The Lithuanian Jewish Community is publishing a series of articles by the historian Algimantas Kasparavičius, a senior researcher at the Lithuanian History Institute.
Part 3
As shown by rather abundant surviving archival sources, memoirs and historiography, the pro-German (more accurately pro-Nazi, since in principle there existed no other Germany at that time operating in the international arena as real geopolitical power) concept and strategy of liberation from Soviet occupation and annexation and restoration of the Lithuanian state [1] began to form during the first days of the Soviet occupation, i.e., the end of June, 1940, mainly at the initiative of Lithuanian diplomat in Berlin colonel Kazys Škirpa, who, for several years, had maintained good and even friendly relations with high Nazi Party figures [2]. The process accelerated immediately upon the annexation of Lithuania. As Stalinist repression growing into state terror and radical socio-political reforms took hold in Lithuania [sic]. An organized anti-Soviet resistance quickly began to coalesce by early October of 1940 in Kaunas. The main author of this strategy and its main ideologue, however, was none other than Lithuania’s long-time military attaché in Berlin, colonel Kazys Škirpa. [3] It was at his initiative and due to his efforts that the Lithuanian Activist Front was established in Berlin on November 17, 1940. The LAF established headquarters in Lithuania in Kaunas and Vilnius. Besides Škirpa, the main LAF figures in Berlin and Lithuania were E. Galvanauskas, Klemensas Brunius, Antanas Maceina and Karolis Žalkauskas, Leonas Prapuolenis, Vytautas Bulvičius, Juozas Kilius, Adolfas Damušis, Jonas Pajaujis, K. Antanavičius, J. Vėbra and others. [4]
In cooperation and consultation with German/Nazi political, military and diplomatic figures–field marshals Wilhelm Keitel and Walter von Brauchitsh, chief of the Abwehr admiral Wilhelm Canaris and Abwehr agent in charge of contact with Baltic anti-Soviet resistance organizations lieutenant colonel Herman Gräbe–a program began to be drafted for liberation from Soviet occupation and annexation. Methods, tactics and political strategy for Lithuanian partisan warfare and insurgency against the Soviets were developed. [5]
These tactics and strategies were rather simple and consisted of exploiting the advent of the German-Soviet war and the Wehrmacht’s invasion of Lithuania and following in the geopolitical wake of the Third Reich to organize a mass anti-Soviet uprising in Lithuania and to proclaim the formation of a Provisional Government and the restoration of an independent Lithuanian state. It’s not worth examining the operational methods, tactics and ideological orientations of the LAF more broadly because Dr. Valentinas Brandišauskas and other historians have already explained them rather thoroughly as they occur in LAF documents published and examined: calls to action, press items and correspondence. [6] I will only note as the moment of the fateful German-Soviet collision drew near, in the spring of 1941 the LAF noticeably intensified their anti-Soviet and often at the same time anti-Jewish/anti-Semitic propaganda with threats to do away with the Jews [7], adopted a political resolution on organizing a future National Labor Security [TDA] battalion in Lithuania, and on April 22 formed the Provisional Government with colonel Škirpa as its titular head.
Looking back at the events of the summer of 1941 historically and without getting bogged down in examinations of the details, statistics, rhetoric and other significant historical archaeology of the June 23 uprising and the activities of the Provisional Government, one can say that politically the uprising and the Provisional Government, and later the whole pro-German strategy of restoration of the Lithuanian state, then experienced fatal historical failure. Basically the only achievement of the uprising was the declaration of the restoration of the Lithuanian state of dubious political value with a heavy patina of Nazi propaganda and rhetoric read out by authorized LAF agent Leonas Prapuolenis over Lithuanian radio on the morning of June 23 [8], and the even more politically, ethically and aesthetically disgusting Call to the Lithuanian People [9] enthusiastically demanding countrymen take up arms against the fleeing Red Army, support in all ways the march of the Wehrmacht and declaring “Lithuania’s friendliest relations with Great Germany and his leader Adolf Hitler.” Over almost seven weeks of their operations neither the insurgents nor the Provisional Government acquired any real political power or international recognition, nor could they have. [10] As soon as the US State Department learned of the June 22, 1941, total war the Third Reich had begun against the Soviet Union and their invasion of the territory of the Baltic states annexed by the Soviets, they immediately and without hesitation stated this invasion would not bring freedom to the Baltic nations and would not lead to the restoration of statehood. [11] But they did become the lackeys of Nazi policies in Lithuania because of their shortsightedness. Although neither the local military occupational government in Kaunas, much less the civilian Nazi administration in Berlin, opened or maintained any official ties with the Lithuanian Provisional Government (nominal Provisional Government head colonel Škirpa was not allowed to leave Berlin for Kaunas and so philology professor Juozas Ambrazevičius was forced to stand in for him), to implement their policies in Lithuania they gladly made use of the political shortsightedness, moral/ethical conformity and blindness of the Provisional Government as well as its authority in the politically damaged eyes of Lithuanian society and the Quisling structures set up and nominally administered by them, from the kommandanturen, police, National Labor Security battalion, Ethnic Training Board and etc., to the district and aldermanship administrations.
