Blog archive

Lithuanians
in the World

VilNews will from time to time present Lithuanians who have left the home country and made some kind of career abroad. We are this time not so much looking for celebrity articles, more for some unusual life stories describing Lithuanians who have settled somewhere in the world. Send us your story!

From Vilnius University
to modeling in Milan

Giedrė Jotautaitė, Milan, Italy

I'm from Vilnius, born and raised here. I finished school in Vilnius and afterwards I studied Business Information Management at the University of Vilnius. Two years ago, the university required us to have practice from a business, and as I have always wanted to travel more, I decided to practice outside Lithuania. I had a friend in Italy who helped me to find a company where I could do this. So I filled in all the papers and participated in an Erasmus practice competition, and won! Afterwards I came to live in Milan. I chose Italy for many reasons: Milan has always been the centre of fashion, attracting many people from all over the world. I love Italian climate, food, their basic outlook on life and ability to do less than what is needed and not be punished. Italy has everything – mountains, sea, culture and architecture, beautiful history ... They have very good taste for living, which includes everything: from clothes to where to go on vacation.

When I participated in the Erasmus programme I fell in love with an Italian guy, at first I thought it would be just a game, but after that it became a really beautiful, lasting thing.

I know that Italy is the place where I live, the country that I love and enjoy very much, but Vilnius will always be my hometown and Lithuania will always be my country and I will definitely come back. I think this is the case for most people who left their homeland; that parts of their hearts always will want to go back to where they were born, a place they understand all the jokes people are telling, where they know the culture and where the parents live.

As I said, I do very well in Italy, but in my plans, it is always a place for Lithuania. Now with some friends who are business partners, we are working to open an e-shop, www.adoro.lt. With all my heart I’m looking to find the activity that can help me spend half of my time here in Lithuania, where all my friends and family are.

And I can say that the last government and some intelligent people have made it easy to do business here, for example; from September last year it’s possible to open a "mazoji bendrija", which offers a very interesting option. In Lithuania we have e-signature, we have wireless networks in every public place you go so we try to look ahead and that’s a wonderful thing. Lithuania has a lot of intelligent people who might go abroad then get some practice and then come back to do Lithuanian life better.

As I see it, Lithuania is doing pretty good if I compare with Italy where you now can feel the crisis more. Strikes and incredible taxes, every day new laws, which modifies a prior completely...  And now Berlusconi seems to be making a comeback… In Italy there are a million people and businesses not paying taxes and the government is trying to stop this in the most amazing ways.

Lithuania is tackling this in a much better way. My Italian boyfriend says that if it continues like this we will come to live in Lithuania :) So I cannot wait.

I come to Lithuania to see my parents and friends every month, and every morning I read the news from Lithuania. I especially like www.ekonomika.lt and also www.VilNews.com.

Now it’s also possible to join the VilNews Facebook Forum where people share information and news. I want to say thank you to Aage Myhre for his patience and time in searching such interesting information and give the rest of us a chance to know this too.

Best wishes and kisses,
Giedre :)

November/December 2012
 

 
PRELIMINARY LIST OF TOPICS:

Bernard M Terway, Texas
I am proud of my
Lithuanian heritage

Lithuania, beer in a tube, me with a glass and a smile.
What more could you want?

Bernard M Terway (Tirva), Leander, Texas

Lithuanians left their home country starting in the 1800’s and, new waves keep coming to the United States all the time.  My grandparents were among the “first wave” immigrants, leaving Lithuania for a better life in America, getting away from being conscripted into the Russian army, living under Russian rule, and for economic reasons. 

It is still a mystery to me where they came from, where they entered the United States, but their life story begins in Pennsylvania.  That, is not, however, the reason for this story.

I was born in 1940, the last of seven children, six boys and one girl.  We all were baptized in the local Lithuanian church, where we attended mass on Sundays and Holy Days.  I, along with two of my older siblings, went to the Lithuanian elementary school where we were taught by the Sisters of St. Casimir. 

There was an attempt to teach us Lithuanian.  Most of us were born at the beginnings of the Second World War, and speaking a foreign language was probably not the best way to get by at that time.  I do remember the books we had to learn from, not very sophisticated, but then again, they were not meant to be.  What I do not remember is being taught about Lithuania.

