has as a yet broader context the people’s religious sense of human meaning and commitment. These are precious resources for the development of the sensibilities and aspirations for freedom and authenticity of the new post-Marxist generation. The author draws a rather harsh distinction between the Maceina and Girnius, however, noting that the religious context is noted explicitly by Girnius at the beginning which he considers to be a matter of honesty, whereas it comes only at the end of the method of Maceina. It may be possible to interpret this in an opposite manner, however. From a rationalist perspective the premises need to be made clear, and all is to be deduced therefrom. This would seem to be the expectation of R. Tumenaite. However, in an existential approach one proceeds not from the "top down," but rather from the "bottom up" i.e., from the exercise of life to its premises and conditions. This latter is the method of Maceina who would consider it more authentic (and hence honest) to follow the path of discovery from the practice of life to its religious premises as source and goal. This too is an important building block for the development of a philosophy appropriate for the progress of the Lithuanian people.

Chapter XIII, "The Life of Vosylius Sezemanas and his Critical Realism," by Loreta Anilionyte and Albinas Lozuraitis, is exceptionally well thought through. It shows how this early philosophy developed an original and personal philosophy that is exceptionally relevant today. In it V. Sezezemanas moves from a philosophical position fixed on the object to attention to the subject so that the spirit becomes central and hence also culture and history.

From the detailed analysis of the sequence of authors in this Part III it can be seen that Lithuanian philosophers have had the combination of freedom and genius to do original philosophical work. This has been marked by attention to the spirit as lived in time and in the particular context of Lithuania. Hence, it has not only drawn richly upon culture in general, but has focused upon Lithuanian culture in particular. This set a standard of authenticity and insight which strenuously challenges philosophers of the present time.

Part IV "Contemporary Lithuanian Philosophy" samples the present efforts in philosophy and can be divided between two philosophers working in Lithuania who explain and illustrate the present problem and two philosophers of Lithuanian origin working outside of the country who develop a response.

Chapter XIV, "Lithuanian Philosophical Thought: Between East and West," by Arvydas Sliogeris, suggests a way of dividing the history of philosophical thought in Lithuania, namely, between (a) working from classical texts by Saulkauskas as a Catholic thinker and Vydunas as inspired by Indian thought, (b) Western oriented existential thinkers such as Maceina and Girnius working in the Catholic tradition and in the context of eternal truth; and (c) the present struggle to free philosophy from Marxist ideology. This could be considered a good epilogue to this work.

The author provides a fascinating account of the experience of growing up as a philosopher in Marxist times and under the intense pressure of Marxist ideology. In this situation he found exceptional importance in the lectures of Eujenijus Meskauskas precisely in his conscious use of the Marxist dialectic to negate all meaning and reduce the mind to a skeptical position. This "scorched earth" approach effectively destroyed any growth of ideology, but seems to have left the soil so devastated that it was difficult to grow any new insight.

The response of Slogeris is to take an existential path indicated in this chapter but developed more elaborately in Chapter XV, "Arvydas Sliogeris: The Philosopher as Knight of Being," by Regimantas Tamosaitis. This looks to existential experience as the sole authentic engagement of being which he calls "humanism," and rejects all that is systematized in thought as a depersonalizing distraction from being, which he terms "hominism". This enables him to appreciate the spark of personal insight, and his extensive writings and personal appearances interpreting the long history of philosophy has been a major contribution to the renewal of philosophical interests in post-Soviet times.

He proposes what he terms philotophy or philosophy as a love of nature and of peace. This constitutes an axiological-ethical system of values which gain ontological meaning. The effect is to focus philosophy upon being in its concrete existential meaning as life. But the position seems too iconoclastic, for focusing on existence, it omits or completely subordinates essence on which all formal universalization and systematic work depends. His existential outlook is a characteristically 20th century insight, from which point of view all prior thought is dismissed.

In contrast, the emergence of existence in late ancient times and its evolution through the early and high middle ages was a work of high theory, very much dependent upon systematic theoretical elaboration. Moreover, this was elaborated in a religious context. In fact, this exercised an effect to that feared by Sliogeris: rather than closing the mind in preset and limited categories it constituted a process in which the mind was opened to the transcendence and infinity of being and thereby defies all limitation and categorization. As noted in recent post modern discussions on faith and reason faith is now called upon to liberate reason, which had fallen into low estate on both sides during the Cold War.

This can be seen in Chapter XVI, "Rethinking the Philosophy of Culture: Lithuania and the Western Tradition" by Marius-Povilas Saulauskas, philosopher and leader of the Liberal Party. His response to the ideology of Marxism has been to take on the alternate, liberal ideology and to follow closely the path of Karl Popper. Here the strategy is similar to that of Meskauskas: by elaborating the nominalist position and focusing upon its skeptical character it frees the mind from principles and convictions, except the decision to be "free from". But one must ask whether the resulting anarchistic atomism can enable one to engage one’s freedom ("freedom for") in the building or rebuilding of a nation.

It was one of the major misinterpretations of the end of the Cold War that since one side, Marxism, was wrong, the other (liberalism) must be right. This would be true only if the basic rationalist suggestion from which they both derive was correct. What was at first unsuspected, but has been driven home by the post-modern critique is that the problem is more fundamental and lies in the reductionist rationalism which rejects all that is not clear and distinct to the human mind. This effectively reduces the human mind to only what is common by abstraction and subject to artificial construction by the human mind. The infinite variety, creative freedom and spiritual meaning of life is omitted. It foresees a brave "hominized" world, to use the term of A. Sliogers, but one that is dehumanized and dehumanizing.

In view of the above the work done by the two expatriate Lithuanian philosophers, A. Greimas and V. Kavolis has special significance. They were not forced to begin as it were ex ovo, but were able to elaborate their thinking in a rich and continuous tradition of philosophizing continually subject to critique and enrichment by other currents of thought.

At the same time they did not merely enter into those currents to imitate others, but brought to their work special insights from their Lithuanian background. This can be seen in Chapter XVII, "Algirdas Greimas in Lithuania and in the World," by Zilvinas Beliauskas, who describes the role of A. Greimas in the development of the science of Semiotics. His appreciation of the significance of formal patterns, quite contrary to the existential orientation of many of his countrymen, may well reflect the position of his culture between East and West. His dictionary made a pioneering contribution. His work is typically Lithuanian, in the way in which it carries the Semiotic discussion beyond mere signs to meaning, thereby remaining engaged in life and its achievement.

Perhaps more characteristic, especially in the efforts to redevelop identities for new countries, is the work of V. Kavolis described in Chapter XVIII, "Vytautas Kavolis as Social and Cultural Critic," by Leonidas Donskis. Drawing upon the heritage of his Lithuanian predecessors described in Part III above, he was able to play a leading role in bringing forward the hermeneutic potentialities of existential phenomenology for a restoration and renewal of the sense of cultural tradition, no longer as mere habits from the past, but as a dynamic and transforming dimension of the newly emerging, post-Cold War human sensibilities.

His work unites a number of the elements underlined above: the new appreciation of subjectivity, the importance this gives to teleology and human purpose, the way in which this is shaped in the form of a concrete culture, and the way in which this draws individual persons beyond themselves into society.

In this light Kavolis has been able to draw on the liberal position regarding the dignity and rights of the person, but to carry this beyond defense of minimum standards for isolated individuals into cultural patterns of social cooperation and community which can attract and inspire.

This does not constitutes a conclusion to the story of Lithuanian philosophy, but challenges its young philosophers to continue the process of freeing the country from its post World War II ideology including the fear of reengaging its own cultural and religious traditions. Especially, it points to the work of unfolding new riches from its culture as a basis for the social reconstruction of the new millennium. Lithuania is a country at once old and new; the same must be true of its philosophy.

George F. McLean
http://www.crvp.org/
Council for Research in Values and Philosophy

Chapter 1 THE SEARCH FOR AUTHENTICITY

noreply@blogger.com (paulwarnz@warnagiris.org (CDW)) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:21:00 +0000

Chapter 1
LITHUANIAN PHILOSOPHY:

THE SEARCH FOR AUTHENTICITY

JURATE BARANOVA

This book is an attempt to present Lithuanian philosophical thought, its history, main ideas and personalities. The idea was suggested in reading Czech Philosophy in the 20th Century1.

A superficial glance at two philosophical traditions — Czech and Lithuanian — shows two different orientations of the philosophical mind. Reading the volume about Czech philosophy, one can discern rather strong trends of positivism, phenomenology and structuralism, all set within the notable spiritual tradition of Central Europe. In the Lithuanian philosophical tradition these three kinds of philosophy historically had no decisive influence. In the time between the wars only Vosylius Sezemanas was influenced both by neo-Kantians and by phenomenology. Two other eminent Lithuanian philosophers, Stasys Salkauskis and Antanas Maceina, were decisively influenced by the Russian religious thinkers Vladimir Soloviov and Nikolai Berdiaiev. Religious existentialism prevailed over other types of philosophy.

Only very contemporary Lithuanian philosophers have focused on analytic philosophy (Professor Evaldas Nekrasas, Professor Rolandas Povilionis), phenomenology (Tomas Sodeika), structuralism (Vida Gumauskaite, b. 1941). The chapter "Czech Protestantism and Philosophy" could have no parallel in our volume, as Catholicism was the dominant religious tradition.

The Lithuanian philosophical tradition has the same problem as Czech or any other Central or East European philosophy. No one philosophical school or trend takes its origin in Lithuania; ideas were imported from the West or from the East. The reasons for that can be sought in the historical background. Lithuania geographically is a border of the West. The concept of being "between" the West and the East has been used to interpret the peculiarities of our culture by some native and even foreign thinkers. This paradoxical place of Lithuania as being "between" was noticed by British historian Arnold J. Toynbee who found this place for Lithuania in the stage of his dramatic theater of the growth and collapse of civilizations.2

Any serious analyst would consider Lithuanian history in the 13th and 14th centuries to be somewhat paradoxical. One might wonder why our Lithuanian forefathers did not bother to create a Lithuanian alphabet in order to keep their national identity independent from other languages? Instead, they were galloping from one sea (Baltic) to another (Black) like Mongols, Tartars or landbound Vikings.

Toynbee gives an explanation of the source of such aggressiveness in the Lithuanians. As the last pagan country in Europe Lithuania suffered military aggression from the Christian West. In the 13th century, the Teutonic Orders concentrated pressure upon it. The Lithuanians were incited to fight, and marched to the Eastern lands. The pressure was transformed into martial power, which at first was used against neighbors, but later, when the pressure had become persistent, was turned against the Western enemies themselves.

According to Toynbee, such Lithuanian reaction to the pressure by the Teutonic knights is reflected even in the Lithuanian coat-of-arms which depicted a rider with a sword, wearing peasant shoes. This almost barbaric man galloped to Tanenberg and defeated the amazed knights (the battle of Grunwald). However, the Lithuanians were able to do this only after they had accepted the religion, culture and martial techniques of their enemies.

Later on, the energy of history turned in the opposite direction. The Lithuanian pressure on Russian lands induced retaliation. Those lands were united under the Moscovy, and stood against Lithuania. Then Lithuania was to face a new pressure from the East — states Toynbee after the manner of a commentator on a dynamic sports match. It could not withstand the pressure and perished together with Poland. Toynbee’s interpretation of Lithuanian history suggests that while other nations were cherishing their philosophy and arts our ancestors had to waste their energy on battles.

As pointed out by Lithuanian history professor Edvardas Gudavicius, Lithuania is the latecomer to Latin civilization.3 Almost all European nations had joined the Latin cultural domain by the 11th century. Lithuania lagged behind the other Central European countries by some 400 years and found itself within the bounds of Latin civilization only in the 14th century. On the other hand, as Lithuanian philosopher Professor Arvydas Sliogeris noted, we philosophize starting not from "pure experience", but from "pure word" — from somebody else’s text.4 It is very difficult to answer to the question whether there was authentic philosophy in Lithuania or if there is now. According to Sliogeris, philosophizing is not a characteristic feature of Lithuanian mentality. The Lithuanian looks more at the earth than at the sky. And if he looks at the sky, he does not see in it the same things as discerned by Plato — pure ideas. For this reason, according to Sliogeris, the Lithuanian flight of thought lacks metaphysics. Many contemporary researchers who deal with the tradition of Lithuanian philosophy do not share Sliogeris’s point of view. Nevertheless, the question of the authenticity of our philosophical thought remains open. The plausible answer is the one suggested by Professor Romanas Pleckaitis, who used to repeat to the students studying philosophy at Vilnius University : "We are not philosophers, only commentators and investigators of philosophical texts".

Philosophical culture in Lithuania is a culture of academic lectures, notes Alvydas Jokubaitis (philosophy lecturer from the "younger generation") in one of his articles, which provoked vivid disagreement and interesting debate.5 "Our philosophical texts are created only at the cost of good references"; "in Lithuania, it seems, we only duplicate duplicates", continues Jokubaitis. But nevertheless he does not use an argumentum ad hominem. "The reason for the dependency and lack of originality of Lithuanian philosophers lies not in intellectual powerlessness as creators, but in the fact that all our philosophical traditions till now float only behind the huge ice-breaker of Western philosophy". Is the way of the smaller and less visible following ship without meaning? Not at all; every tradition has its value in itself. And the concept of originality has several aspects: some ideas are original because they are expressed for the first time in the history of humankind, some — in the history of the nation, some — in the context of the contemporary generation. In one sense ideas can be called original when they make a deep impression on the philosopher’s mind for the first time, regardless of their origin or context. This is the sense of the title of this volume "Lithuanian Philosophy: Personalities and Ideas".

