Forgotten soviet war, forgotten soldiers - Anti-soviet movements in Eastern Europe

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#1

At first I wanted to place this thread in Kovalski’s “What happened on this day”, but I think that this thread will grow up - material is huge, than it deserve to be in “Other Military Units”.
It will be also fair that it is not placed in “Russian Military”. Fair play is fair play…

23 of June 1941 - at 09:28 AM the national anthem of Lithuania, Tautiška giesmė, was played on the radio in Kaunas.
Lithuanian National Uprising which started a day before was successful. Lithuania regained independence.
The main forces of the Lithuanian Activist Force were concentrated in the major cities of Vilnius and Kaunas, but minor clashes also occurred in rural areas and smaller towns. Major fights happened near the Metalas factory in Kaunas and Šančiai, a small town near Kaunas as the rebels tried to prevent the Soviet army from crossing the Nemunas. (Niemen)
Estimated number of the Lithuanian armed rebels is about 30,000 with further 70,000 ALF members.
The retreating Red Army massacred (in some cases after torturing them) popular Lithuanian figures, political prisoners and criminal prisoners who were arrested during the first Soviet occupation. From 1,000 to 2,000 people were killed; the main massacres were at Rainiai, Pravieniškės, Červenė and Panevėžys. Soviet casualties in the uprising were somewhat larger: about 5,000 Soviet soldiers and activists were killed, as the Soviet forces were caught unprepared.

From the very beginning relations with Germany were very complicated. Germany did not recognise the new government despite the hopes that it would be possible to reestablish an independent Lithuania by using the confrontation between the Germans and Soviets. German troops invaded Lithuania and, as Lithuania had no army, it could not resist. The Germans did not depose the government, probably avoiding confrontation with popular LAF and subsequent guerrilla war, at least until the German army could establish itself in Lithuania. The government did not organise any resistance against Germany because it understood that any guerilla war at that point would have been futile, and would have led to the dissolution of government and most likely major repressions against the Lithaunian people.

Events of 23-rd June 1941 ultimately led to the longest extension of WWII in Europe. Last Lithuanian Armed Resistance member was killed in 1965. Regular active units of Lithuanian Underground Army were fighting until 1956.

OFF TOPIC< SORRY< SORRY< SORRY >>>>>> For members of Forum from USA and other “far away from Lithuania” countries, I want to remind that 1956 was a year of Olympic Games in Melbourne, year of Budapest Uprising in Hungary, (crushed by soviet tanks), year of Polish Uprising in Poznan and later semi-good October revolt, year in which Nikita Khruschev tried to show soviet people Stalin’s crimes in his “top secret speach”. (Soviet people knew much more than Nikita dared to say, but this was a fashion in 1956…). Nikita was participating in most of Stalin’s crimes, at least as Ukraine was concerned, but as you know there is always a good opportunity to blame the boss. lol

(1956 was also the year in which Polish AAA artillery dared to shoot to Khruschev plane - it is sort of an urban legend and I will appreciate corrections.) It is a fact that in October 1956 soviet forces occupying Poland almost clashed with People’s Polish Army.
This army was never officially named People’s, and probably because of some crazy Polish tradition wanted to fry some soviet T-55s. (Or just wanted to… liberate some alcohol from Red Army). lol

End OFF topic >> End >>>End>>>End

Coming back to Lithuania, I’m really fond of one member of Lithuanian Freedom Fighters.
I’m Polish, he was Lithuanian, but he is my hero, regarded even more than my own “Lupaszka”, “Ogien”, “Bartek” or “Szary”.
“Hawk” was a real men… I salute Him and would like to ask anyone reading this post to stay in silence for one minute and think about this brave man.