As a young boy, I remember going to the attic in our house and finding Marian magazines that had a lot about Lithuanian history in them. They fascinated me. I went to the local library and found one book on Lithuanian history, which I read several times. I was proud of my heritage and showed it as much as I could.

Throughout my life, I always found a way to mention the fact that my heritage was Lithuanian. When I went to Penn State for graduate work, I found Dr. William Schmalstieg there. He was putting together a class on the Lithuanian language and I talked several of my classmates into taking it. It was a great class, and, because of it, I was given a scholarship to study Baltic linguistics at Fordham University for a summer. There I met Dr. Senn and Dr. Salys, two figures of importance to Lithuanian linguistics study. Unfortunately, it was only one summer and then I had to head on out into the world to make a living.

I did find another Lithuanian linguistics class at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe Institute in Frankfurt Germany, but, again, only a short introductory class.

After leaving Germany and coming back to the States in 1976, I got involved with a group of Lithuanians and with them we formed the Anthracite council of the Knights of Lithuania – Council 144, still in existence today. I became active with them until moving to Texas in 1979.

Texas is not known for its cultural diversity, unless it is Spanish or German. However, at the beginning of the end of the Soviet Union, letters to the editor in the Houston Chronicle started to appear about Lithuania. Lithuanians appeared on the local TV stations and from that, we got together to form a Lithuanian group in Houston – Lithuanian American Community of Houston. I was active with them for a number of years, until 2004, when I moved to Austin. So far I have not been able to connect with any Lithuanians here, but have not given up hope.

I am a retired teacher – I taught ESL, German, History, computer maintenance and networking. I all my classes, I made sure that the students knew something about the country of my ancestors.

No matter whether you were born there, never lived there, do not speak the language, you are still a Lithuanian and can be proud of it and teach others about it. I did, and I am proud of my heritage.

Making Lithuanian sausage - me and my mom.
Oh it was SO GOOD

Believe it or not, that is I

Lithuanians
in the World

VilNews will from time to time present Lithuanians who have left the home country and made some kind of career abroad. We are this time not so much looking for celebrity articles, more for some unusual life stories describing Lithuanians who have settled somewhere in the world. Send us your story!

I am one who left
Lithuania in 1996

Nellie Vin, New York

I am one who left Lithuania in 1996 after we got independence in 1990. In few years the country’s economists, with Landsbergis as the head on top, crushed all too fast (with privatization) without providing and helping with starting of small business and lowering taxes for new business people. Finally imported, cheap products from Poland killed local farmers’ business. It’s become not profitable to grow own organic healthy products and sell for Lithuanian people. Many people left to look for opportunities in other countries. Still young and older people are leaving. No one wants to wait. We need today! Not to wait on promises for a better tomorrow.

Once they were young
and fresh as paint

Nellie Vin (photography, Lithuania 2010)
Peter  Heydon (text)

          How the old eke out a living. Not for them the luxury of comfortable retirement with generous pensions and a sedate stroll to the cemetery. Instead they face the harsh prospect of toiling until their demise, foraging and fighting for survival. What recompense for a life lived, to face the ignominy of bent backs and faces engraved with hardship and still feel the whip of necessity cutting sharply across their backs? Tumbled down old barns and broken tools patched together suffice, while over in the West combine harvesters and farms like factories generate the riches of Croesus. Here the corrugated sheds and corrugated old women in their shawls no longer have the time or muscle to smile. They conserve their energy if they can and expend it if they must. Not exactly the American Gothic of Grant Wood but folklore of another kind, the desultory and haphazard artwork of pitchfork and firewood, the scratch and scrape of making ends meet while others pile their plates with fresh meat and fill their glasses with fine wine. Once they were young and fresh as paint. Now they are old and peeling like paint. Yet they have each other. They have their integrity. They have more than most.

