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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#LithuanianSpecialArchives

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

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

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

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