[Misc] The Forest Brothers - Lithuanian Resistance WWII and beyond.

BadFish · Jul 4, 2024

I expect this thread to sink like a stone but does anyone know any good resources for the above?

However, I am researching for a story I am writing and have lept down a rabbit whole of baltic lunacy.

So history buffs, any links or videos about this, Lithuanian refugees to UK (London or Brighton even better) or general Lithuanian culture would be welcome

The Mole · Jul 4, 2024

Not the UK but Australia - but an interesting insight into WW2 resistance in the Baltic states

Storyville - Revenge: Our Dad the Nazi Killer

Storyville documentary. Three Australian brothers investigate whether their father and uncle, both Holocaust survivors, may have been involved in the deaths of former Nazis after the war.

www.bbc.co.uk

BadFish · Jul 4, 2024

The Mole said:
Not the UK but Australia - but an interesting insight into WW2 resistance in the Baltic states

Storyville - Revenge: Our Dad the Nazi Killer

Storyville documentary. Three Australian brothers investigate whether their father and uncle, both Holocaust survivors, may have been involved in the deaths of former Nazis after the war.

www.bbc.co.uk

Brillian, thank you. I live in Australia so double interesting.

I knew it was asking on here, you can literally find information about anything on NSC.

papachris · Jul 4, 2024

I live in Estonia now and the forest brothers are an important part of history here. Unfortunately I don't have any new source of information other than what you would find in Wikipedia etc.
The Soviet occupation and deportations were brutal and there are definitely lessons for today

gullshark · Jul 4, 2024

I work with Lithuanians and frequently visit Vilnius, I can always ask them if you have any questions about stuff?

kevo · Jul 4, 2024

You may already be aware of it, but I visited this museum in Vilnius, all about the Lithuanian Resistance. If you contact them, I'm sure they would help you. They have all the material you would need.

Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights | Go Vilnius

The former office of the KGB Deputy Chief of Internal Prison on the museum’s first floor includes an exhibition of documents, photographs, maps and other i...

www.govilnius.lt

BadFish · Jul 4, 2024

kevo said:
You may already be aware of it, but I visited this museum in Vilnius, all about the Lithuanian Resistance. If you contact them, I'm sure they would help you. They have all the material you would need.

Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights | Go Vilnius

The former office of the KGB Deputy Chief of Internal Prison on the museum’s first floor includes an exhibition of documents, photographs, maps and other i...

www.govilnius.lt

Thank you, I think I have all I need for the Baltic part of the story. I have been fascinated by the forest brother story though it's amazing.

Do you happen to know if there was a well to do arty/bohemian area in Vilnius back in the day.

Also if a well to do family had a second country home in the late 40s, away from the soviet eyes and close to forest brother action, where would be a good spot?

I now have my characters moving to London in the 60s and am interested to know if there are any areas of London where people from the baltics resided?

I am also interested if there are any people from the area in Sussex. I knew a girl with Georgian heritage from Storrington back in the day.

Thanks again NSC never ceases to amaze in terms of collective information.

theboybilly · Jul 4, 2024

Could these assist you?

Lithuanian Embassy, Lithuanian House, 2 Bessborough Gardens, London SW1V 2JE

kevo · Jul 4, 2024

BadFish said:
Thank you, I think I have all I need for the Baltic part of the story. I have been fascinated by the forest brother story though it's amazing.

Do you happen to know if there was a well to do arty/bohemian area in Vilnius back in the day.

Also if a well to do family had a second country home in the late 40s, away from the soviet eyes and close to forest brother action, where would be a good spot?

I now have my characters moving to London in the 60s and am interested to know if there are any areas of London where people from the baltics resided?

I am also interested if there are any people from the area in Sussex. I knew a girl with Georgian heritage from Storrington back in the day.

Thanks again NSC never ceases to amaze in terms of collective information.

Have you visited Vilnius? Flights are cheap and it's a lovely city. Suggest you go there for your research - the museum has a lot of information about all of this kind of thing.

BadFish · Jul 4, 2024

kevo said:
Have you visited Vilnius? Flights are cheap and it's a lovely city. Suggest you go there for your research - the museum has a lot of information about all of this kind of thing.

Bit far for me sadly, I am in Australia

kevo · Jul 4, 2024

BadFish said:
Bit far for me sadly, I am in Australia

Why don't you contact them with your questions, I'm sure they would help.

BadFish · Jul 4, 2024

kevo said:
Why don't you contact them with your questions, I'm sure they would help.

I certainly will, thank you.

gullshark · Jul 4, 2024

I spoke to a colleague of mine, and he replied... (note, you'll have to translate the websites!)