Upon the wall there hangs the Madonna and child, mother of perpetual help, an eternal symbol of love and protection. It is a representation of the maternal instinct which threads like an umbilical cord through all species. It is the subatomic principle that links every particle of the universe to each other in fine balance so that everything coexists. It is the way nature and the cosmos cares for itself. The painting looks down upon the humble circumstances and can identify with it. Just as a simple manger once sufficed as a bed so too a modest couch serves as somewhere to sleep. A crumpled duvet and a fat pillow lie in unkempt testimony to a homecoming. The room will soon beat with human hearts again and though it might lack affluence and opulence and may be bereft of ornamentation it remains a home. The simplicity reflects the sanctity.  The clean white sheets are like a shroud, a resurrection of hope and a faith that goodness will win and will protect with its universal truth. The simple souls of this room have nothing to lose. They are victorious in their humility and so much richer for it. 

          The three dimensional world appears to be condensed into a particularly two dimensional image. Any impression of perspective is strangely lost and in its place the building seems to hang oppressively above the silhouetted figure. Like a victim awaiting sentence to be carried out she stands in quiet resignation. There is a conspicuous stillness in her pose that is evident even in a photograph. It is as though she has prepared her soul to fly from her body, unable to suffer the pain any longer, and all that is left is the dark shape of what was once a young girl with a heart full of fire and hope, a future. The vista before her is dishevelled and bedraggled. The bulldozers of politics and change are ploughing through her country and wreaking their devastation, but she stands in their path, adamant and defiant. Nothing can crush the human spirit. It can be beaten and starved and yet it has a tenacity and strength that can overcome any adversity. After the heaviest of rains the rose still breathes its perfume across the raindrops. 

          A cow is a cow in any corner of a field and any corner of the earth. But this is no fatted calf. This is a beast with little in its belly and less on its bones. The hide hangs across its frame like a careless rug across a chair. Its head is hung low, not only grazing but also in a symbolic reflection of the land it lives in. Perhaps the rest of the herd is just out of view but it matters little. This is a solitary animal foraging in some corner of a foreign field, udders half full. Where are all the breasts full of the milk of human kindness? They have dried up and can feed no-one now. Worst still they suckle nothing but poison and contempt. We drink the economic miracle of far-flung places that grow rich on our poverty and turn a blind eye to our plight – blind eyes in Gucci sunglasses with the sharp vision of laser surgery and the icy stare of apathy. One day this land will be lush again. The soil is rich and that is all that one needs to grow again when the time is right. 

          How small we all are, especially in the distance. The solitary path travels from here to there, regardless of whether dusty feet should choose to walk along it. With baggage in hand, a determination in her straight back, and a resolve in the step the broken road is her sole domain. No other vestige of life to spoil her view, no cars or carts or children kicking up the stones and playing games. No dogs or donkeys or dumped prams in ditches. The straight line to the horizon is uncluttered by any semblance of other life. Just one life parades in solitude, purpose unknown, frozen at a far point with a vast swathe of worn highway behind her and an uncertain future before her. Turbulent clouds threaten the skyline but possibly they are dispersing rather than gathering. Who knows? The landscape converges upon her, the singularity of her presence and every blade of grass and every leaf on every tree presses for her destination. She remains mute, head turned away, turned towards tomorrow. Their question remains unanswered. Only time will tell. 

From Šiauliai to USA,
Africa and New Zealand

Virginia Shimkute with her daughters, Roberta who now considers
Africa her home, and Arune who has happily settled in the U.S.

Letter from Virginia Shimkute, New Zealand

I am currently living in Bay Of Islands, New Zealand, popular tourist destination, working in hospitality, tourism business for over 2 years. It’s been a drastic change in last 3 years, not only moving countries but change of career as well. From corporate world-offices, board meetings, pressurised job which does give you security to totally opposite: I am now my own boss in a holiday destination environment, watching dolphins swimming by, fish, boats and birds, always in the open air. Mind you – no securities.

In a week or two I will be opening a brand new impressive shop on a waterfront – selling New Zealand’s locally produced delicacies – Manuka honey, exquisite chocolate, cheeses-all supplied by local producers. Exciting and busy time.