Adolfas Ramanauskas - “Vanagas” (“Hawk”) was born in 1918 March 6, in New Britain, USA. 1921 his family returned to Lithuania. In 1936 he finished secondary school (“gymnasium”) in Lazdijai, later Pedagogical Institute in Klaipeda, and Soviet Military School in 1940. (Smart move - LAF encouraged such decisions.)
He worked as a teacher in a very small town Krivonys, near Druskininkai. In 1945 he joined the ranks of the Freedom Fighters, first as commander of Nemunaitis platoon. In the summer of 1945 he became a commander of “Merkine” battalion in the “Dzukai” group. In 1946 he became a commander of “Merkys” brigade, and in the fall of 1947 - commander of “Dainava” military district. In 1948 “Vanagas” became o commander of all “South” region of Lithuania. Together with all commanders and leaders of Freedom Fight he signed the famous “Declaration of LLKS, 1949 February 16th” (“DECLARATION BY THE COUNCIL OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM OF LITHUANIA”) http://www3.lrs.lt/cgi-bin/preps2?Condition1=90678&Condition2=
In 1949 September 18 he get a rank of the colonel of Lithuanian partisans. Because of illness of chief commander J.Zemaitis - “Vytautas”, from 1952 May 20 Adolfas Ramanauskas - “Vanagas” became a chairman of LLKS council.

Adolfas Ramanauskas - “Vanagas” (“Hawk”) was arrested in Kaunas 1956 October 12. After sadistic tortures by Russian occupants he was sentenced to death penalty. Executed 1957 November 29.


Adolfas Ramanauskas - “Vanagas” (“Hawk”) with the hawks on this shoulders. 1947 fighting for free Lithuania.


Decoration of “Kazimieraitis” brigade, “Dainava” military district. Lionginas Baliukevicius - “Dzukas” reading the order, while Adolfas Ramanauskas - “Vanagas” (commander) decorating courier, miss Sofija Budenaite - “Ramune”. 1948


“Dainava” distr. From the l.: Pranas Ivanauskas - “Bevardis”, platoon commander in “Vanagas” group, “Kazimieraitis” brigade; commander “Vanagas”; Lionginas Baliukevicius - “Dzukas” - member of district Staff; Stasys Klimasauskas - “Genys” - Vanagas group 1948.

MESSAGE TO NON EASTERN EUROPEAN MEMBERS: IF YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE, PLEASE INDICATE IT, VOICE YOUR OPINION, SO FAR IT LOOKS LIKE SOME PEOPLE WRITE AND THEY DON’T KNOW IF THEIR MESSAGES ARE REACHING ANYONE… Just say: “this was interesting” or " your post was total crap", any input welcomed…

Salute,

Lancer44

#2

Hi Lancer,

I found this article quite interesting. As in so many parts of the world at that time, World War II did not necessarily stop with the surrender of Germany and Japan. Fighting carried on in such places as China between the Communist and Nationalist forces, in Palestine during the struggle to establish the state of Israel, in Greece during their civil war, in French Indochina, British Malaya and Dutch East Indies (Indonesian war of independance).

That Adolfas Ramanauskas - “Vanagas” (“Hawk”) was quite an interesting character…very tragic ending though.

At any rate, I just wanted to say thanks.

George

#3

I would like to present a short history of polish anti-communist movement.
Unfortunately, I’m very, very busy recently so this post is just an introduction.

After entering the polish territory in January 1944, Red Army did not
bring freedom, nor peace to Poland. After initial cooperation between
Armia Krajowa (Home Army) troops and Soviet forces against Germans
(Operation “Burza” - Storm), NKVD started a large scale arresting
of members of polish underground. Majority of them were imprisoned
or murdered fast. The rest of soldiers was forced to join the 1st and 2nd Army (communist) comanded by gen. Zygmunt Berling and gen. Karol “Walter” Swierczewski. The largest and well-organised movement was first to be destroyed in aim to weaken the polish element. Despite of that the underground was still on guard for independence. Ressistance against soviet domination instantly assumed the form of organised warfare. Main guerilla units fought until end of 40’s, but in some areas much longer.
When almost whole world celebrated the D-Day in Europe on night of 8-9th of May, a company of polish ressistance fighters led by mjr “Bruzda” was on its way to rescue their fellow comrades held in prison by Security Force in city of Grajewo. For these men the war was not over.
They were members of new secret organisation called “Freedom and Independence” ("Wolnosc i Niezawislosc - WiN).
It’s creation (in january 1945) was a desperate act of protest against
traitors’ rule imposed by soviet military. When all agreements between
Allies (made in Teheran in Yalta) became widely known, it was obvious
that 3rd World War will not break out soon. And only defeat of Soviet Union
in future conflict could bring freedom to Poland. Without any chance for help from the outside, all these fighters who avoided being captured by NKVD or Security Service carried on their fight. The new underground structure free of Soviet infiltration was ready in January 1945. It took over the control over remaining Home Army units and structures.
The main aim of this organisation was preventing communist from winning in incoming elections to parliament. The WiN’s leader demanded withdrawal of
Red Army and NKVD from Poland. They also postulated an indenpendence
from Soviet Union and need of democratic elections.
That’s why WiN became a main internal enemy of new rulers and their
Security Service. Since 1944 WiN and other anti-communist organisations kept fighting in self-defence. The exact number of undeground fighters is unknown, but estimated at least 30000 soldiers.
They launched hundreds of successful attacks against Militia Posts, Security Service Barracks and prisons. They fought against huge enemy supported with tanks, artillery and air force. And many times they were victorious.
The last of them, Jozef “Lalek” Franczak was killed in his shelter
by Security Service on 21st of october 1963.