Part I, "Lithuanians: History and Culture" consists of four essays about some aspects of the historical and cultural tradition of the Lithuanian nation. The Dean of the Faculty of History of Vilnius University, Alfredas Bumblauskas (b. 1956) and the professor of the same faculty, Edvardas Gudavicius (b. 1929), present sketches on Lithuanian history. Two members of the Lithuanian Institute of Culture and Art, Gintaras Beresnevicius (b. 1961) and Vytautas Berenis (b. 1963), discuss the old and new Lithuanian mythology.

Part II, "Academic Philosophy through the Centuries", Professor Romanas Pleckaitis of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology presents a broad historical review of the lectures in philosophy at Kaunas University and in logic at Vilnius University through the centuries. Professor Pleckaitis states that philosophical studies at Vilnius Jesuit College began in 1571, which date can be considered the beginning of philosophy in Lithuanian academic life. Croate Professor T. Zdelaric (who unfortunately died one year later in a plague) began to teach logic, the first discipline of scholastic philosophy. Scholastic philosophy in the 16th and 17th centuries was studied extensively in other Lithuanian schools as well.

R. Pleckaitis concludes that Lithuania had a rather normal level of late medieval philosophy, that discussion between nominalists and realists retains its significance even until now, and that the level of the study of logic was rather high. Not all historians of Lithuanian culture are committed to the conception of "Lithuania lagging behind the West." Professor Pleckaitis stresses more the achievements of Lithuanian philosophy through the ages.

Part III, "Philosophy between the Two World Wars," is represented by the "golden age" of Lithuanian philosophy: Vydunas (Vilhelmas Storosta, 1868-1953), Stasys Salkauskis (1886-1941), Antanas Maceina (1908-1987), Juozas Girnius (1915-1994) and Vosylius Sezemanas (1884-1963).

Vydunas was not an academic professor, never graduated from the university and created no philosophical system. He philosophized like an ancient sage, caring for moral development. Vydunas was influenced by Indian philosophy, the Bhagavadgita being his main text. He was a unique philosopher in the rather Catholic Lithuanian culture. The chairman of "Vydunas society", the director of the Institute of Philosophy and Culture, Vaclovas Bagdonavicius, presents the main ideas of Vydunas which were closely connected with the magic of his personality.

Stasys Salkauskis was perhaps the first eminent Lithuanian philosopher and pedagogue and the last rector of Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas between the two wars. He was influenced by Russian philosopher Vladimir Soloviov and afterwards by neo-Thomism. Philosophy for him was a means for the upbringing of the nation, for which he created an original philosophy of culture and stated the task for the Lithuanian nation as being the union of two cultural traditions — from the East and from the West. Arunas Sverdiolas (b. 1949),6 in his article "Philosophy of Stasys Salkauskis," identifies different aspects of the influences and aspects of Salkauskis’s philosophy: the discrepancy between his practical and theoretical philosophy, his philosophy of culture and the relation of culture and religion. Sverdiolas concludes that the Promethean tragedy about which Salkauskis writes is not final as in Salkauskis’s understanding, for culture is not the highest sphere of life, but is surpassed by a further step towards religion.

Salkauskis’s ideas influenced his student Antanas Maceina — the other eminent Lithuanian philosopher. Antanas Maceina studied philology, left it for theology, afterwards returned, and finally decided to study philosophy and pedagogy. He was promoted to doctor of philosophy with the thesis "Tautinis auklejimas" (National Education, Kaunas, 1934). The next year he wrote his habilitation thesis, "Ugdomasis Veikimas" (Character Development). Maceina, as well as his teacher Salkauskis, analyzed the philosophy of culture Kulturos filosofijos ivadas (Introduction to the Philosophy of Culture) and a series of articles "Kulturos sinteze ir lietuviskoji kultura" (Synthesis of Culture and Lithuanian Culture). Just before the war he published two widely known books: in one, Socialinis teisingumas (Social Justice) he wrote as a social critic; in the other he reflected the historiosophic vision of Russian philosopher, Nikolai Berdiaiev, Burzuazijos zlugimas (The Fall of the bourgeoisie).

After the war he lived in Germany as private docent, gave courses on Russian philosophy and East European spiritual history at the universities of Frieburg and Munster (Germany), and lectured on the philosophy of religion. In a series of books Antanas Maceina discusses the existential questions of being, and deals with the old theodicy puzzle concerning the genesis and justification of evil: Didysis inkvizitorius (The Grand Inquisitor), Jobo drama (The Drama of Job) and Nieksybes paslaptis (The Secret of Meanness). Maceina also discussed questions very close to theology and dealt with contemporary problems of secularization and the relation of religion and evolutionism. In 1978 The Lithuanian Catholic Academy of Sciences published his opus magnum, Filosofijos kilme ir prasme (The Origin and Meaning of Philosophy).

Maceina’s philosophical conception in this volume is presented by the article of Ruta Tumenaite. In the paper "Two Existentialists: Antanas Maceina and Juozas Girnius" she compares the different influences and types of existential thinking by the two main Lithuanian existentialists. Tumenaite focuses more on the differences between these two philosophers, noting that Maceina, because of his openness to the tradition of Russian philosophy is subject to problems of intellectual integrity, which Juozas Girnius, who is open to Western philosophy, does not encounter. These standards of evaluation, however, come more from ideological than from philosophical discourse.

Juozas Girnius experienced influences very similar to those of Antanas Maceina. Both shared the same fate, leaving in 1944 to spend the rest of their lives far away from their native country: Maceina in Germany, Girnius in the United States. They both had the same teacher Stasys Salkauskis who, from his studies at Moscow University, was deeply influenced by the Russian philosopher, Vladimir Soloviov. During his studies Girnius spent some time at such Western universities as Leuven, Freiburg, Sorbonne, College de France. In Freiburg he attended Martin Heidegger’s lectures and his seminar, and in his works refers more to Western than to Eastern philosophers.

Existential thinking was only one aspect of Girnius’s philosophy. The other was religious faith. His main book, The Man without God, is a polemic mostly on atheistic existentialism. According to Girnius, a man is not only a necessity of nature, but has spirituality as well, which opens the possibility for freedom. Because of freedom a man becomes a moral being, but then faces the possibility of guilt. The longing for moral purity, like that for eternity, is the source of deep anxiety for man. But, asks Girnius rhetorically in a polemic with atheistic existentialism, if there is no God who can forgive man’s guilt? Philosophy has no autonomy in dealing with the questions of human being and hence Girnius did not see a gap between philosophy and literature. He considered Dostojevskij’s, Faulkner’s and other writers’ works to reveal the secluded corners of the human soul more than did the schematic works of some philosophers. But philosophers can take much for their reflection from the works of writers.

The Western philosophical tradition in academic life between the wars was taught by two newcomers to Lithuania — emigrants from Russia — Vosylius Sezemanas (1884-1963) and Levas Karsavinas (1882-1952). Levas Karsavinas was invited to Lithuania in 1928 as professor at Kaunas and Vilnius Universities to deal with the theory of history. He wrote about the methodological premises of historical investigation, stating that no historical theory can escape metaphysics. Discussing the subject of history, Karsavinas stated that it is "socially active humanity", which realizes itself through individual cultures — Indian, Ancient, Russian, European and so on. The culture of humanity is the "multiversal unity" of these cultures. Two of his works Philosophy of History (1923), and About Origins (1926) were published in Russian. His later works Theory of History (1929),7 The History of European Culture (1931-1937, v. 1-5) and Metaphysics of History (typed, 1940-1947) were in Lithuanian.

Vosylius Sezemanas was born in Finland, of Swedish and German descent, and had lived in St. Petersburg. He studied philosophy and psychology at Marburg and Berlin Universities and was a professor at St. Petersburg and Saratov Universities. In 1921 he left Russia and in 1923 was invited to Lithuanian State University in Kaunas. Loreta Anilionyte and Albinas Lozuraitis in their chapter "Vosylius Sezemanas: His Critical Philosophy," discuss the circumstances of his life, personality and spheres of philosophical interests. Sezemanas was influenced by the neo-kantians and phenomenology. The starting point for his original philosophical thinking was epistemology. Recently a collection of Sezemanas’s writings has been published including his studies on the philosophy of history and general questions of the philosophy of culture. Karsavinas and Sezemanas, experienced the same fate: during Soviet times both were exiled to Siberia; Sezemanas returned and lectured until his death; Karsavinas died in Komi.

The six philosophers discussed above compose the kernel of the "golden age" between the wars in Lithuania. The tradition is broader, of course. One should mention Ramunas Bytautas (1886-1915) — the first Lithuanian professional philosopher, psychologist and publicist; Pranas Kuraitis (1883-1964) — professor of Kaunas University and a follower of Thomas Aquinas; Vladimiras Silkarskis (1884-1960) — historian of literature and philosopher, professor of Tartu, Vilnius, Kaunas and Bonn Universities, who wrote about Plato, Socrates, Baruch Spinoza and Vladimir Solovjov; Jonas Sliupas (1861-1944) — the representative of vulgar materialism; Izidorius Tamosaitis (1889-1943) — professor from Kaunas University, who was one of the first in Lithuania to write about anthropology and the theory of values; Adomas Jakstas-Dambrauskas (1860-1938) — philosopher and theologian who discussed religious, aesthetic and world-view questions in the press and also was influenced by Vladimir Solovjov.

Intellectuals who were not professors were engaged in creating a public philosophical culture. One of them, Julijonas Linde-Dobilas (1877-1934), like many Lithuanian thinkers of this epoch, was a universal author writing fiction, aesthetics, literary and cultural criticism. One can read about his ideas and their place in the common culture in Almantas Samalavicius’s article "Beyond the Philosophy of Culture: the Case of Julijonas Linde-Dobilas".

Fabijonas Kemesis (1879-1945) is not well known to contemporary readers in Lithuania. One can find only one fragment of his ideas in the school anthology on Lithuanian philosophy where Adolfas Poska presents an article concerning his social view. Kemesis was a canon, economist, professor and teacher of Christian social thought.

Oskaras Milasius (1877-1939) is a paradoxical and interesting phenomenon in Lithuanian culture. He never lived in Lithuania but was born and spent his childhood in Cereja (near Mogiliov, Byelorussia) and graduated from Janson de Sailly Lycee in Paris. His longing for his fatherland was more metaphysical. Having to choose between two conflicting countries — Lithuania and Poland — he preferred Lithuania which for him was an idea even more than a fatherland. In 1920 when France recognized the independence of Lithuania, he was appointed officially as Charge d’Affairs for Lithuania. He published: 1928, a collection of 26 Lithuanian songs; 1930, "Lithuanian Tales and Stories"; 1933, "Lithuanian Tales"; 1937, "The origin of the Lithuanian Nation", in which he tried to persuade the reader that Lithuanians have the same origin as Jews from the Pyrenees peninsula. Can one consider Oskar Milosz as an investigator of Lithuanian culture; was he only a poet, or a philosopher as well? Andrius Konickis, the author of the book about Oskar Milosz,8 writes that there are many ways of expressing philosophical insights; Oskar Milosz had his own way.

Part IV, "Contemporary Lithuanian Philosophy," presents some texts about contemporary thinkers, but they are only a few of the most visible philosophers; the spectrum is much broader.

The group of professional philosophers (professors, scholars, critics of philosophical texts) in Lithuania can be divided into several groups: those who studied Karl Marx and wrote books or textbooks interpreting first of all Marxist philosophy; other philosophers dealt more with the tradition of contemporary Western philosophy; a very small group dealt with the tradition of Eastern philosophy (e.g. Professor A. Andrijauskas, b. 1948). The group of those who went deeper in the tradition of Lithuanian philosophical thought is also not numerous (e.g. Dr. V. Bagdonavicius, b. 1941, etc.). As usual, interest in the "history of philosophy" was shared between the Western tradition and Lithuanian thought.

In one sense one can discern two different trends in the general Marxist tradition. Eastern Soviet style Marxism was more ideological, more orientated to practical political needs. Western Marxism is more sophisticated, elaborated as a method of social criticism. The dominant Marxist tradition in Lithuania was Western in type. Professor Eugenijus Meskauskas (1909-1997) treated Marxist philosophy as a sophisticated kind of scientific methodology and a critical theory of ideology. Professor Arvydas Sliogeris (b. 1944) in his paper "Lithuanian Philosophical Thought: between East and West" writes that Professor E. Meskauskas’s orientation towards scientific thinking began to destroy Soviet Marxist ideology from within. This idea caused heated arguments. Was not sophisticated Marxism more dangerous, because it was more capable of seducing minds than the more simple version? — on this there were contrusting views. In any case, the Professor’s lectures were popular, and the level of philosophical reasoning attracted listeners from other humanities faculties.