Back a bit-was born and brought up in Siauliai, northern Lithuania. I had excellent teachers and received a very good education. Later I studied in Vilnius and got to love that special city. After receiving a diploma in programming, I went back to Siauliai for work. Few years later moved with family to Vilnius.

First overseas trip happened in 1990, to USA. Strange experience of a totally different world, different values compared to Lithuania.

After less than a year, due to family commitments, I returned to Vilnius in early January 1991.

Most memorable night which I will never forget – 13th of January 1991. Picture me: 9 months pregnant, just returned from the “smiley, cheery, bright Americas”, all alone at night in my central Vilnius flat, tanks rolling by. My dog was trembling with fear, trying to fit on my lap-only company I had. My husband had left for Siauliai to bring my mom who was supposed to be helping with the new arrival – my baby. Sad night for all of Lithuania. Happy ending later – new life commenced 25 of January.

Left for South Africa in 1993.Children were 3 and 10 years old. Settled there and lived for next 16 years, raised my two girls in Johannesburg. My Lithuanian education came in real handy and I was able to get good jobs despite that unemployment rate was high, especially when I moved to Port Elizabeth in year 2000.

For a while it seemed that I have settled in Port Elizabeth – good job at Continental Tyres, comfortable house. But there was this nagging feeling of dissatisfaction and a need of a new challenge – South Africa seemed not good enough as a location anymore.

Arune, my older daughter, moved to USA and settled there.

Just as my younger, Roberta, finished school – we decided to go on a trip to New Zealand. Came here in February 2009, travelled all over New Zealand, did some fantastic pleasant work in blueberry orchards picking blueberries – loved it here and decided to stay for longer. And I’m still here, 3 years later.

Bay of Islands is one of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand though it is very scenic all over.
Will I stay here for good? I hope so. Though wish my children wouldn’t be so far away. Brother with family settled in USA, Roberta returned to Africa, and Arune is in America. We do see each other, visit and have get-togethers in one continent or the other.

I am happy with where I am and all the travels I had done, happy that I was able to get up and go when I have a desire to do so. Have one wish left – to visit Lithuania with my both children, show them all my favourite places, show them how beautiful and special is the country where they were born – so  they can place images to the stories they heard about Lithuania. And I hope they will not be disappointed.

PAIHIA – the Jewel of the Bay of Islands, New Zealand

Paihia is the main tourist town in the Bay of Islands in the far north of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located close to the historic towns of Russell, and Kerikeri, 60 kilometres north of Whangarei. The origin of the name Paihia is obscure. One, possibly apocryphal, attribution is to Reverend Henry Williams. When Williams first arrived in the Bay of Islands he knew only a little of the Māori vocabulary, one of the words he did know being ‘pai’ meaning 'good'. When they came to the place now known as Paihia, he told his Māori guide ‘Pai here’. Henry Williams named the missionary station Marsden's Vale; eventually the name Paihia became the accepted name of the settlement. Nearby is the historic settlement of Waitangi to the north, and the residential and commercial areas of Haruru Falls/Watea to the west; the township of Opua and the small settlement of Te Haumi to the south. The population of Paihia was 1770 in the 2006 Census, a decrease of 69 from 2001

Also see: 
www.kerikeri.co.nz  www.bayofislands.co.nz  www.visitfarnorthnz.com

Lithuanians
in the World

VilNews will from time to time present Lithuanians who have left the home country and made some kind of career abroad. We are this time not so much looking for celebrity articles, more for some unusual life stories describing Lithuanians who have settled somewhere in the world. Send us your story!

From Kaunas to
healing art in the U.S.

Irmina Duobaite Stiles, known as Irmina Santaika, is an Artist, Bio-Energy Practitioner, and Childhood Education instructor who was born in Kaunas, Lithuania.

From early childhood, Irmina understood that there is not only the world around us that we see based on our own personal perception, but another one space around us that we all perceive in a much deeper way in our true center. Everyone has their own conception of the world, as they see it. As a young child, Irmina sought knowledge about the conflicts that she felt between the world that she was taught existed, and what she herself felt to be true and real. She separated herself from mainstream life as she sought answers, reading all possible books that could provide answers to her questions. During this time, art became Irmina’s language of the soul to express her perception of existence.