I’ve found this page https://www.renkuosilietuva.lt/lt/n...nio-gyvenimo-ieskotojai-ir-karo-pabegeliai/95 which confirms that towards the end of second world war about 60k (well educated) people left Lithuania and went to Austria and Germany hoping to return to Lithuania in the near future, but since Lithuania was occupied, they moved to USA (majority), Canada, Belgium, England, Austria, South America.

There seem to be some university diploma dissertation done on emigration topic. https://www.vdu.lt/cris/entities/etd/1fd90407-d878-4e45-9f63-a5a4f15b84c0

There’s also this article, published in a journal about emigration in 1944-1950. It’s also in Lithuanian https://etalpykla.lituanistika.lt/f...1743024/datastreams/DS.002.0.01.ARTIC/content

overall, because Lithuania was constantly under occupation, there were no good environment for an artists community to form. Lithuania was agricultural country, so the options were: work fields or get educated (very often closely related to religion).

BadFish · Jul 4, 2024

gullshark said:
I spoke to a colleague of mine, and he replied... (note, you'll have to translate the websites!)

I’ve found this page https://www.renkuosilietuva.lt/lt/n...nio-gyvenimo-ieskotojai-ir-karo-pabegeliai/95 which confirms that towards the end of second world war about 60k (well educated) people left Lithuania and went to Austria and Germany hoping to return to Lithuania in the near future, but since Lithuania was occupied, they moved to USA (majority), Canada, Belgium, England, Austria, South America.

There seem to be some university diploma dissertation done on emigration topic. https://www.vdu.lt/cris/entities/etd/1fd90407-d878-4e45-9f63-a5a4f15b84c0

There’s also this article, published in a journal about emigration in 1944-1950. It’s also in Lithuanian https://etalpykla.lituanistika.lt/f...1743024/datastreams/DS.002.0.01.ARTIC/content

overall, because Lithuania was constantly under occupation, there were no good environment for an artists community to form. Lithuania was agricultural country, so the options were: work fields or get educated (very often closely related to religion).

Brilliant, thank you. That last part is especially useful, I will have to take that into account.

Skuller · Jul 4, 2024

I’m Inter-railing around Europe at the moment and spent a few days in Vilnius. The Museum of Occupations and Freedom is serious and educational and I’m sure they’d help you out if asked nicely. I’d never realised that there was a resistance movement against the Soviets after the war (up until 1953 if I remember correctly, when it fizzled out). I appreciate you’d have difficulty getting there yourself, but for those who have the opportunity, Vilnius is a beautiful city: calm, relaxing and at a very human scale. I’m terrified it’ll become the next party city, joining the ranks of Prague and Amsterdam.

portlock seagull · Jul 4, 2024

BadFish said:
I expect this thread to sink like a stone but does anyone know any good resources for the above?

However, I am researching for a story I am writing and have lept down a rabbit whole of baltic lunacy.

So history buffs, any links or videos about this, Lithuanian refugees to UK (London or Brighton even better) or general Lithuanian culture would be welcome

Here you go BadFish, came out last year and will provide excellent wider context and general info. Just don’t buy from Amazon. And if you really have to, use the NSC link so Bozza gets something!

But libraries are free which is worth remembering.

Resistance: The Underground War in Europe 1939-45 - The Wolfson History Prize shortlist 2023

Shortlisted for the 2023 Wolfson History Prize, Resistance is a sweeping, original history of occupation and resistance in war-torn Europe.

www.wolfsonhistoryprize.org.uk

BadFish · Jul 4, 2024

Skuller said:
I’m Inter-railing around Europe at the moment and spent a few days in Vilnius. The Museum of Occupations and Freedom is serious and educational and I’m sure they’d help you out if asked nicely. I’d never realised that there was a resistance movement against the Soviets after the war (up until 1953 if I remember correctly, when it fizzled out). I appreciate you’d have difficulty getting there yourself, but for those who have the opportunity, Vilnius is a beautiful city: calm, relaxing and at a very human scale. I’m terrified it’ll become the next party city, joining the ranks of Prague and Amsterdam.

Thank you, yes it fizzled out when Stalin died in 53. I read yesterday that when he died they stopped the deportations and gulag sentences.

BadFish · Jul 4, 2024

portlock seagull said:
Here you go BadFish, came out last year and will provide excellent wider context and general info. Just don’t buy from Amazon. And if you really have to, use the NSC link so Bozza gets something! But libraries are free which is worth remembering.

Resistance: The Underground War in Europe 1939-45 - The Wolfson History Prize shortlist 2023

Shortlisted for the 2023 Wolfson History Prize, Resistance is a sweeping, original history of occupation and resistance in war-torn Europe.

www.wolfsonhistoryprize.org.uk

Brilliant thank you, I will see if I can find it.

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