A typical phenomenon in Lithuania was so-called half-Marxism. Under the screen of Marxist philosophy various ideas and conceptions were developed. Students of another Marxist philosopher Juozas Vytautas Vinciunas (1929-1979) remember his Socratic method in discussions with students. Jonas Repsys (1930-1976) — professor from the same department of philosophy at the University in Vilnius — was among the first there to write about existentialism. Krescencijus Stoskus (b. 1938) is a well-known specialist on aesthetics.9 Albinas Lozuraitis (b. 1934) wrote on the problems of epistemology and the theory of values.10 Justinas Karosas (b. 1937) dealt with the materialistic conception of history and ideology and at the same time wrote about hermeneutics and the "Frankfurt School".

The tradition of studies in the history of philosophy was not less influential than the tradition of Marxist philosophy during the 1970s and 80s in Lithuanian philosophical culture. Professor Romanas Pleckaitis (b. 1933) — a doctoral student of Vosilius Sezemanas — represented an "historical approach" towards philosophy. Pleckaitis is well known as a scholar of Lithuanian philosophy in the 16th to 18th centuries and translated the main works of Immanuel Kant into the Lithuanian language.11 Professor Bronius Genzelis (b. 1934) dealt with the history of philosophy in Lithuania as well.12 Professor Kristina Rickeviciute13 (1922-1984) — a doctoral student of Vosilius Sezemanas — was a remarkable lecturer and specialist on ancient philosophy and on the classical German tradition. Professor Bronius Kuzmickas (b. 1935) wrote mostly on the questions of modern Catholicism, national culture, aesthetics, ethics and self-consciousness.14

Some professional philosophers in Lithuania are also well known politicians. The first one was Arvydas Juozaitis (b. 1956). After his doctoral thesis on Wilhelm Dilthey in 1986, two years later he became the main spiritual leader in the fight for Lithuanian independence. Afterwards he did not participate in institutional political life, but regularly took part in ardent public debates, usually expressing oppositional positions. His role is similar to Socrates in not entering state institutions, but always discussing, criticizing and thus influencing political action. Some other philosophers follow the model of Plato’s philosopher-king. The Rector of Vilnius University, Rolandas Pavilionis (b. 1944), introduced to Lithuanian philosophy the Western analytical tradition focused upon language. Recently he ran for President. Bronius Kuzmickas, Bronius Genzelis, Justinas Karosas, Albinas Lozuraitis, Romualdas Ozolas, Gema Jurkunaite, Mecys Laurinkus, Zibartas Jackunas and others for some time have been members of the Lithuanian parliament. Leonarda Jekentaite, the neo-Freudian scholar, is now Director General of UNESCO in Lithuania.

One of the leaders of "Sajudis" — the mass movement which led Lithuania to the independence in the 1990 — was Vytautas Radzvilas (b. 1958) who only two years earlier had completed his thesis on the history of French personalism. He was one of the founders of the Lithuanian liberal union, which for some time was reputed as a party of philosophers. He led this party until the electoral disaster in 1992, after which almost all philosophers left this Party.

During the period of transition Lithuanian society needed new ideas for structuring social life. The most active philosophers in suggesting new approaches in political discourse were libertarians. Some of them — Algirdas Degutis (b. 1951) and Audronis Raguotis (b. 1952) — tried to impose a rather strict type of libertarianism on the Lithuanian mentality. This tradition collapsed as a social movement, and the financial supporters of this "new capitalism" have been imprisoned after financial misfortunes. But academic research is going its own way. Degutis has published a book Valdininku reketo salis (The Country of Criminal Bureaucracy, 1993), and prepared another for publication Individualizmas ir visuomenine tvarka" (Individualism and the Social Order) and translated more than ten books on liberertarianism into Lithuanian. Grazina Miniotaite (b. 1948) has been dealing with contemporary moral philosophy. Recently she published a book about the history of the peaceful liberation of Lithuania, an analytical study of contemporary history. Paradoxically, it is published also in Chinese.

Professional philosophers not only promoted political life in Lithuania, but also contributed greatly to developing new sociological thought. Aleksandras Dobryninas (b. 1955) left the Department of Philosophy at Vilnius University to establish a new Department of Social Theory at the same University, of which he is the head. The members of this department are mostly professional philosophers. For example, Arunas Poviliunas (b. 1958), who wrote his thesis on the philosophy of history, now is engaged in empirical social research on the historical consciousness in Lithuania. Virginijus Valentinavicius (b. 1955) left for journalism and is a commentator for Radio "Free Europe" in Prague.

A small group of professionals is now doing the less visible but necessary everyday academic work in Lithuania. The main core of our professional philosophers of "middle generation" had grown out of the tradition of the "history of philosophy ". Tomas Sodeika (b. 1949) is well known as a specialist on phenomenology and a remarkable lecturer as well. He developed the specialization in philosophy and is its head at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas. Arunas Sverdiolas (b. 1949) is a specialist on hermeneutics and the philosophy of culture, as well as being a translator. Professor Evaldas Nekrasas15 (b. 1945) is the head of the Department of Philosophy at Vilnius University, He wrote extensively on questions of the analytical philosophy of science, especially of probabilistic knowledge, and investigated logical empiricism in Western philosophy.

Recently two serious and interesting academic studies have been published. Besides Arunas Sverdiolas’s book, Steigtis ir sauga, one should mention the monograph Istorika (Vilnius, 1996) written by Zenonas Norkus (b. 1958). He is a specialist on the methodology of historical knowledge, the history of Austrian philosophy, (the Brentano school) and the works of Max Weber. His book, Istorika, with the same title as a book by the German philosopher, J. Droysen, is an investigation of the basic premises of historical research from antiquity till the present. In fifteen chapters he follows how history became independent from rhetoric, its scientific pretensions, the period of historism and attempts to surpass this. The author discerns three philosophical paradigms — ontological, mentalistic and linguistic — which influenced the changes in understanding the premises of historical investigations and resulted in five forms of the theory of history: rhetoric, historicist, critical, analytical and narrativist. This is the first of this type since the work of Karsavin in historical theory in prewar Lithuania.

Alvydas Jokubaitis (b. 1959) translates and discusses postmodern authors and contemporary political philosophy. Two of his articles "Lietuvos filosofine tradicija postmodernizmo akivaizdoje" (The Lithuanian Philosophical Tradition in the Face of Postmodernism) and "Du filosofiniai rezimai" (Two Philosophical Regimes) were the first articles speaking openly and touching on painful points of contemporary Lithuanian philosophy. No article has evoked more vivid discussion about philosophy in Lithuania. Recently he published a book Postmodernizmas ir konservatizmas (Postmodernism and Conservatism, 1997), in which he argues that postmodern discourse is not possible without conservatism.

Leonidas Donskis (b. 1962), the head of the Department of Philosophy at Klaipeda University, writes on topics of philosophy and culture. His books, Moderniosios kulturos filosofijos metmenys (The Outlines of Modern Philosophy of Culture, 1993), Moderniosios samones konfiguracijos (The Configurations of Modern Consciousness, 1994) and Tarp vaizduotes ir realybes (Between Imagination and Reality, 1995), interpret Oswald Spengler’s, Arnold Joseph Toynbee’s and Lewis Mumford’s conceptions of culture. This special interest of this very productive and engaging author is modern myth and its philosophical reflection. He enthusiastically participates in debates about specific characteristics of modern Lithuanian culture: its openness and closedness, its ethnocultural fundamentalism and the dogmatic character of a monological culture.

A new specialization for teaching philosophy in high school has been established at Vilnius Pedagogical University. The Philosophy Department of this university has already published the fourth issue of the philosophical journal Man and Society. The main and perhaps the only other philosophical journal in Lithuania is Problemos (Problems), initiated in 1968 and published semi-annually by philosophers at Vilnius University. The authors of Man and Society include: Jurate Baranova (1955), Rita Serpytyte (1954), Nijole Lomaniene (1953) and Liutauras Degesys (1953)16 and some from Vilnius University: Marius Povilas Saulauskas (1961),17 Zenonas Norkus and Arvydas Sliogeris.

Does this journal and specialization, indeed does philosophy itself, have enough energy and potential sources to survive?

Philosophical culture is created not only by lectures and an academic public; it needs public discourse. To live it needs influence, not only on politics, but perhaps even more in the other spheres of culture? Cultural critics and publishers can do much in encouraging one or another tradition. The editor of the well known cultural journal Kulturos barai, Branys Savukynas, always encourages articles on philosophy and translations, as do the editors of the journal Baltos lankos, Saulius Zukas, and Proskynos, Antanas Gailius. A promising group of young philosophy scholars gathers around the Catholic culture magazine Naujasis zidinys ("The New Hearth"). The director of the publishing house "Aidai", Vytautas Alisauskas, encourages the young generation of intellectuals to write reviews and articles about philosophical books.

Arvydas Juozaitis is a chief editor of Naujoji Romuva, a journal which publishes texts mostly on cultural life; almost every issue includes philosophical essays or translations.

Writer Vytautas Rubavicius (b. 1952) did much to bring philosophers and writers closer together in Lithuania. For years he wrote essays and reviews on philosophical books for the literary newspaper Literatura ir menas ("Literature and Art"). His special interests were M. Heidegger and postmodern authors and culture. His reviews were recently published as Neivardijamos laisves zenklas ("The Sign of Unnamed Freedom") (Vilnius, 1997).

Perhaps no one in Lithuania has been as able and productive in sharing his energy between participation in public discourse and academic writing as Professor Arvydas Sliogeris (b. 1944).18 He writes huge books on philosophy (e.g. Transcendencijos tyla ["The Silence of Transcendence"] has 800 pages) and step by step has become a TV personality, participating in public debates and presenting ardent challenging reflections. Sliogeris is not simply an historian of philosophy or interpreter of texts, but speaks a lot about other philosophers (e.g. S. Kierkegaard, A. Camus, F. Nietzsche etc.); his interpretation is very personal so that his writings reveal much of his own insights. He has his own intonations in philosophical discourse and has created his own philosophical vocabulary. Besides the chapter "Lithuanian Philosophical Thought: Between East and West" by A. Sliogeris himself, this volume includes the study by Regimantas Tamosaitis "Arvydas Sliogeris: the Knight of Being".

Contemporary Lithuanian philosophy is not a geographically restricted phenomenon; emigrants too are considered Lithuanian philosophers. The present volume presents two articles about contemporary Lithuanian thinkers abroad. Zilvinas Beliauskas presents a paper "Algirdas Greimas in Lithuania and Abroad" about Algirdas Julius Greimas (1917-1992). Greimas was one of the creators of semiotics. He considered semiotics as a method for the humanities and applied it to the analysis of language, history and literature. Greimas was born in 1917 in Tula (Russia) and the following year his parents returned to Lithuania, where Greimas graduated from the gymnasium in Marijampole and entered the faculty of Law in Vytautas Magnus University. In 1939 on a grant from the Lithuanian Ministry of Education he went for France for studies in languages and dialects, returned to Lithuania to fulfill his military service in 1944 and left for France to get his doctor’s degree in Sorbonne. For nine years he taught the history of the French language at Alexandria University in Egypt. Beliauskas in his article presents the broad theoretical and historical context which influenced Greimas’s approach to semiotics. Greimas had a rather vivid and ironical mind. He was interested in what was going on Lithuania and wrote about it critically, searching for paradoxes and encouraging critical thinking.

Vytautas Kavolis (1930-1996), a sociologist living in the United States, kept intense and deep relations with Lithuanian matters as well. He was an editor of the journal Metmenys and wrote books on the sociology and psychology of culture in English and Lithuanian. Leonidas Donskis, who considers himself a student of Kavolis with whom he collaborated in giving lectures at Dickinson College in the US, presents a rather broad and rich postmortem review about the works and ideas of his teacher. Presenting Kavolis as a theoretician of civilization and a sociologist of culture, Donskis pays more attention to Kavolis’s social and cultural criticism and the peculiarities of his liberalism (versus nationalism), where he finds some parallels to Martin Buber. Both were thinkers of withdrawal and return (using Arnold J. Toynbee’s term); both severely and consistently criticized what they perceived as their imagined communities which eventually come into being as nation states; and both had particular intellectual sensibility which Donskis calls theoretical and moral empathy.

The full range of the distinguished Lithuanian philosophers living and working abroad is not covered by this volume. Algis Mickunas (b. 1933), professor in Ohio University (USA), keeps in touch with the philosophical culture in Lithuania; his work Phenomenological Philosophy is translated into Lithuanian. Professor Antanas Paskus (b. 1924), clergyman and psychologist, is author of some books in Lithuanian, Christian and today, Evolution and Christianity, Consciousness, etc., and lectures for students in Lithuania. Kestutis Girnius (b. 1945), son of Juozas Girnius, is more of a political analyst, but also a philosopher who permanently participates in Lithuanian cultural life. Vincas Vycinas (b. 1919) is a scholar of Martin Heidegger who lives in the United States; Juozas Leonas Navickas (b. 1928) treats problems of ethics and has written Consciousness and Reality: Hegel’s Subjective Idealism (1976).

Kestutis Skrupskelis (b. 1938 in Kaunas) works in the history of philosophy, focusing on American pragmatism. He was one of the editors of a critical edition of the writings of William James (in 17 volumes), and now has edited James’s letters (published in 3 volumes) and published a bibliography of books about William James.