Her first Soul Teacher was her grandmother, Liucija, whose feelings and experience were Irmina’s guide to more deeply understand God and eternal life. She exposed Irmina to the use of foods, plants, and all elements of nature achieve good health and spiritual balance. Liucija also integrated Irmina into her own diverse group of intellectuals that she socialized with, allowing Irmina to exchange views and ideas pertaining to creation, existence and the concepts of life. While learning much from this circle of her grandmother’s friends, Irmina still sought knowledge beyond which they could provide. She continued her search for knowledge, discovering others who could help her decipher the mysteries of life.

It was in 1982 that art once more became Irmina’s focus and special language to express her ideas and feelings. Attending Vilnius Justinas Vienozinskis Art School, she studied art and art history, desperately continuing her search for answers to life and existence. As she continued her education in art, she also realized psychology as an important field of study to pursue her answers. She left her studies at Art School in 1985 to concentrate her attention to earn a degree in Early Child Psychology-Pedagogy in Vilnius Pedagogical University that she had begun in 1984. She found the study of Human Anatomy and Physiology, Art Therapy, Music, Child and Family Psychology, to be invigorating and inspirational.

Upon her graduation in 1989, Irmina began working as an Early Childhood Education Instructor, but felt that the conventional training that she had received and was using, lacked the necessary answers. Irmina felt that her world had collapsed. The need to fill this void moved her to attend some classes at the Vilnius Academy of Parapsychology. Leaving the academy after a short time, she continued to study personally under some amazing teachers and healers that she met there.

Most notable of these teachers was a Siberian healer and shaman whom Irmina met in 1996, with whom she studied and practiced  Shamanic Energy Medicine for several years. Her teachings included Bio-Energy Healing, Pain, Deep Tissue, Color and Reflexive Massage, Chiropractic, Hypnosis and Visualization techniques. At this time she also began studying Agni Yoga in which she received her affirmation and personal mantra.

Irmina began using this knowledge and experience in her private practice of healing in Lithuania in 1998. Two years later, she moved to Switzerland and renewed her studies in art, pottery, and sculpture. At the same time she began concentrating her attention on the use and application of essential oils and the incorporation of Hatha Yoga in her healing practice, particularly Tibetan Rituals.

Irmina moved to the United States in 2008. Continuing her search for healing methods, she became certified in Yoga for the Special Child in 2011, through the Sonia Sumar Method, studying under Sivakami. This new knowledge has provided additional means for her to help children with special needs.

Irmina Santaika has today a private Bio-Energy Healing practice in Williamsburg, Virginia. There she happily resides with her husband, Ronald, a novelist, technical proposal writer who practices yoga and martial arts, daughter Gerda, and their Giant Schnauzer, Baldur.

“Put your heart, mind,
and soul into even
your smallest acts”

By Ronald Stiles, husband of Irmina Santaika,
for VilNews

“Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts.
This is the secret of success.”
/Swami Sivananda

Nestled quietly in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Buckingham County, lies the Satchdananda Ashram, also known as Yogaville.  My wife, Irmina Santaika, spent a week there last attending Sonia Sumar’s “Yoga for the Special Child”. Sonia, also known as Sivakami used yoga to help her daughter, Roberta, to overcome challenges that came with having Down’s Syndrome. Savikami eventually developed this methodology that has helped thousands of children with special needs over the years.

Roberta transitioned from this life at an early age. Her life and how, with her mother’s dedicated effort, she overcame Down’s Syndrome to live a fulfilling and active life, is in itself, a story of success. Perhaps, on some unconscious level, that is what prompted Irmina to use Swami Sivananda’s quote as the caption for a photo she posted on Facebook of Savikami and I. The photo was taken when we visited Savikami at Yogaville to present her with an Icon portrait of Roberta Sumar done on a small cedar plank that Irmina had painted.