I’ll try to prepare next post asap - I will tell you a story of Mjr Zygmunt “Lupaszko” Szendzielarz, who’s name inspired fear among polish communists.

#4

Would anyone know what the relationship was between the Armia Krajowa and the Jews?

#5

In February 1942, the Operational Command of the AK Information and Propaganda Office set up the Section for Jewish Affairs, directed by Henryk Woliński. This section collected data about the situation of the Jewish population, drafted reports and sent information to London. It also centralized contacts between Polish and Jewish military organizations. The AK also organised financial aid for Jews (see Żegota). The AK accepted only a few Jews (about one thousand) into its own ranks: it generally turned down Jewish applicants, since they could be more easily identified by the Nazis.

One of AK members, Witold Pilecki, was the only person to volunteer for imprisonment in Auschwitz. The information he gathered proved crucial in convincing Western Allies about the fate of Jewish population.

The AK provided the Warsaw Ghetto with about sixty revolvers, several hundred hand grenades, and ammunition and explosives. During the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943, AK units tried twice to blow up the ghetto wall, carried out holding actions outside the ghetto walls, and together with GL forces sporadically attacked German sentry units near the ghetto walls. Security Cadre (Kadra Bezpieczeństwa or KB), one of the organizations subordinate to the AK, under the command of Henryk Iwański took a direct part in fights inside the ghetto together with Jewish fighters from ŻZW and ŻOB.

Three out of seven members of the Collective Command of the AK (KG AK) had Jewish origins.

While most historians agree that AK was largely untainted in collaboration with Nazis in the Holocaust, the accusations of the complicity of single AK members or groups in anti-Jewish violence in Poland are frequently brought up to this day. The issue remains a controversial one and is subject to a difficult debate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armia_Krajowa#Relations_with_Jews

I should also add that some Jewish partisan give evidence that they were attacked by the AK.

#6

Hi Lancer,

very good thread. Continue please. This stories must be known.

Greetings Stahler

#7

VERY, Very good information boys.

In regard with the baltic freedom fighters…is interesting, maybe that explain why in Latvia and Estonia, the Waffen SS veteran can carry proudly his uniforms ans medals, thing that is forbiden and /or politically incorrect in the western Europena countries.

http://aeronautics.ru/archive/wwii/baltic_nazis/latvia/index.htm

#8

Hi Panzerknacker,

Perhaps this will be an explanation:

The guerilla operations in Estonia and Latvia had some basis in Hitler’s authorisation of a full withdrawal from Estonia in mid-September 1944 — he allowed any soldiers of his Estonian forces, primarily the 20th Waffen-SS Division (1st Estonian), who wished to stay and defend their homes to do so — and in the fate of Army Group Courland, among the last of Hitler’s forces to surrender after it became trapped in the Courland Pocket on the Latvian peninsula in 1945. Many Estonian and Latvian soldiers, and a few Germans, evaded capture and fought as Forest Brothers in the countryside for years after the war. Others, such as Alfons Rebane and Alfrēds Riekstiņš escaped to the United Kingdom and Sweden and participated in Allied intelligence operations in aid of the Forest Brothers.