There is special interest in philosophers who can be considered "Lithuanian" only by the ending of their names, e.g., Emmanuel Levinas (born in Kaunas, Lithuania) or Alphonso Lingis.

This volume is a first attempt to present the tradition of Lithuanian philosophy to the English speaking reader. We ask to be excused by the many deserving philosophers we have not mentioned or for whom broader articles are lacking here because of limited possibilities. This volume has been prepared with the collaboration of the Institute of Sociology and Philosophy. It is a beginning.

Vilnius Pedagogical University

Department of Philosophy

NOTES

1. Edited by Lubomir Novy, Jiri Gabriel, Jaroslav Hroch and published by general editor, George F. McLean, in the broad publishing project of The Council for Research in Values and Philosophy "Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Change" in the series devoted to Eastern and Central Europe.

2. A. Toynbee, Postizenije istorii (Moskva, 1991), pp. 142-146.

3. E. Gudavicius, Latecomer to Latin Civilization, Lithuania in the World.

4. A. Sliogeris, "Lietuvos filosofine mintis: tarp Rytu ir Vakaru" in the work Konservatoriaus ispazintys, 1988-1994 metu tekstai (Vilnius, 1995), pp. 95-109.

5. A. Jokubaitis "Lietuvos filosofine tradicija postmodernizmo akivaizdoje", Naujasis zidinys, 1994, No. 11; A. Jokubaitis "Du filosofiniai rezimai", ibid., 1995, No.3.

6. The author of the books Kulturos filosofija Lietuvoje (Philosophy of Culture in Lithuania) (Vilnius, 1983) and Steigtis ir sauga (Sketches of Philosophy of Culture, 1996).

7. Translation from Russian into Lithuanian of his book Philosophy of History.

8. A. Konickis, Vienintelej is begalybes vietu nuskirtoj (Vilnius, 1996).

9. Published a book Meno filosofija (Philosophy of Art) (Vilnius, 1990).

10. Published books Tiesa ir vertybe (Truth and Value) (Vilnius, 1980); Metodologiniai marksistines filosofijos bruozai (Methodological features of Marxist philosophy) (Vilnius, 1986).

11. Professor Romanas Pleckaitis described the reasons and conditions for the emergence of philosophy in Lithuania, analyzed the role of Vilnius University in the advancement of philosophy and identified the systems of philosophy in various schools in Lithuania. For his work Feudalizmo laikotarpio filosofija Lietuvoje (Lithuanian Philosophy in the Feudal Epoch. Philosophy in the Schools of Lithuania in the 16th-18th Centuries) (Vilnius, 1975). R. Pleckaitis was awarded the National Prize of Lithuania.

12. Published books: Svietejai ir ju idejos Lietuvoje (Enlighteners and Their Ideas in Lithuania) (Vilnius, 1972); Ese apie mastytojus (Essay about Thinkers); Renesanso filosofijos metmenys (The Sketches of Renaissance Philosophy, 1988); Pasakojimai apie Lietuvos mastytojus (Stories about Lithuanian Thinkers, 1994); Senoves filosofija (Ancient Philosophy, 1995); and Lietuvos filosofijos istorijos bruozai (The Sketches of the History of Philosophy in Lithuania, 1997). For some time B. Genzelis was the Chairman of the Education, Science and Culture of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. He was also among those who signed the Statement of the Restoration of Lithuanian Independence.

13. Antikines filosofijos istorijos bruozai (The Features of the History of Antique philosophy" (Vilnius, 1976).

14. Author of several books: Zmogus ir jo idealai (A Man and His Ideals) (Vilnius, 1975); Siuolaikine katalikiskoji filosofija (Contemporary Catholic Philosophy, 1976); Modernizmas siuolaikineje katalikybeje (Modernism in Contemporary Catholicism, 1976); Laime (Happiness, 1983); Tautos kulturos savimone (The Self-consciousness of National Culture, 1989); editor of selected readings Grozio konturai (The Contours of Beauty, 1980) and Gerio konturai (The Contours of Goodness, 1989). Professor B.J. Kuzmickas is a signer of the Statement of the Restoration of Lithuanian Independence.

15. Published books: Loginis empirizmas ir mokslo metodologija (Logical empiricism and the Methodology of Science, 1979); Tikimybinis zinojimas (Probabilistic knowledge — in Russian 1987 and Polish 1992); Filosofijos ivadas (Introduction to Philosophy, 1993).

16. Jurate Baranova: doctoral thesis "Conception of Truth in the Pragmatism of William James" (1986); three texbooks: Political Philosophy (1995), Philosophy of History (1996), Philosophical Ethics (1997). Liutauras Degesys: doctoral thesis on the philosophy of George Santayana (1985); working on the philosophy of education. Nijole Lomaniene: doctoral thesis on "Ernest Nagel’s Philosophy of Science"; now lecturing on logic, philosophy of science and language. Rita Serpytyte: doctoral thesis "The Role of Legal Consciousness in the Development of Society" (1988); now working on problems of religion, and translating from Italian.

17. Marius-Povilas Saulauskas is the head of Department of Logic and History of Philosophy of Vilnius University. He was one of the founders of the Lithuanian Liberal Union and is its vice-chairman. He is writing on political and social philosophy, social theory, ex-communist societies, and analytic and hermeneutic philosophy. His 1987 doctoral thesis "The Analytic/Hermeneutic Controversy: the Problem of Verstehen — an Historical-methodological Analysis."

18. Main books: Zmogaus pasaulis ir egzistencinis mastymas (Human World and Existentialist Thinking, 1985); Daiktai ir menas (The Things and Art, 1988); Butis ir pasaulis (Being and the World, 1990); Sietuvos (1992); Post scriptum (1992); and Transcendencijos tyla (The Silence of Transcendence, 1996).

http://www.crvp.org/

Council for Research in Values and Philosophy

Chapter 2 GLIMPSES OF LITHUANIAN HISTORY

noreply@blogger.com (paulwarnz@warnagiris.org (CDW)) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:56:00 +0000

Chapter 2
GLIMPSES OF

LITHUANIAN HISTORY

ALFREDAS BUMBLAUSKAS

LITHUANIA — GEOGRAPHICAL CENTER OF EUROPE

It was noted long ago that, if one drew lines on the map of Europe connecting Gibraltar and the northern part of the Urals, Scotland and the Caucasus mountains, the southern islands of Greece and the North of Norway, almost all of those lines would intersect in Lithuania. This is the geographical center of Europe.

Quite recently the French National Geography Institute carried out new calculations, according to which the perpendicular of the center, dropped geographically from the altitude of 180 km, is located 25 km to the north of the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius. These are the co-ordinates of Europe’s center: latitude 54' 55' N, longitude 25' 19' E. Lithuania lies on the same geographical latitude as the westward-situated South Sweden, Denmark, Scotland; the same longitude as Finland to the north and Romania, Bulgaria and Greece to the south.

Lithuania lies on the road between East and West Europe; the most direct route from Germany to Russia crosses Lithuania. The great German eastward assault, as well as that of the Russians to the West, went through Lithuania. Somebody has remarked to this point: "If Switzerland is characterized by high mountains, Italy by its works of art, and Finland by its lakes, then Lithuania should be characterized as a land that is very unsafe for a small nation".

In spite of Lithuania being the center of Europe, it is often considered a part of East Europe. But this is in terms of the country’s geopolitical, not geographical, situation, as it was occupied frequently and made part of the Eastern neighbor in the 19th and 20th centuries. Lithuania belongs to Central Europe from the point of view of its civilization. Unlike Eastern Europe, since the Middle Ages individual peasant farms rather than communities were formed here. A civil society rather than an Eastern despotism was rising; Catholicism and a Western cultural orientation predominated over Orthodoxy and Byzantine civilization.

Today Lithuania guides itself in terms of its politics not only to Central, but also to Northern Europe and desires to maintain good relations with all her neighbors.

MAIN DATA ABOUT LITHUANIA

The state: Official name, the Republic of Lithuania; Highest political body, Supreme Council; System, parliamentary; Republic capital, Vilnius.

Borders: with Latvia, 610 km; with Byelorussia, 724 km; with Poland, 110 km; with Russia, (Kaliningrad region) 303 km; sea border (Baltic Sea), 99 km.

Area: 65.2 sq.km.

Longest distances: from the east to the west, 373 km; from the north to the south, 276 km. Population, 3,723,000; density of population, 57.1 per square kilometer; 68.5 percent of the population resides in towns. Major towns: Vilnius, 592,500; Kaunas, 429,700; Klaipeda, 206,200.

THE MAIN DATES OF LITHUANIA’S HISTORY

- 1009, St. Bruno discovers Lithuania, July 6;

- 1253, Mindaugas, the ruler of the newly formed Lithuanian state, crowned King;

- 1385, by the treaty of Kreva Jogaila, the Grand Duke of Lithuania becomes King of Poland and the rapprochement between Lithuania and Poland commenced;

- 1387, baptism of Lithuania;

- 1410, the battle of Zalgiris (Gruenwald); joint forces of Poland and Lithuania crushed the Teutonic Order, which had greatly menaced the existence of both states;

- 1569, The Lublin Union established a joint Polish-Lithuanian state;

- 1795, Russia, Austria and Prussia divided the Polish-Lithuanian state among themselves, with the larger part of Lithuania going to Russia;

- 1863, the largest uprising, directed against the Russian oppression. Its suppression began a period of very harsh reprisals and Russification;

- February 16, 1918, under German occupation, the Council of Lithuania headed by J. Basanavicius, proclaimed the reconstitution of the independent state of Lithuania;

- June 15, 1940, implementing the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, the Soviet Union invaded the Republic of Lithuania which it then annexed. A puppet government was formed, and the establishment of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic was announced;

- 1944-1953, the period of reprisals, deportations, mass collectivization, organized by thc Soviet Union, and of armed resistance in Lithuania;

- March 11, 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Lithuania proclaimed the reconstitution of The Republic of Lithuania.

THE GRAND DUCHY OF LITHUANIA:

STATE AND CIVILIZATION

Lithuania’s difference from the other two Baltic states — Latvia and Estonia — lies in the fact that in the Middle Ages, from the 13th and up to the 18th century, it had created and sustained its own state, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Its territory extended far to the East (the area of the state was 1 million square kilometers at the beginning of the 15th century). It became a great power and a significant political force in the East and Middle Europe. This enabled it to oppose the aggression of the Teutonic Order and to achieve, together with Poland, the decisive victory at Gruenwald in 1410. For 200 years after the end of the 14th century the Lithuanian dynasty of Jogailaiciai held the throne in Poland (and at the beginning of the 16th century also in Bohemia and Hungary). Most often the representatives of that dynasty ruled both Poland and Lithuania. However, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania remained an independent state till the second half of the 16th century, when the might of the Russian state became perceptibly stronger, and Lithuania was forced to conclude a closer alliance with Poland. In 1569 the joint Polish-Lithuanian state was formed within which the Grand Duchy of Lithuania retained its sovereignty. This is important because European historians often erroneously consider the Polish-Lithuanian state to have been purely Polish and refer to it as Poland. In the 17th and 18th centuries that state experienced economic and political decline. Although at the end of the 18th century attempts to reform and reinforce the state were obstructed by neighboring Russia, Prussia and Austria who in 1795 divided and eliminated the Polish-Lithuanian state, with the main part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Lithuanian territories going to Russia.

After its baptism in 1387, Lithuania took a decisive turn towards Western culture. In the following 200 years it could only study the experiences of other Middle European peoples and try to catch up. The spread of learning in Western universities began to yield its first perceptible results in the 16th century. The printing of books began (1522); the Reformation soon followed, creating the conditions for the appearance of the first Lithuanian book (1547). In 1579 Vilnius University was established.

The process of Europeanization found its expression also in Lithuania’s efforts to develop Gothic and Renaissance architecture. European architecture in Lithuania attained its highest achievements in the Baroque epoch, when a unique and independent Baroque school was formed. Generally the development of the European architectural styles, starting with Gothic and ending with Classicism, are best reflected in the old part of Vilnius, which is an impressive manifestation of the old civilization of Lithuania.

VILNIUS — THE CAPITAL OF LITHUANIA

Vilnius is the historical capital of Lithuania. Some specialists guess that the capital of Mindaugas, the first King of Lithuania, was here. The first written mention of Vilnius was in 1323, when Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, wrote his letters to the Western rulers from Vilnius as his capital.

In 1387, during the baptism of Lithuania, Vilnius acquired the right to self-administration — the Magdeburg Rights. Although Lithuania and Poland had common rulers Scorn that period, some were buried at the Vilnius Cathedral, rather than in Cracow. Vilnius remained the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania also after the joint Polish-Lithuanian state was established and up to its elimination in 1795.

During the formation of the new Lithuanian state, the Act of the Reconstitution of the Independent Lithuanian state was signed in Vilnius in 1918, proclaiming Vilnius the capital of that state. Although the Soviet Union ceded Vilnius and the surrounding area to Lithuania, Poland seized it in 1920. As capital, Vilnius was returned to Lithuania only in 1939.

Now Vilnius is not only the capital of the Republic of Lithuania, but also its largest town. Its population is 592,500 people, among whom 51 percent are Lithuanians, 20 percent are Russians, 19 percent Poles. The area of the town is 26,000 hectares of which forests and parks account for half.