Success.  What is it? There are many books written about how to achieve it. Roberta Sumar’s success in overcoming Down’s is certainly a living example of it. One definition from a dictionary states that success is “The favorable or prosperous termination of anything attempted; the attainment of a proposed object; prosperous issue.” I find this a rather cold and uninspiring definition. Perhaps this is because I associate success with joy and happiness in a person’s life. Swami Sivananda says, “Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.”  I believe that a successful individual is one who does things that bring him or her satisfaction, things that allow a person to put their heart, mind, and soul into even the smallest act associated with the overall effort. Irmina paints Byzantine Icons on small planks of cedar, praying and meditating as she works. Her art is beautiful and inspiring, successful, because there is joy in her effort. Sonia Sumar used yoga, loving moment by loving moment, to shape her daughter’s life into something vibrant and fulfilling. These are examples of success.

Unless you are doing what brings joy to your soul, then it is difficult to imagine you can fully dedicate your heart, mind, and soul to the task. This can create a bit of a conundrum in our lives.  As we move through life, many of us gravitate towards occupations and hobbies that we enjoy. We are generally successful at them because we naturally put our “heart, mind, and soul” into them. However, is being successful at these core activities the same as the “success” that Swami Sivananda is speaking of? I purport that it is only an element or a portion of “success”.

There are meals to cook, grass to cut, dishes to clean, basements that flood, and a list of life’s interruptions and chores that flows along indefinitely.  You have to put your heart, mind, and soul into even these smallest that they may be performed successfully. If not, your success is limited to only a portion of your life, resulting in only partial satisfaction in life. This results in us finding dissatisfaction with aspects of our lives, and can rob us of joy and happiness. How to fix this?
We fix this by a change of perspective. It is necessary to realize that these smallest acts, such as cleaning dishes after the evening meal, have an important role in our life. We need to respect these chores and treat them with the same regard that we have for those things that excite us. Though I’m not a Zen master by any stretch of the imagination, I believe it would be accurate to say that we must reach a state of Zen in all aspects of our living and breathing. We must find joy each living moment regardless of the task before us so that we can put our hearts, minds, and souls into even the smallest act.

Luke 16:10-12   New International Version (NIV)
10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?”

“The mass graves of Tuskulėnai”
A series of articles in 6 parts
The SUMMARY

By Vincas Karnila, Associate editor
vin.karnila@VilNews.com

There were two primary reasons that I wrote these articles about the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park. One reason was to let people know that it exists. While there are many people living outside of Lithuania that know about the “KGB Prison” in Vilnius, there are many that are not aware of Tuskulėnai. There are even people living here in Lithuania that really don’t know much about Tuskulėnai except that the people that were executed in the “KGB Prison” were buried there.

When the subject of the occupation of Lithuania by Soviet Russia is brought up, what probably first comes to mind are the forced deportations to Siberia. The next is most likely the brutal activities and practices of the NKVD/KGB. It is because of these activities of the NKVD/KGB that the “KGB Prison” has become some what of a symbol of Soviet terror. The Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park is very much a part of this symbol of Soviet terror since the people that were executed in the “KGB Prison”, between the years of 1944 and 1947, were buried in mass graves on the Tuskulėnai grounds. The “KGB Prison and Tuskulėnai were both a part of “The PROCESS”. I thought it to be important that more people knew of both locations.

My other reason for writing about the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park was to draw more awareness to the people that were executed from 1950 and after, following Moscow’s reinstating of the death penalty. The burial location(s) of the people that were executed in the “KGB Prison” from 1950 on has to date never been located. It was and is my sincere hope that by creating more awareness of Tuskulėnai to more people it could possibly bring forth some information as to the location of these victims. Many talented and well informed people have been working to find this location for many years and I, in probably my very clumsy and unorthodox way, have been and still am working on this. Unless some document can be discovered that tells of this location, most likely the only way this location will be found is from some one coming forth with information. It is my hope that these articles about Tuskulėnai will help to persuade some one to come forward with this information.

When I first decided to write about the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park, I knew that it was very likely that the articles would once again stir up the controversy regarding this site and the decision to create the memorial complex. I really didn’t think that the articles themselves would create controversy, since much of it is based on information that has already been published and on display to the public. It was the subject about the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park itself that would most likely once again bring out the controversy.