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[1] Arūnas Bubnys, Provokiška Lietuvos valstybės atkūrimo vizija (1940–1944), in: Lietuvos diplomatija XX amžiuje, Vilnius: Vaga, 1999, p. 133.
[2] Kazys Škirpa, Sukilimas Lietuvos suverenitetui atstatyti. Dokumentinė apžvalga, Vašingtonas: Printed by Franciscan Fathers Press, 1973, pp. 19–20.
[3] Škirpa himself confirms this fact many times in his book Sukilimas…
[4] Valentinas Brandišauskas, Siekiai atkurti Lietuvos valstybingumą (1940 06-1941 09), Vilnius: Valstybinis leidybos centras, 1996, pp. 36–38.
[5] Kazys Škirpa, Op. cit., pp. 111–113.
[6] 1941 m. birželio sukilimas. Dokumentų rinkinys, [Sudarytojas dr. Valentinas Brandišauskas], Vilnius: Lietuvos gyventojų genocido ir rezistencijos tyrimų centras 2000, ; Lietuvos žydų žudynių byla. Dokumentų ir straipsnių rinkinys (Sudarytojas prof. Alfonsas. Eidintas), Vilnius: Vaga, 2001; Liudas Truska, Lietuvių ir žydų santykių krizė, Holokausto prielaidos: antisemitizmas Lietuvoje, Vilnius, 2004.
[7] Kęstutis Kasparas, Kai kurie slapto ir viešo pasipriešinimo bruožai 1940–1942 m. dokumentuose. Priedas Nr. 5., in Liasvės kovų archyvas, kn. 11, Kaunas 1994, pp. 184–185; Valentinas Brandišauskas, Siekiai atkurti Lietuvos valstybingumą (1940 06 – 1941 09), Vilnius: Valstybinis leidybos centras, 1996, pp. 44–46, 151–152.
[8] “Declaration of the restoration of the independence of Lithuania. With the formation of the Provisional Government of the newly reborn Lithuania, this announces it is restoring the free and independent state of Lithuania. Before the pure conscience of the entire world, the young state of Lithuania enthusiastically vows to contribute to the organization of Europe on new foundations. The Lithuanian nation, tortured by the brutal Bolshevik terror, resolves to create its own future on the bases of ethnic unity and social justice. Signed: prime minister Škirpa, Raštikis, Skipytis, Matulionis, Pajaujis, Damušis, Statkus, Vitkus, Landsbergis, Vainauskas.”
[9] “A Call to the Lithuanian People. The red henchmen, having brutally tortured our country, who have demonstrated their courage against unarmed women and children who even now are dying of thirst in locked train cars, now consumed by terror are fleeing chaotically. The hour of the liberation of all the lands of Lithuania draws near. The German people with their wonderful army have rescued the culture and civilization of Europe. For a quarter of a century having run rabid with unprecedented brutality, the red terror has been dashed against the bravery and resolve of the German army and the German people.
“Lithuanian brothers, take up arms and aid the German army in their work of liberating the country. Do not heed the Bolsheviks’ call to mobilization, hide from them food, fodder and livestock, and do not allow them to torch and destroy property. Protect factories and work tools. Sabotage the red occupiers in any ways possible. With confidence and joyful thanks welcome the German army under march and render them every aid. Long live friendly relations with Great Germany and his leader Adolf Hitler. Long live freedom and free Lithuania. All for Lithuania. Signed: LAF chief of staff authorized agent Leonas Prapuolenis.”
[10] Hereinafter Provisional Government will be abbreviated PG [in future installments of the same text].
[11] Richard A. Schnorf, Baltic States in US-Soviet Relations, 1939–1942, in Lituanus. the Lithuanian Quarterly Journal of Arts and Sciences [Ed. Tomas Remeikis], vol 12, no. 1, Spring, 1966.