The Neris, Lithuania’s second largest river, flows through Vilnius.

VILNIUS UNIVERSITY

Its sources lie in the Collegium, established by the Jesuits in 1570. On April 1, 1579, the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, Stephen Batory, signed a privilege, according to which the Collegium was transformed into the Academia et Universitas Vilnensis, which was confirmed on October 29, 1579 by Pope Gregory XIII. It was the most easterly of the European universities.

Vilnius University was famous for the high level of its teaching in logic, rhetoric and poetics. The University flourished especially in the Age of Enlightenment, when it began to pay more attention to secular sciences. Adam Mickiewicz, a poet of European fame, was a graduate of Vilnius University. The university functioned till 1832, when it was closed by the authorities of the Russian Empire. When the Poles seized Vilnius, the University began to function once again. Future Nobel prize winner, poet Cz. Milosz, studied at Vilnius University at that time. The University’s activities were resumed after World War I, when Vilnius became part of Poland. After Lithuania regained Vilnius in 1939, the University was reorganized as Lithuanian. At present it contains, among other departments, internationally recognized schools of mathematicians, physicists and Baltic linguistics, all functioning at Vilnius University.

Vilnius University

For more information, go to: http://www.crvp.org/

Chapter 3 A LATECOMER TO LATIN CIVILIZATION: The Lithuanian Way to World History

noreply@blogger.com (paulwarnz@warnagiris.org (CDW)) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:10:00 +0000

EDVARDAS GUDAVICIUS

The history of modern European states dates back to what the well known French historian, Jacques Le Goff, described as "medieval Western civilization". Through the centuries these nations developed a lecture in the Latin tradition. Almost all European nations had joined the Latin cultural domain by the 11th century. Lithuania lagged behind the other Central European countries by some 400 years and took up Latin civilization only in the 14th century.

The Germans played an important role in the Europeanization of Poland, Bohemia, Hungary and Scandinavia. Although there were elements of German colonization, these countries managed to retain their national identity. Poland exerted the strongest cultural influence on Lithuania without colonizing the country. Nevertheless, the Lithuanian nobility adopted the Polish language for everyday communication. What were the reasons behind this process?

First and foremost, Lithuania was a latecomer to Latin Christendom. In the 9th and 11th centuries, Central and Northern European nations were assimilating the culture which spread through the monasteries; written language was not a determining factor in the development of this society. Lithuania absorbed the urban and university culture only in the 14th century. Being without a written language it had to establish an effective literary culture before integrating into Europe.

While Bohemia and Poland took Latin civilization gradually and in small portions that became larger with time, Lithuania adopted it within a very short period. One example, it took 200 years to set up a record-keeping system in Poland, whereas Lithuania’s Grand Duke Vytautas the Great (1392-1430) established on the moment an efficient network of official penmanship. This created a completely different situation with respect to the local language. There were more German colonists in Bohemia and Poland compared to the Poles who had moved to Lithuania, but there were few German scribes there. They had to speak the language of the local residents, which became the cornerstone of learning, although Latin was the prevailing written language of the times.

In Lithuania, however, there was yet another reason for ejecting the Lithuanian language from the society. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a state of many nations, of which Byelorussians constituted the larger part of the total population. As the Byelorussians had already mastered written language, when record-keeping facilities were being set up throughout Lithuania, the authorities engaged educated Byelorussians, along with Poles and Germans, to accelerate the process. Therefore, the Byelorussian and Polish languages, not Lithuanian, formed the foundation of written communication. It was not the Polish or Byelorussian teachers who learned Lithuanian, but vice versa. Lithuanian students had to learn the language of their teachers, and it was easier to master Byelorussian or Polish in a short time than to adapt the Lithuanian language for writing purposes.

As in the whole of Central Europe, a class society was emerging in Lithuania. The less developed the urban areas, the more pronounced was the influence of the nobility. In Lithuania, the nobility enjoyed extensive powers. It made sure that only Lithuanians could serve as bishops, but this rule was not applied to the common clergy. Neither did the Lithuanian nobility expand the system of elementary schooling. Lithuanian schools were created spontaneously and the number of Lithuanian priests and teachers grew slowly — this too predetermined the dominant role of the Polish language.

Such were the main features of Lithuania’s Europeanization. Nevertheless, there was a positive side to this process. By the beginning of the 16th century Lithuania managed to assimilate — although on a low level — the basic values of Latin civilization. Written language emerged as an essential social factor. Books were compiled in Lithuania and taken abroad for printing. Incunabula and paleotypes conveying knowledge that corresponded to the educational curriculum of the seven liberal arts, i.e. that of the European schools, became popular among educated people. The first national chronicles appeared at the beginning of the 16th century. The First Lithuanian Statute — a code of laws adopted in 1529 — surpassed the law collections of the neighboring countries. Lithuania attained a cultural level which made her open to the ideas of the Reformation. The University of Vilnius was founded in 1579. In the second half of the 16th century, the Lithuanian society and nation acquired all the features characteristic of a European state and became a leader in the race for European cultural standards.

However, the price for Lithuania’s achievements was high, since historical success is never delivered free of charge. By the end of the 16th century, the Lithuanian nobility had switched over to the Polish language. But this did not change their national consciousness, and they retained a Lithuanian spiritual identity The country and its people, however, became bilingual. Russia forced Lithuania into forming a confederacy with Poland in 1569 — the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. 200 years later Russia annexed the commonwealth of the two nations. The loss of statehood and the joint struggle against Russia altered the national orientation of the Polish-speaking gentry which ascribed itself to the Polish nobility. However, at that time Lithuania began to feel the effects of European education and a large group of democratically-minded intellectuals began to promote nationalist ideas among the local population in the 19th century.

In the second half of the 19th century, the Lithuanian people joined the national liberation movements of Central and Eastern Europe. In 1918, Lithuania regained its independence and embarked on a process of Lithuania’s Europeanization which was laborious and complicated. Nevertheless, Lithuania managed to attain high European standards and retain its national identity intact.

Institute of History
Lithuanian Academy of Science

http://www.crvp.org/book/Series04/IVA-17/chapter_iii.htm

Chapter 4 LITHUANIAN MYTHOLOGY

noreply@blogger.com (paulwarnz@warnagiris.org (CDW)) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 01:13:00 +0000

CHAPTER IV

LITHUANIAN MYTHOLOGY

GINTARAS BERESNEVICIUS

Lithuanian mythology underwent its formation at the time when the active and belligerent tribes who were the ancestors of modern Lithuanians were distinguishing themselves from the bulk of the Baltic protonation, circa 500 AD. At this time the Lithuanian tradition acquired its specific character. The mythologies of Lithuanians and other Balts are versions of the common Indo-European field of mythological images, but the Lithuanian and Baltic traditions preserved archaic Indo-European images, which disappeared from other European regions before the early Middle Ages. Since the most important characters of the Lithuanian pantheon were common to all Balts, we will begin by describing their common elements.

GODS AND HEROES

The highest figure in the Baltic pantheon is Dievas, in Prussian Deywis or Deyws, and in Latvian Dievs. This god is of Indo-European origin, and his name, as in some religions of the Near East, has been expanded to embrace all gods (God — the name of the highest of gods, god — the name applied to all gods). Earlier Dievas or Deivas simply denoted the shining dome of the sky, cf. ancient Indian deva ‘god’ and dyazts ‘sky’, Latin deus and dies, originating from the Indo-European root deiuo-s, which means both God and sky. Dievas, Dievs, Deivs is also related to the Greek Zeus. In Lithuanian dialects his name is sometimes Pondzejis, Avestian Daeva, Luvian Tiwat, Lidian Tiyaz, as the German Tiwaz. The Finns took the name of Dievas from the Balts, cf. Finnish taivas and Estonian taevas ‘sky’ .

In the mythology of the Balts, Dangaus Dievas (God of the Sky) retains quite a few original Indo-European characteristics — he lives in heaven, is related to shining celestial bodies and is imagined as a light, radiant person deciding fates. For Prussians and Lithuanians, however, Dangaus Dievas becomes an inactive god, deus otiosus. In some lists of Prussian gods he does not figure at all, while in Lithuanian tales he takes part in the creation of the world and its aftermath. In Latvian songs Dievas is much more active — he goes down the hill on which he lives and walks around a field of rye carrying bliss and fertility to the earth. And although traditionally it was possible to rely upon him when striking a contract, making a vow, or in times of crises, his cult among the Balts was doubtful. In any case, sacred places devoted to Dangaus Dievas are not even mentioned in Baltic mythology.

If Dievas was the highest character in the pantheon, then Perkunas, Latvian Perkons, Prussian Perkuns, Perkztno, the god of storm and thunder, master of the atmosphere and all celestial matters, and evidently Dievas’ son, was the most important and prominent. The name of this god is believed to have originated either from words denoting oak, cf. Latin quercus (from perkwus), Celtic herc, or a related root meaning a mountain, like in Hittite parunas ‘a rock’ or Sanskrit parvatas ‘The top of a hill’. In Baltic mythology Perkunas is linked both to a mountain — in Lithuanian mythology Perkunas lives on the top of a hill reaching the sky — and to oaks, growing in sacral places, or to sacred oak woods. Related to Perkunas are such Indo-European gods as Slavonic Perun, Parjanya who is mentioned in the Rigveda, the Germanic goddess Fjorgyn, the gods Donar, Thor, etc. Perkunas’s functions coincide with thunder gods of the Near East; with Baal, for instance, he is related by his care of fertility.

Perkunas is pictured as middle-aged, armed with an axe and arrows, riding a two-wheeled chariot harnessed with goats, like Thor. As is obvious, Perkunas enters the common field of Indo-European and Near Eastern thunder gods, just like Dievas, corresponding to deities of these religions — from An, or Anu, of the Sumerians and Babylonians, to Germanic Tiwaz.

The Balts must have been aware of a chthonic god opposed to the celestial ones. This is the Lithuanian Velnias, Velinas, Latvian Vels, Prussian Patolas (from pa- ‘under’, tula, tola ‘earth, ground’).This name is found in late sources, but the equivalents of a certain chthonic god are seen everywhere. It is the god of the underworld, cattle, magic and wealth, related to the Indian god Varuna and Iranian Ahura, Germanic Wotan, Odin, Slavonic Veles. From a historical point of view, however, Velnias lost its original meaning, and only in Prussia did Patolas remain significant, in some lists — the First, the god of wise men.

There exist no doubts as to the existence of these gods in the Baltic nations, but occasionally historical sources mention distorted or euphemistic names of gods, which makes their identification in the early period rather difficult.

Russian sources of the 13th century mention Lithuanian gods, but unfortunately their names, as has been mentioned above, are not quite clear. Giving an account of the baptism of Mindaugas in 1252, the Chronicle of Volyn asserts that the baptism of the king of Lithuania was deceptive and that he secretly made sacrifices to his own gods, ‘the First — Nunadievis and Teliavelis and Diveriksas and Zuikio Dievas and Madaioa.’ In 1258 it goes further, to the effect that Lithuanian warriors called upon their gods, Andajus and Diviriksas. An insertion in the translation of the Malala chronicle of 1261 recounts that Sovijus, the religious hero, made sacrifices to Andajus and Perkunas called Thunder, Zvoruna called Bitch, and Teliavelis the Smith who made him a sun to illuminate the earth, and who "threw the sun to him in the sky."

The First — Nunadievis and Andajus, who was mentioned in two other places — would correspond to Dangaus Dievas, but the names do not carry any meaning in Lithuanian. It is possible that here we come across euphemisms applied to the same god. This is a usual case in Baltic mythology. the Prussians called Dangaus Dievas, Occopirmzts, i.e. ‘the First’, while Andajus could mean ‘Antdievis’ (super-god), i.e. the god of gods, the Highest God. The meaning of Nunadievis is not yet clear. The only Lithuanian word with the same root, nunai, means ‘now’, thus Nunadievis could denote the actual, reigning god, the God of the present. Still, this name remains obscure.

Diveriksas or Diviriksas is a euphemistic name for Perkunas. Till quite recently his name was avoided, replacing Perkunas by Dundulis , Barskulis, etc. In Lithuanian Diviriksas could mean either dievo/dievu rikis ‘bishop of god/gods’ , i.e. ruler of gods empowered by God (cf. rikis — Latin rex ‘king’), or ‘the rod of God’. He is mentioned immediately after the highest God, which would correspond to its religious meaning. Lithuanian mythology describes Perkunas as the master of thunder and lightning, living on a high mountain and in charge of worldly matters. To do that he was empowered by Dievas, who does not afterwards pry into worldly matters. Thus Dievas hands his might and actual power to Perkunas, and the latter becomes the senior god, just like Marduk in Babylon, Baal in West Semites, etc. In Lithuanian religion Perkunas also had a military function — he is the warrior called upon to cover the Daugava River with ice so that Lithuanian warriors could reach the other bank.

Judging from the glossary, in an insertion in the translation of the Malala chronicle, Teliavelis could be considered a cultural hero, the smith-god. His wondrous deed was the forging of the sun and throwing it ‘up into the sky,’ which implies that for Lithuanians the sun was not a deity, but just a piece of hot metal (as the Greek philosopher, Anaxagoras claimed). His name can be read as Telia-Velis, the first root relating to telias ‘a calf’, or tellus ‘the earth’, and the second to Velnias or Velinas, the god of the underworld. One more possible reading of Teliavelis is Kalvelis, i.e. kalvis ‘smith’, which does not remove him from the chthonic personages; it is said in Lithuanian folklore that the first smiths were devils, and that they taught men the smith’s craft. Teliavelis would thus take Velnias’s or Patolas’s place and complete the Lithuanian trinity.