While the Waffen-SS was found guilty of war crimes and other atrocities and declared a criminal organization after the War, in 1949-1950 the United States Displaced Persons Commission investigated the Estonian and Latvian divisions and on September 1, 1950 adopted the following policy:

" The Baltic Waffen SS Units are to be considered as separate and distinct in purpose, ideology, activities, and qualifications for membership from the German SS, and therefore the Commission holds them not to be a movement hostile to the Government of the United States under Section 13 of the Displaced Persons Act, as amended"

The Latvian government has documented that the Latvian Legion (primarily comprised of the 15th and 19th Latvian Waffen-SS divisions) was neither a criminal nor collaborationist organization. Mart Laar (Prime Minister of Estonia, 1992-1994 and 1999-2002), in his 1992 book War in the Woods: Estonia’s Struggle for Survival, 1944-1956 debunked Soviet propaganda that had painted the Baltic resistance as having been orchestrated by wealthy landowners and Nazi officials and noted that the Forest Brothers counted among their ranks anti-Nazis and former Soviet partisans. Nevertheless, for some, the links between some Forest Brothers and the Nazi regime remain controversial.

The ranks of the resistance swelled with the Red Army’s attempts at conscription in the Baltic states after the war, with fewer than half the registered conscripts reporting in some districts. The widespread harassment of disappeared conscripts’ families pushed more people to evade authorities in the forests. Many enlisted men deserted, taking their weapons with them.

By the late 1940s and early 1950s the Forest Brothers were provided with supplies, liaison officers and logistical coordination by the British (MI6), American, and Swedish secret intelligence services. This support played a key role in directing the Baltic resistance movement, however it diminished significantly after MI6’s Operation Jungle was severely compromised by the activities of British spies (Kim Philby and others) who forwarded information to the Soviets, enabling the KGB to identify, infiltrate and eliminate many Baltic guerilla units and cut others off from any further contact with Western intelligence operatives.

The conflict between the Soviet armed forces and the Forest Brothers lasted over a decade and cost at least 50,000 lives. Estimates for the number of guerillas in each country vary. Misiunas and Taagepera estimate between 10,000 and 15,000 in Latvia and 170,000 for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania combined

Woods, Alan. Bolshevism: The Road to Revolution, Wellred Publications, London, 1999. ISBN 1900007053
Skultans, Vieda. The Testimony of Lives: Narrative and Memory in Post-Soviet Latvia, pp. 83-84, Routledge, 1st edition, December 22, 1997. ISBN 0415162890
a b c d Kaszeta, Daniel J. Lithuanian Resistance to Foreign Occupation 1940-1952, Lituanus, Volume 34, No. 3, Fall 1988. ISSN 0024-5089
Mackevicičius, Mečislovas. Lithuanian Resistance to German Mobilization Attempts 1941-1944, Lituanus Vol. 32, No. 4, Winter 1986. ISSN 0024-5089
Letter from Harry N. Rosenfield, Acting Chairman of United States Displaced Persons Commision, to Mr. Johannes Kaiv, Acting Consul General of Estonia, in re memorandum from the Estonian Committee in the United States zone of Germany on the question of former Estonian Legionnaires seeking admission to the United States under the Displaced Persons Act, as amended. September 13, 1950.
Feldmanis, Inesis and Kangeris, Kārlis. The Volunteer SS Legion in Latvia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, n.d.
a b c Laar, Mart. War in the Woods: Estonia’s Struggle for Survival, 1944-1956, translated by Tiina Ets, Compass Press, November 1992. ISBN 0929590082
Misiunas, Romuald and Taagepera, Rein. The Baltic States: Years of Dependence, 1940-1990, University of California Press, expanded & updated edition, October 1, 1993. ISBN 0520082281
Unknown author. excerpt from Lithuania’s Struggle For Freedom, unknown year.
a b Kuodytė, Dalia and Tracevskis, Rokas. The Unknown War: Armed Anti-Soviet Resistance in Lithuania in 1944–1953, 2004. ISBN 9986-757-59-2
Tarm, Michael. The Forgotten War, City Paper’s The Baltic States Worldwide, 1996.
Huang, Mel. Review of Mart Laar’s War in the Woods: Estonia’s Struggle for Survival, 1944-1956. Central Europe Review, Vol. 1, No. 12, September 13, 1999. ISSN 1212-8732
Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. Law on the February 16, 1949 Declaration by the Council of the Movement of the Struggle for Freedom of Lithuania, Law No. VIII-1021, January 12, 1999, Vilnius.