The goddess Medeina or Zvorina, who is mentioned beside the three male gods, could mean one goddess, the mistress of forest and wild animals (Medeina originates from the root med-, meaning ‘tree’ or ‘hunting’ and Zvoruna from zveris ‘wild animal’). She would be close to Diana or Artemis, and in all probability originated from the image of some archaic Goddess, Mother Goddess, or the Mistress of Wild Animals. Zuikio Die, mentioned in the chronicle, is evidently a misunderstanding, which arose from Mindaugas’s habit or superstition while hunting — if a hare (zuikis) crossed the road, it was considered a bad omen, Mindaugas, retreated in this case, he did not ‘worship’ the hare, but simply observed a bad omen.

13th century writings reflect gods worshipped by warriors and rulers, and thus provide an ‘official’ pantheon. Later sources provide less competent descriptions of peasant beliefs, which were by then considerably degraded. With the disappearance of the layer of prophets, the ancient religion declined to the level of separate cults and superstitions — thus, the number of gods and demons. Jonas Lasickis’s notes on Samogitian gods in the middle of the 16th century, presented a great multitude of names of gods, goddesses and demons, which were very often unheard of either in other sources or in folklore. In 1582 Motiejus Strikovskis mentioned the main God, Prokorimos (evidently a euphemism stemming from prakorauti ‘to do something before others’); further, however, he lists fifteen other very specific gods, not known from other sources. Therefore, already by the 16th century there existed a non-unified pantheon; data from different sources did not correspond one with another, and local spirits, especially those of the economic field, became mixed up with more general gods and ascended to the level of gods.

MYTHOLOGY

The ritualistic myths which have reached us are actually those of cultural heroes. The insertion in the translation of the Malala chronicle contains a myth about Sovijus, who gave rise to the ritual of burning the dead and is, to some extent, about the first dead.

Sovijus kills a fabulous wild boar, but when his nine sons eat the boar’s nine spleens, he becomes angry and goes to ‘hell’, where he enters through the ninth gate. In hell one of his sons ‘causes him to sleep’; on the first night he buries him in the ground, but Sovijus complains that reptiles and slugs have been eating him all night. The second night Sovijus is put in a tree, but there he is bitten and stung by insects. The third night he is thrown into a fire — and in the morning he says he has slept ‘sweetly, like a baby in a cradle.’ From then on he becomes the leader of the dead, taking them to the after world, thus introducing a new cult of gods. It seems that the myth reflects the beginning of the burning of the dead in the Baltic countries (around the 13th century BC), but some of its elements are much more ancient.

The same myth mentions Teliavelis, who forged the sun and threw it up into the sky. A similar event was recalled by only ‘one tribe’, described by Jeronimas Prahiskis, who in 1401-1404 visited Lithuania. This tribe worshipped a hammer of enormous size, which had fallen from the sky. The story went that once upon a time a wicked king locked the sun in a tower of ice, but the signs of the Zodiac released it with a large hammer. It is plausible that this myth might reflect certain rituals of the New Year. However, it is not clear what these ‘signs of the Zodiac’ were, or to what extent this myth is related to that of Teliavelis.

Lithuanian ethnological legends recorded at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, are not myths in the true sense, although some of the things they contain do reflect ancient cosmogony. According to legend, in the beginning of the world there are two gods — Dievas and Velnias, who created the world together. Dievas sends Velnias to the bottom of the water to carry sand or soil, which he later places on the water, it expands and becomes land — the Earth. In the process of creation there was competition between Dievas and Velnias, but the present shape of the world is born from the activities of both. Velnias creates the lakes, marshes, rocks, fens, while Dievas’s idea was to create the Earth smooth. Dievas created all useful animals and birds, while Velnias — all that are harmful or possess chthonic features. This primordial pair of gods has twin-like traces, and it is not clear, whether some other Dievo Dievas — god of gods — does not exist above them, like Hittite Alalu, Anu, etc., especially bearing in mind the fact that there are gods with primordial names in Lithuanian mythology, but the sources where they are mentioned either do not describe their functions, or simply ascribe them to the economic sphere.

The legends contain an original cosmogony. Dievas, walking beside the waters ‘to answer the call of nature,’ spits and walks on. On his way back he sees in that place a creature which he cannot recall creating. Dievas asks this creature what it is and where it comes from, but it does not know. Dievas eventually remembers that he spat here on his way — thus, this creature sprang from his saliva, and this is man. Legends concerned about the origin of woman solve it in a rather simple way — according to them, Dievas spat twice, hence the first man and woman. Another legend says that while Dievas was washing his face in heaven, a drop fell on the ground, and that’s how man was created. From our point of view these legends are grotesque, but their main idea is clear — man is the copula of human and divine substance, it is only in form that the manifestations of this idea are rather unusual. It should also be noticed that in these legends man appears not as a purposeful product of divine creation, but as a completely accidental phenomenon, Dievas did not even think of creating him.

Ethnological legends present a rather peculiar version of thc fall: after the creation of man, his body was covered with a shell-like coat. People did not experience any disasters or illnesses and lived forever. Later, however, when they transgressed (usually through laziness or neglect, although the reasons are not always indicated), Dievas took away this coat, leaving as a memento, only the nails on fingers and toes.

Lithuanian ethnological legends abound in number, but in many of them it is difficult to distinguish between Christian and archaic contents. The legends mentioned above seem to be sufficiently original and reflect the elements of ancient mythology.

CULT

Genetically, the oldest Baltic sacral places had to be alkai, sacral places situated on hills close to waters; rites could be performed at sacred stones. In Lithuania alone over 250 of the so-called mythical stones have been found, and in the opinion of the archaeologists, rites were performed at them from the Neolithic or early bronze ages. It seems that offerings took place at these stones for an extended period, sometimes as late as the 17th and 18th centuries. Some of these stones have been turned over, evidently at the time of missionaries or after the christening of the country. Wayside shrines with figures of saints were built close to these stones in Lithuania till quite recent times. As late as the 17th century a post would be built in these sacral places — this would resemble the massera and ashera, a combination of a wooden and iron post at the sites of the cult of Western Semites and Hittites.

Sacred woods, mentioned in different sources from the end of the 12th century, and sacred trees should also be treated as the most ancient sacral places. In relation to this, some authors mention ‘the cult of nature’ in the Baltic region, but it seems that there was no ‘cult of trees’ as such. Trees were treated as the abode of gods or the place of their annunciation. Jeronimas Prahiskis, who was in Lithuania in the early 15th century, speaks of a very old oak, more sacred than all other trees, which was considered the abode of gods. Once, when Jeronimas was about to fell a sacred wood, women complained to the Grand Duke Vytautas about the missionary’s intention ‘to deprive the god of its abode where they would always beg the god to stop the rain or sun. Now they would no longer know where to look for the god as his abode had been taken from him.’ There exists sufficient evidence to assert that trees had religious meaning not by their own virtue, but because places of divine epiphany were discerned in them. Both stones and trees or sacred woods could mark the places of a cult as they did in other ancient religions. It is possible to observe here the performance rites under the open sky, which were characteristic of many religions in the early period of their development.

It is difficult to say when and why the Balts began to build shrines. In different Indo-European religions it happens most often under the influence of those of the Near East, while shrines are not built by those who are in the early stage of development. They appear later and either co-exist with open places of a cult or never acquire the classical forms of a temple (here the Baltic religion is close to the Germanic and Celtic religions). The first known Baltic shrines were simple and modest round or oval structures on the top of a mound. Inside, there probably stood an idol, and a fire was kept burning.

The center of a cult which functioned for a considerable length of time is believed to be on the site now occupied by the Cathedral in Vilnius. Traces of altars, steps, a well that was possibly related to rites (the well of offering, perhaps?) were uncovered beneath it. The description of Perkunas’s shrine found in the so-called Chronicle of Rivius would in fact correspond to the archaeological findings. The shrine was of an elaborate design, arranged in several levels, with different premises, and a wooden idol of Perkunas. On particular days animal offerings were burned there, and an eternal flame was burning. It is surprising that, according to the Chronicle of Rivius, the shrine was without a roof — this would resemble shrines dedicated to the celestial gods in other religions. Simultaneously it would manifest that the shrine in Vilnius developed from sacral places under the open sky. The most important temple of the Prussians was also without a roof. Jan Dlugosz mentions a cult structure in middle Lithuania, on the bank of the Nevé is river — a sacred flame guarded by priests was kept burning in a tall tower on a mountain. It is obvious that following the example of the ancient alkos/sacred an offering was to he performed under the open sky, not ‘enclosing’ the gods.

MAN IN THE PRESENCE OF GODS

The gods in Lithuanian religions are not very distant from this world. A Lithuanian Olympus never came into existence, therefore the most important gods live ‘above and below’, in heaven and in the underworld. Irrespective of their abode, they could appear among people. Perkunas lives in the clouds or on a high hill, but one can meet him in the woods or simply at the doorstep of one’s house, where he appears chasing his eternal enemy, Velnias.

Perkunas is heard — it is said that in a storm the thunder comes from the rolling of his iron wheels. His fiery arrows are visible and appear on earth as little stone axes. Dievas lives in heaven, but many legends say he walks on the Earth disguised as a beggar. He checks whether people follow his commandments; he punishes those who violate the virtues of hospitality, mercy and generosity, and awards the righteous by inviting them ‘to visit him’, i.e. to heaven. Velnias lives in the underworld, but the underworld emerges at the surface in marshes, lakes or other low-lying places, and in times of trouble man goes to these places to ask for Velnias’s help, or, if there is a need, descends even into hell itself. Velnias himself offers his help in village inns, roadsides, appearing at entertainments of young villagers or at weddings. When a baby is born, the goddesses, who wait under the window, determine its fate. Humans and gods are very close in the Lithuanian outlook on the world, which would resemble the mythologies of the Greeks or Celts.

All around there is a great number of signs of the gods; one only has to know how properly to read them. The chronicles of the Orders often mention Lithuanians telling fortunes — about the future or things taking place far away. Unfavorable lots make one reject some previous idea and retreat as fast as one can. A Lithuanian marching at the head of a platoon casts lots right there in the road; if it is unfavorable the soldier announces danger — and at once German knights attack from ambush. The imprisoned Lithuanian duke is looking for omens in the cracks on a bone — and exclaims that judging from the signs his brother is in grave trouble, which before long turns out to be true. Jogaila, a Lithuanian king of Poland, would not make any decision prior to throwing lots. All these signs can provide the answer to any question, ranging from meteorological conditions to issues of life and death. Thus, the gods check, reward and punish, and in this way supervise whether moral commandments are observed. ‘Outward’ things such as a feat of arms, weather conditions, or crops also depend on their will which can be experienced from signs.

And still, this rational and transparent relation is accompanied by a rather gloomy background. Man is not the product of the purposeful activities of the gods, but came into being when Dievas spat incidentally. Man himself is not valuable, but purely accidental. He can live in a community and in it experiences the manifestations of divine will; he functions in the community and for it. In cases where disease, misfortune or the death of a relative disturbs his balance or makes him a burden to the community, he very easily resorts to suicide. Such habits of the Lithuanians have been mentioned in sources from the 13th century. In one village 50 widows hang themselves because their husbands did not come back from war. Lithuanian warriors scattered around enemy territory after a lost battle hang themselves in woods. Because they do not want to be taken prisoners, defenders of a castle commit suicide when the enemy is attacking. In the Middle Ages life in Lithuania was resolute, energetic and short, after which the journey to the gods awaited.

THE IMAGE OF THE POSTHUMOUS LIFE

Death and the other world are separated by a shorter or longer period during which the deceased has to stay in this world. First of all it was believed that Dievas allots a certain ‘number of years’ to each. If one does not survive all these years — is killed or commits suicide earlier — he must stay on the Earth till his allotted day, reincarnated in plants, or more often in trees, animals and birds. There was also a belief that the dead can only leave this world on the Easter of Souls, i.e., Holy Thursday, or at Halloween, until which time the dead must stay on Earth. Thus, a certain number of the dead remain on the Earth. Under the influence of Christianity such souls are identified with the dead repenting in purgatory, and in folk belief the Christian purgatory was moved down to the Earth. A very archaic system of belief in metempsychosis, the remains of which abound in the Lithuanian tradition, facilitated images of this kind.

The cosmic mountain, on the top of which Dievas or Perkunas lives, is the centre of the afterlife. The heavenly abode of the dead is right behind it or at its top, where it is warm and light, a wonderful garden. Sometimes it is believed that in climbing that mountain souls have to use their own nails and those of predatory animals that are burnt in the funeral pyre. Sometimes a dragon is mentioned at the foot of the mountain. One rare belief asserts that there is a little bridge leading to the top of the mountain; the souls of the righteous cross it very easily, bad ones, however, fall down and are taken by the dragon.

Vicious people are doomed to the place of posthumous punishment ruled by Velnias. This image has also been influenced by a system of belief in metempsychosis: in hell vicious masters, having turned into horses, drag heavy loads — tar, logs or tree stumps. Despite the influence of Christian images and ecclesiastic iconography, such images survived up to the 20th century.

Lithuanian Institute of Culture and Arts

Chapter 5 LITHUANIAN MESSIANISM: ITS ORIGIN

noreply@blogger.com (paulwarnz@warnagiris.org (CDW)) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:32:00 +0000

CHAPTER V

VYTAUTAS BERENIS

The past is the source of myths and ideologies, but it often turns into a myth itself. In Claude Levi-Strauss’s words, the Lithuanians can be called a "hot ethos", i.e., a community shaping its ideals according to the values of the past. It was Jonas Basanavicius (1851 - 1927) who declared in "Ausra" that the main principle of the nation’s cultural revival was expressed in an ancient sage’s simple words: those who are ignorant of history will always remain children.

For the Lithuanian nation formed on the basis of the peasantry in the second half of the 19th century ethnic consolidation and resistance were most important; therefore, history occupied a significant place in its ideology. Its interpretation was based on present realities. Thus, the following principle of selection regarding past events was formed: admiration for pagan Lithuania, glorification of Lithuanian Dukes, "Lithuanization" of the history and culture of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Realizing the necessity for methodological research in history, perhaps one of the most outstanding Lithuanian historians of the period between the two wars, Zenonas Ivinskis (1908 - 1971), wrote that "all this idolatry of the past shows what the real life has deprived the Lithuanians of". To be sure, it has deprived them of quite a lot — of the understanding of reality. Ivinskis’s efforts to rationalize history were directed against romantic ideology and the model of 20th century patriarchal culture taking shape on its basis. Generally speaking, the difference between a rational and a romantic consciousness lies in the attitude toward cognition. In the first case, the past presents only the historical limit of the subject’s perspective which is being conceptualized within the three modalities of time: the past, the present, the future. In the second case, the myth of the past becomes itself the object of cognition, thus refusing to comprehend the sequence of events in time and space and ousting the historical subject from real life and action. "The idea of an eternal return" is the major principle of this "mythologized" consciousness. Self-sacrifice (the myth of Pilenai), the nation’s charismatic leader (Vytautas the Great), heroism (the battle of Salgiris), and other didactic themes of history surviving from the early 19th century presented the nation with a wide field of action and a high level of national self-consciousness.

In the Soviet period Lithuanian "history" struggled against values of this kind cherished in independent Lithuania. "Real history" was said to have begun with the emergence of the proletariat, and the epoch of feudalism was merely an illustration of the peasants’ miserable life and their "inhuman" exploitation. Nevertheless, philologists, historians and art historians worked as best they could: investigations of the native language, studies of folklore, literature and regional ethnography embodied the precept most urgent to the Lithuanian culture in all times: to survive. At the same time it seemed that "workers on the ideological front" were "taking care of" folk culture and turned a blind eye to activity which was not quite acceptable to them. The motivation for this view, to my mind, is simple: the nation survives, but sooner or later it is bound to lose the power of cultural regeneration, being unaware of the signifying context of world culture. Yet this cannot be said about a nation whose ideologues are seeking to make a piece of its past absolute by assigning to the subject of this process — the nation — a universal significance in general history.

Messianism as an ideology of progress and eschatology came to thrive in the first half of the 19th century in groups of Polish emigrants. Whatever our assessment of the phenomenon of Messianism may be, we have to agree that its ideologues discerned certain signs of the spiritual crisis in Europe. Reaction against the philosophy of rationalism and its mundane equivalent — the necessities of life — formulated the problem of man’s disintegration in Western civilization. One constructs his life from individual fragments which, being predetermined by circumstances, turn against man’s universal nature, understood in a Christian way and separate knowledge from morality. It should be noted that the theory of Messianism failed to acquire a universal foundation, but rather manifested itself in certain theoretical statements which were defined but not expounded. Polish thinkers like A. Cieszkowski and Adam Mickiewicz, created and developed their notions of "Messianism" and "historiosophy"; in their theories they tried to reflect on the historical perspective of the occupied Polish nation. In their books issues of the nation’s fate and survival were raised. Certainly, these books and brochures were spread not only in Poland, but used to reach the regions of Russia’s western provinces, the former historic Lithuania.

The influence of old Polish literature and romantic ideology on Lithuanian writing is widely acknowledged. Before the emergence of Polish — Lithuanian political, social and cultural antagonism, the impact of Polish literature on the scanty group of Lithuanian cultured people was quite conspicuous. Ideology was no exception. On the whole, 19th century Polish literature exerted a strong influence on the consciousness of the generation at the time of "Ausra" (1884), while the concept of the purpose of the "Polish civilization" formulated by Messianists and later expounded by Polish scholars was reflected in the substantiation of the cultural subject of S. Salkauskis’s (1886 - 1941) theory "Lithuania as a synthesis of East and the West". This concept obviously represented the theories of interaction between the Eastern and Western civilizations and Slavonic Messianism; it has nothing in common with the theory of an organic Lithuanian culture. The school of Polish-speaking Lithuanian Romanticists which stirred up so many discussions on the tradition of history and literature was based on the German concept of nation (J. G. Herder), whereas in Poland the major values of classicism and "Jacobinic" Romanticism, extolling a society of free citizens, were still enjoying popularity. Part of society’s elite of that time, having faced the decline of the class isolation of life and the values it declared, made an attempt to coordinate three levels of self-consciousness of the liberated person: particular, regional and universal (recall the three cities dearest to A. Mickiewicz — Naugardukas, Vilnius and Rome), and in this way sought to conform to the context of values typical of European culture, sometimes affirming, but more often denying, the values of bourgeois civilization.

The key statement of the ideology of romantic Messianism was "exclusiveness in universality". Having failed to liberate itself from Russian oppression in 1794, 1812 and 1831, the Polish nation faced the issue of its survival as a political nation. Ordinary political and diplomatic means did not produce the anticipated success; thus in the face of the political, cultural and moral opposition of European nations to the Polish nation it acquired supposed exclusiveness and superiority in Messianism.

Let us read excerpts of A. Mickiewicz’s (1798 - 1855) book The Polish Nation and Piligrimage (a year later, in 1833, it was already translated into Lithuanian). The poet, referring to the principle of "struggle against everybody" and following the biblical rhetoric, in his aphorisms expressed a concept of the relation between politics and morality totally different from the West. "So the Frenchmen created themselves an idol and called it pride; this idol was called the golden calf in pagan times; the Spaniards created themselves an idol of strength and power, Baal; the Englishmen — an idol of ruling over the sea and trade, Mammon; the Germans — an idol of replete and good life, Moloch."1 Being a romantic personality, not recognizing a pragmatic interest in politics and seeing political hypocrisy and devaluation of words in bourgeois states, A. Mickiewicz warns his supporters: "Thus verily I say unto you: you must not learn the ways of the strangers’ civilization, but you must teach them the ways of the proper Christian civilization."2

The Polish nation to A. Mickiewicz in not an ethnic, but a synthetic element: this concept includes both a Pole, a Lithuanian and a legionary struggling against European monarchs. The absolutism of the "concept of nation" creates the evaluative norm for European history. Catholicism, being a source of hope and strength and having preserved the identity of word and deed remains the only pattern of culture worth following. Yet in the past the former Polish-Lithuanian state also was a country of good and honest historical patterns. A. Mickiewicz opposes them to the geopolitical arguments among European states: "And they were endowed by God, since the great Lithuanian nation was united with Poland, like husband and wife, like two souls in one body". Or: "Does a Lithuanian argue with a Pole about the Nemunas border, Gardinas or Baltstoge? This I say unto you: a Frenchman, a German and a Russian must be similar to a Pole and a Lithuanian."3

J.I. Kraszewski (1812 - 1887) stood apart from the ideology of Messianism, but in his work "Lithuania" he revealed the most important historic mission performed by the Lithuanian nation — stopping the Mongolian-Tartarian invasion into Europe. Without analyzing the historical validity of this statement, we should note that having accomplished its historic mission, a nation must disappear. In J.I. Kraszewski’s opinion, features of national character, the nation’s ideas, growth, maturation and decline constitute the meaning of Lithuania’s history. Pre-Christian civilization was distinguished for its maturity, and the pagan faith integrated the Lithuanians as a nation. After the eradication of this faith, the Lithuanian nationality as such was destroyed. Christianity turned the Prussians into Germans, and the Lithuanians into Poles or Russians. Though Lithuanian peasants have preserved the language, customs, legends and songs, they are not capable of creating new values, as they do not have their own concept of genealogy (history), they do not have inner passion (creative power) and recall "a polyp devoid of developed organs but notable for its mass."4

There has been a tendency to avoid recognizing that the Polish-speaking Romanticists of historic Lithuania. J. I. Kraszewski, T. Narbutas (1784 - 1864), Wl. Kondratowicz-Syrokomle (1823 - 1862) and others had a considerable impact on the problematic paradigm of Lithuania’s national history. Contrary to the majority of Romanticist noblemen, S. Daukantas’s (1793 - 1864) vision of the nation’s future recognized all sovereign rights of the Lithuanian peasant nation and claimed that power originated from a "civil treaty" — the state which was created had to defend people’s property and civil rights. Yet paradoxically, S. Daukantas’s idea of turning the nation into citizenry did not exceed the boundary of legal rationalism; having turned into a nation, people do not become a society.5

The outlook of Polish Messianism treats society as a spiritual substance. The concept of struggle of egoistic interests of individuals and social groups, and the search for compromises found in bourgeois society was alien to this outlook. Messianists who disparage the written law as "partial and incomplete truth" consider that the only possible outcome of the vision of perfect life is a charismatic leader crowned with the idea of justice (not law), a man capable of surpassing adherence to party principles and accumulating in himself the power of the whole nation. The great Polish poet A. Mickiewicz did not hold democratic views and — one more paradox — while struggling against the Russian empire, he secretly admired some features of administration in the Russian monarchic system.

Nearly the most dangerous feature of the Messianistic ideology is the absence of progression from the past to the future. Descendants of brave ancestors turn into an epitome of virtue, and the idealization of the past becomes a source of progress. Certainly, on the other hand, the nations of East and Central Europe, contrary to other European nations, have not yet learned to smile at their past due to the sequence of tragic events in their history. But it is not necessary to do it — there has been so much blood and treachery in our history that romantic heroism is but "a tale" with a tragic but happy ending. It also must be realized that history is an equation with many unknown quantities. Lithuanian philosopher A. Maceina (1908 - 1987) denies that history is a science. "Not being able to surpass the present, a person attributes the features of the present both to the past and to the future and in this way revives these dimensions of time, but not the way they were or will be."6 Therefore history always has been an interpretation of the subjective present in which the person lives. Every person who reflects on the cultured world having a dimension of time can become a historian to the extent to which he is interested in the problem of being in this world. To a citizen of Western Europe who has not read a single historical book in his life, the past is alive through historically-formed institutions, organizationally established markets and sensual festive-carnival traditionalism. Perhaps this is the reason why such words as "history" and "nation" are uttered with great respect, but never capitalized.

There is need for a deep and comprehensive analysis of the problems raised by the historian of Lithuanian literature, Pranas Augustaitis’s (1883 - 1941), in his study Elements of Lithuanianism in Polish Romanticism written in the early 20th century. In this sense it is hoped that the issue tackled in the present article — the influence of Polish historiosophy on Lithuanian political-cultural thought — will extend the investigations of Lithuanian cultural self-consciousness and the sources of its mentality.

Lithuanian Institute of Culture and Arts

NOTES

1. A. Mickiewicz, Ksiægi pielgrzymstwa narodu Polskiego (Krakow, 1911), p. 6.

2. Ibid., p. 29.

3. Ibid., p. 12.

4. J.I. Kraszewski, Litwa (Warszawa, 1847), vol. 1, p. 18.

5. V. Merkys, Istorija ir tautine kultura // Vakarines naujienos, 1992, lapkrièio 13 d.

6. A. Maceina, Asmuo ir istorija (Chicago, 1986), p. 85.

The Young Man with the Mesmerizing Eyes

noreply@blogger.com (paulwarnz@warnagiris.org (CDW)) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:36:00 +0000

The Young Man with the Mesmerizing Eyes

By Jeanne Dorr

Jeanne Dorr, is a member of the Board of Directors of Lithuanian Orphan Care, a branch of the Human Services Council of the Lithuanian American Community, Inc. She is also a Social Studies teacher in New Jersey.
Romas Kalanta

Revolutionary? Hippie? Patriot? Psychotic? Who was Romas Kalanta? What was on his mind and what drove him to set himself on fire in front of the Music Theater in Kaunas on May 14th, 1972? What could possibly cause a 19-year-old such pain that he could no longer endure life? Was he a hippie on drugs, as the communist government quickly spread the word around Kaunas? Was he mentally disturbed as his mother was forced to sign a letter that was released to the newspapers? Or was he a young man who could no longer live under a system that denied him not only freedom of thought but freedom of spirit?

It dawned on me that many of us, who are second and third generation Lithuanians, have very large gaps in our knowledge of events that have taken place over the years in Lithuania. These spaces began to be filled in for me when I began attending St. Andrew’s Lithuanian Church in Philadelphia.