#9

" The Baltic Waffen SS Units are to be considered as separate and distinct in purpose, ideology, activities, and qualifications for membership from the German SS, and therefore the Commission holds them not to be a movement hostile to the Government of the United States under Section 13 of the Displaced Persons Act, as amended"

Interesting but this kind of policy does not seems made by the same author wich allowed the escapade of Klaus Barbie for example.

Aniway I think that a good choice but the Baltics were not a “war crime free” organization.

#10

I agree with you , Panzerknacker. Baltic Waffen SS used by germans as instrument for the “dirty” work. They together with baltic policai are critical in murder of tens of thousands of Jews in the territory of the Baltic States.
In 1946 the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg adjudged Waffen SS to be a criminal organization.
There is an enormous quantity of evidence those proving, that ALL VOLUNTARY FASCIST ORGANIZATIONS in THE BALTIC STATES (Waffen SS, Police batalions end ets) were used by practical Germans for the accomplishment of military crimes by their hands.

The Baltic Waffen SS Units are to be considered as separate and distinct in purpose, ideology, activities, and qualifications for membership from the German SS, and therefore the Commission holds them not to be a movement hostile to the Government of the United States under Section 13 of the Displaced Persons Act, as amended

This Comission just proved that the USA it approaches the war criminals from the position of “dual standards”. This is typical situation during the Cold War:
" If these sons of bitch fight against THE USSR - they our sons of bitch. Fact that they killed tens of thousands people (not comunists) it does not have a value."
Here is something interesting about this theme in english
http://aeronautics.ru/archive/wwii/baltic_nazis/latvia/index.htm

#11

Probably not everyone but no doubt that they had his criminals too.

By the way In Estonia there is also a monument to the Wafeen SS fighters.

“For the crusaders against bolshevism” in the inscription.

#12

You know Panzerknacker, I think that in this way they soon will establish monument to Hitler “as main crusaders against the bolshevism”

#13

With help of Mr. Rezun/Suvorov, ex GRU agent it will happen sooner or later…

It doesn’t mean that I approve such measure… Not at all! Twists of history are incredible!

lol

Personally I think that Baltic States have right to commemorate their fighters in the “context of their history”.
They had war criminals in their ranks too… For sure! Just as Polish soldiers shooting German POWs near Chambois or before Ancona was captured, (my father told me a lot…), or Americans starving Germans near Remagen, Canadians shooting Germans right at the Juno Beach and ever after, 45-th American Division “which never took prisoners” and finally soviet “big brothers” which fed every German with “svinaya tuschonka”, gave him full pot of freshly brewed tea and transfered to cosy camp where he could spend the rest of the war just looking at burning logs in the barrack fireplace. lol

Do you agree with me, Chevan?

Looking at Finns, Romanians, Hungarians, Bulgarians and Slovaks history during WWII, we can see the whole picture. Every mentioned nation was pushed into Hitler’s camp by Stalin’s aggressive policy. They just had no choice…
Fortunately for them they were not drawn into USSR as soviet republics, but remained nominally independent - therefore their resistance after the war was taking different form.

And it is a pity Chevan, that you will never understand that some people, nations and social groups, were more afraid of soviets than nazis.
Nazis were killing some members of their societies, intelligentsia and Jews, but never attempted to completely destroy the “soul” of nation to the extent which soviets managed to display between September 1939 to June 1941.

Zdarova!

Lancer44

#14

Well, war crimes were everywere if there is the case, But were most usual in two armies, the german, and russian alike.

#15

War crimes had place in any armies which took part in WW2 in both sides. But fight German and Soviet was most cruel, becouse it determinated of two mortal idiology.

#16

You are perfectly right!

That’s why I personally think that any ideology is very dangerous.
War in Pacific was not much less cruel due to the rasism on both sides.

Cheers,

Lancer44

#17

Lincer , i never justified Stalin polisy of “Victory of International Proletariat”. I think Soviet communism was a big mistake. Today i see agressive reasons of USSR polity, but in that cinic time befor ww2 it was usual behaviour of countries.
For example your matheland Poland concluded non-agressive pact with Nazi Germany in 1934. In 1935 it was the economic adgeement betwin both. Polish-German relation was such friendly till the end of 1938 that Poland even increase own territory (at expense of Chehoslovakia).
Look at all this of Stalin’s eyes. He had no reason to be the friendly or respectly with Poland.

“Looking at Finns, Romanians, Hungarians, Bulgarians and Slovaks history during WWII, we can see the whole picture. Every mentioned nation was pushed into Hitler’s camp by Stalin’s aggressive policy. They just had no choice…”

It rigt to say “they found better way together with Hitler” .
This little predators want to deside his problem in company with great predator Hitler. They must think about result. The bag was so nearly.
It’s the fate.

Cheers

#18

No,no dear friend. I told just about European theatre.
War in Pacific is another theme.
Jupanes had own race ideology.

#19

Hi Chevan,

I did not mean just Japanese racism. I meant American racism towards Japanese.
But this is total OFF TOPIC.
If you want to discuss, set up thread in Pacific Theatre.

Lancer44

#20

This thread somewhat drifted into off topics and I decided to revive it.

PHOTOGRAPHS MAY BE DISTURBING! ANYONE SENSITIVE SHOULD NOT WATCH.
I wanted to paste hotlinks at first, but they don’t work.

Photographs are from the Photo Album “For Freedom and Fatherland” /“Už laisvę ir Tėvynę” : [fotoalbumas / sudarytojai Dalia Kuodytė, Eugenijus Peikštenis, Dalius Žygelis ; teksto autoriai Dalia Kuodytė, Jonas Vaičenonis]. - Vilnius : Valstybės žinios : Lietuvos gyventojų genocido ir rezistencijos tyrimo centras, 2004 (Vilnius : Sapnų sala). - 255, [1] p. : iliustr. - Dalis gretut. teksto liet., angl. - Tiražas 1500 egz. - ISBN 9986-18-132-1 (įr.)/

But the primary source of these pictures off course is (left by the soviets), archive of “Vilnius branch of KGB”, the same “company” that Russia’s president Vladimir Putin belongs to.

NKVD - MGB and KGB employed very civilised way of discouraging Baltic States population from resistance to “Workers paradise”, they were puting bodies of killed freedom fighters on public displays. Such displays are well remembered by older Lithuanians.

At first let’s see Elena Gendrolyte-Jurkuniene - “Balanda” , teacher with her class.

Below body of Elena on public display in Kelme…in 1953 - eight years after end of WWII.

http://img273.imageshack.us/img273/6753/llpartisansjurkunasgendrolytebaksyscm2.jpg
Elena Gendrolyte-Jurkuniene - “Balanda” was born in 1926 in Kasciukai village, Kelmes distr., Raseiniai region. From 1947 she became supporter and liaison of Raudgiris platoon, “Kestutis” military distr. Member of staff of “Juros” (“See”) military region. KIA in 1953 January 17th together with commander of “Western” (“See”) part of fighting Lithuania A. Baksys - “Klajunas” and her husband A. Jurkunas - “Valeras” in the village of Pazukai, Kelme distr. Body was put on public display in Kelme. Take a look of wooden stick that was put by soviets to hold up her head.

http://img273.imageshack.us/img273/6924/lithuanianpartisans1951jr3.jpg
Bodies of KIA Lithuanian partisans in Lazdijai, in the main square, in front of Russian MGB headquarters. 1951.

http://img273.imageshack.us/img273/15/llunknownltpartisanszemaitijaxo2.jpg
Bodies of KIA unknown Lithuanian freedom fighters from Aukstatija.

Lancer44

Edited by Dani: All you have to do is to paste the link in your post. Or in your case, to remove any tags.
Edited by Lancer44 to fix spelling mistake.