Every May, a Mass was held in memory of a young man named Romas Kalanta. The only thing I knew was that he set himself on fire in Kaunas. But as I sat at Mass, I found myself staring at his photograph, riveted by his eyes. Those eyes seemed to keep drawing me back to the photograph. The question would not leave my mind. Why? Why did he do this to himself and his family? Surely, he knew his family would also pay for his act of defiance. An opportunity to find some answers arose when I had the occasion to meet Gintautas Bukauskas in Kaunas.

Mr. Bukauskas is the president of Lituanica, an organization that plans to build a monument to honor Romas Kalanta. I knew the organization was having difficulty raising the money to complete the project. The monument was finished but they lacked funds to set it properly.

Mr. Bukauskas is a soft-spoken, well-educated young man. We spoke for more than an hour as he explained Lituanica and the project to me. Mr. Bukauskas was very young at the time of the tragedy and could only tell me what he read or heard from others. I explained to him that I could not do justice to his cause; all I had were cold facts. I had to meet someone who personally knew Romas. I had to "live" with his family and "walk in their shoes". Could he find a friend of Romas’ who would talk to me? Mr. Bukauskas was leaving on a business trip the next day and time was of the essence. I figured that was the end of the article before it ever got started.

Much to my surprise, I received a phone call from Gintautas later that evening. Would I like to speak to Romas’ younger brother? Would this be acceptable? This was more than I ever hoped for. That evening Arvydas Kalanta telephoned me and agreed to speak to me at my cousin’s apartment, which was a few blocks from where he lived. The next afternoon, I met Arvydas and his Jolanta.

Since independence, there has been a renewal of interest in Romas, and the family has been interviewed many times, even to the point that their privacy has been intruded upon. I told them the purpose of my article and that I felt there was something lacking in our knowledge of his brother’s story. I wasn’t interested in a lot of cold facts; I was interested in his brother as a human being.

We sat at the kitchen table with a pot of coffee between us and talked for several hours. It wasn’t a sad or somber interview because the good times were remembered as well as the tragedy. The Kalanta family could have been considered average. It consisted of working parents and four sons. At this point, I asked Arvydas if the rumors I heard that his father was a communist were true. He answered they were; his father had joined the party. Although, his mother saw to it that her sons received their first communion.

The boys were typical boys, getting into usual boy mischief. Romas was next to the youngest and Arvydas was the baby, with five years between them. Romas was a quiet person and kept to himself when he was at home. He enjoyed playing his guitar and drawing. He and other young people would gather in Kaunas’ Freedom Boulevard sitting in the park or in the coffeehouses and playing their music. The authorities frowned upon this. The students had long hair and wore bell-bottom pants. Their music was unacceptable because it was different. They were considered a public nuisance.

Yet, readers, keep in mind the time this was happening. There was an upheaval of traditions and protests were taking place all over the world. Although the changes were more subtle in the communist countries; nevertheless, they were happening through the long hair, the clothing and the music. According to Arvydas, this was their way to protest.

Romas was not an athlete, but played ball with his friends in the park. A gentle person, he would take his small nephew to visit his friends or for walks into town. He was an average student and he liked history. At one point, a teacher asked his mother why her children knew so much Lithuanian history. The curriculum was focused on Soviet history; Lithuanian history was to be ignored and not discussed at home. Although they did not know it at the time, an incident would occur in that school that would forever alter their lives.
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The trim blue Kalanta house where Romas grew up. The plaque on the side of the house reads, "Here, from 1963 until 1972, May 14th, lived Romas Kalanta.

When Romas was in the eleventh grade, a teacher gave an assignment to write about what they would like to do with their lives. Romas wrote that he wanted to enter the seminary and become a priest. He didn’t realize what this answer would cost him. His parents were immediately called to the schools and admonished for permitting their son to have such foolish ideas. After that, the situation in school became extremely difficult and Romas dropped out. He decided to get a job in a factory and go to night school.

At night school he engaged in discussions with his history teacher. Eventually the factory job ended, and Romas seemed to be losing interest in night school. One of this teachers later told his family he appeared disinterested and had a faraway dreamy look about him.

Sunday, May 14th was no different that any other Sunday. Romas took a 3 liter glass bottle and told his mother he was going to buy a popular Lithuanian drink that was sold on the street corners. Instead, he went to a friend’s house and asked for some gasoline. The friend asked what he was going to do with it, and Romas said he needed to clean something at home. Nothing out of the ordinary was taking place.

Romas went to the center of town and sat on a park bench with three or four other young people. The others got cold and left. Romas took off his jacket and left it on the bench. Inside his jacket pocket was a note with his name and address. Then, he proceeded to douse himself with the gasoline. People were unable to believe what they were seeing with their own eyes. They started to scream and run. Eventually, the police and ambulance arrived, and Romas was taken to the hospital.

The police arrived at the Kalanta house and told Mrs. Kalanta her son was burned. At first she didn’t understand the seriousness of the situation; she thought there was some kind of an accident. It was only when she got to the hospital did she see her son suffering an indescribable agony, his body covered with burns and tormented with pain. Romas’ parents and older brother were the only people allowed to see him for a few minutes at a time.

The staff was doing everything in their power to keep him alive; he was not allowed to die. An example would be made of him, so that other young people would not think of doing anything crazy. He would not be permitted to die; for then, he would be a hero and a martyr to Lithuania’s young people. He would be kept alive so he could be punished.

Can you imagine the anguish this family was suffering? Surely, their heart had to be ripped out at the sight of their son and brother. While the family was keeping their vigil at the hospital, the police were wasting no time in searching the house. They pulled apart everything looking for anything that would prove Romas was a troublemaker. They also turned everything upside down looking for drugs; they found none. Perhaps they could find anti-Soviet literature; there was nothing. Instead they took all of Romas’ belongings – letters from friends, the music he loved so much, and the drawings he made which gave him so much pleasure.

Back at the hospital, the vigil continued until the next morning when Romas died. Now he would feel no more pain and would never again have to endure a system that drove him to this brutal act. Romas had found the peace and freedom for which he yearned; he would no longer have to sit at a desk in school and dream about it.

There was no time to grieve for the family. The parents were immediately taken to police headquarters for questioning. They were told to write a release for the newspapers saying that Romas was mentally ill. They would have to say this was not a political act, it was the act of a disturbed young man. They reminded the Kalantas that they had three other sons to consider. Mrs. Kalanta wrote five or six drafts but none suited the authorities. Finally, she put down the pen, either out of grief or exhaustion or both, and told the authorities to write a statement that she would sign. There was nothing more she could do for Romas, but she still had a family to protect.

Romas’ body was brought back to his house for viewing. Two hours before the funeral was to take place; the authorities rushed in and said the funeral was to start immediately. The young people were told to leave the house. Mrs. Kalanta began to cry that all the relatives had not yet arrived, and neither had the photographer (is a Lithuanian custom to photograph the deceased). Arvydas said one of the officials looked his mother in the eye and said, "You should be grateful we are allowing you to bury him."

The authorities quickly sent for a police photographer and, using police vehicles took the body to the cemetery. They would not even permit the flowers to accompany the body. The cemetery was blocked off from mourners and spectators. Romas Kalanta was laid to rest in a section that was a little more than a garbage dump.

When the authorities began to realize that Romas Kalanta was now a hero to people all over the Baltics, they sealed off the city of Kaunas. Bus and train traffic was halted into the city. There was no public transportation from Latvia or Estonia. Young people with long hair wearing strange clothes were told to go home.

Before the funeral crowds of people from all through the Baltics who had arrived in Kaunas gathered in front of the Kalanta house. They began to shout, "Where is Romas?" When they heard what had happened, their anger and frustration began to grow. They linked arms and headed for police headquarters. Soon the militia appeared with their whips and clubs.

The crowd would not disperse as ordered. They headed for Freedom Boulevard. More militia and more brutality met them. The crowd was now in front of a church that the communists had closed and turned into an art gallery. A young man climbed a pillar of the church and unfurled the forbidden Lithuanian tri-colored flag as the crowd sang the equally forbidden Lithuanian national anthem.

A friend told me that an elderly woman was standing next to her with what seemed to be a shopping bag of everyday necessities, but underneath it was filled with rocks. She told my friend she remembered the taste of freedom and this woman began to hurl rocks at the militia. Age made no difference – these were Lithuanians who wanted the freedom returned that had been stolen from them.

The demonstrations continued for several days not only in Kaunas and other Lithuanian cities, as well as in the other Baltic countries. Other people set themselves on fire, the fortunate ones died. The others were left to rot in jail cells. The seeds of freedom were planted in the hearts and minds of the young and old alike. It might take another eighteen years but Lithuanians would again raise their flag and sing their anthem without fear, whips or clubs.

The inscribed rock originally intended as a monument for Romas’ grave. It now stands in the Kalanta yard.

Life continued for the Kalanta family. Things were normal except for the police that now took up their posts near the family’s house. Security was especially tight around All Souls’ Day and the anniversary of Romas’ death. From the day Romas was buried until his health failed seventeen years later, Romas’ father went to the cemetery every day. Even in the rain and snow, he would use a small broom to sweep the grave. His father could not even grieve in peace for there was always someone watching the grave. For eight years the family was not permitted to erect a monument. Instead there was a small piece of wood that marked the grave. Romas’ grave could not become a shrine.

The years passed and life changed. Arvydas married Jolanta and she moved into the Kalanta house. Mrs. Kalanta died on May 13th 1982, one day shy of the anniversary of Romas’ death. Several years later, Romas’ father also died, as did one of the brothers. As independence became a reality, the police presence lessened in front of the house. Immediately after independence was restored, a group of young people began to work on remembering Romas Kalanta.

Our interview ended and I felt I had a better understanding of the young man with the mesmerizing eyes. Before they left the apartment, Jolanta and Arvydas invited me to their home.

A week later, my husband and I walked the few blocks to the neat blue typically Lithuanian house where the Kalantas lived for so many years. There is a plaque on the front of the house, which was donated by a group of young people in memory of Romas.

There is also a huge rock bearing Romas’ name on the side of the house. The rock was to be his monument but innumerable problems arose. The sculptor couldn’t carve the letters correctly, the words weren’t right, and the cross was not where it should have been. The sculptor was called to police headquarters and soon after told the family he would be unable to complete the job. He left Kaunas, and the family could not find the rock. It was only after independence that they, along with some young people, began the search for it. They finally located it, and it was brought to the Kalanta yard.

As thoughts of how to move to the cemetery were being considered, Mrs. Kalanta died, and the family realized there would be no room on the rock for the remaining family who would eventually follow their beloved Romas. Another more practical monument was purchased for the cemetery, and the rock remains in the Kalanta yard.

We walked through the door, which Romas walked through so many times during his short 19 years of life. They showed us the room where his body had been laid out and pointed to the house across the street from which the police watched their family for so many years. I felt I was living a part of history as they shared their family album with us – photos of Romas as a young boy and at family gatherings.

Arvydas told me stories of their youth, which brought a smile to my face. I touched Romas’ notebooks that contained his drawings. The police actually missed some things in their initial search. The family donated most of his personal items to the museum at the Ninth Fort where an entire wall commemorates Romas’ life.

What moved me to tears was an envelope, which Jolanta handed to me. Inside were small pieces of the Christmas wafer. Every year at the Christmas Eve dinner, Romas’ mother broke a piece of the precious wafer and kept it for her beloved son. She did this until the year she died. She never let his spirit die. Not even the police sitting across the street could stop this mother from keeping her son’s memory alive.

After all of these hours of interviews, I still don’t have any answers. I have read other articles about this tragedy but Romas’ brother who was 14 at that time, told the version I am sharing with you to me.

Was this a spur of the moment act? No, it wasn’t. Before Romas set himself on fire he took off his jacket and left it on the side. Inside was a note with his name and address. Part of the note that he left said, "What should I live for? For this system to kill me? It would be better to kill myself at once…"

For orginal story, go to: http://lithuanian-american.org/bridges/bal99/dorr.html

Acknowledgements:

I would like to thank Snieguole Jurskyte, formerly of Philadelphia and now of Kaunas, for starting me on the correct path to find some answers. My gratitude goes to Gintautas Bukauskas for his patience.

I owe so much to Jolanta and Arvydas Kalanta for not only opening their home to me but for opening their hearts and sharing their memories. The deepest debt of gratitude goes to Romas who brought Lithuanian’s plight to the attention of the free world. May he rest in peace.

If you would like to make a donation to help with the monument in Romas’ memory, please write your checks to "Lituanica – Romo Kalantos Komitetas" and mail to:

Lituanica
Kapsu 110
Kaunas 3005
Lithuania

Important Links
http://lithuanian-american.org/index.php

Languages of Lithuania

noreply@blogger.com (paulwarnz@warnagiris.org (CDW)) — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 20:23:00 +0000

The Republic of Lithuania, although located in the center of Europe, is considered a Eastern European nation.

The country's official language, Lithuanian, is spoken by about three million people. Other living languages within Lithuania are Karaim, nearly extinct, and Baltic Romani.

Karaim-Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Western, Ponto-Caspian
Lithuanian-Classification: Indo-European, Baltic, Eastern
Baltic Romani-Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Northern

For more information, go to: http://www.ethnologue.com/

PWTW