Please understand that I didn’t write these articles to reignite the controversy surrounding Tuskulėnai. I do not write articles with the purpose of creating or reigniting controversy. I wrote these articles with the intent of providing information. However, since there was and still is controversy regarding the building of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park I do feel that it is necessary and a good idea to address this controversy.

This was the situation at the beginning of 1994. The State Security Department of the Republic of Lithuania identified a mass grave within the grounds of Tuskulėnai Manor of people sentenced to death by Soviet repressive structures. An archaeological investigation was conducted and bodies were exhumed. Forty-five graves with 724 bodies were found.

OK – So now they had 724 dead bodies. To be more specific, 724 skeletal remains of dead people.

Question – What do you do with the 724 skeletal remains of dead people?
The logical and civilized answer is that you burry them. This actually created controversy. To my knowledge, all of the victims had been placed in individual cardboard boxes. The boxes had remained in a storage area of a building for quite some time awaiting a decision regarding if they would be reburied and where. While the predominant opinion was that these people needed some kind of civilized burial, the decision to bury them was put on hold due to the controversy being raised to doing this. Please continue reading and hopefully I can explain correctly the reasons for the controversy.

Question – Where do we burry them?
Actually this is a very good question. This was talked about and a number of suggestions were made but in the end it was decided to burry them at Tuskulėnai where they were originally buried by the Soviets. This created a little controversy. I would imagine that this controversy came mostly from the people that had thought it better to bury them in a different location. I guess that one legitimate objection to burying them on the Tuskulėnai grounds would be that if they did that they would not be able to use this area for anything else in the future. In response to this though I guess one could argue that this area had not been used for the past 50 years and that hadn’t seemed to have created any major problems so what problems could there be if the area can’t be used for another 1,000 years or so?

Question – What do we do with the grounds of Tuskulėnai and the buildings located on the grounds?
The decision was made to restore the buildings and grounds and make the grounds into a park. As you know, whenever the question of restoring an old building or tearing it down comes up there are always two vocal sides to the argument. In the end, the side supporting renovation won out. Personally I am happy with this decision, especially with the decision to restore the Manor House. One reason is that it is a beautiful representation of period architecture. The other reason is that this was the home of some very special people of great courage and compassion. During the Nazi occupation, between 1941 and 1944, the Tuskulėnai Manor House belonged to Wincenty and Jadwiga Antonowicz,  living with them at the time was also their daughter Lucyna Antonowicz. It was in the cellar of this house that they gave shelter to a number of Jews and Jewish families. For their heroism, the State of Israel posthumously bestowed the titles of Righteous Among the Nations to Wincenty and Jadwiga and their daughter Lucyna was presented the same medal. The Republic of Lithuania also awarded them the Life Saving Cross. You can see why this house should be restored and preserved.

Question – How do we burry them?
The decision was made to build the Chapel-columbarium.
This did create some controversy. Part of the controversy was due to the cost and part was due to the design which of coarse added to the cost. Mostly though the controversy regarding the Chapel-columbarium was directed at who would be buried there.

Question – Why do you want to build a memorial to criminals?
This was the question raised by various people and their question was and still is based on what people were a part of the victims executed in the “KGB Prison” and then buried in mass graves at Tuskulėnai.

According to the Soviet’s arrest and trial documents of the victims, the list of offences that the victims were executed for were:

People charged with criminal offences
Deserters from the Red Army
Fighters of the Polish Armia Krajowa
People who served in civil or military structures of Nazi Germany
People charged with war crimes
Participants of the uprising of 23 June 1941
Participants of the anti-Soviet movement

Before we take a look at the various offences that these people were executed for and address some of the arguments regarding these people and their offences we should address the numbers in each group. If you surf around the Internet for information about Tuskulėnai, you will find quite a few different sets of numbers regarding the amount of people in each group. In some cases these numbers came from the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania and are outdated. The reason they are outdated is that the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania has been and still is in the process of researching and verifying all of the charges that the Soviets brought against these people. Depending on what date the article was written, it could have numbers that differ from another article. As the Center continues their research the numbers change.

You may ask – What are they verifying and why? Good question
As you can well imagine, just because the Soviets said that some one did something it doesn’t mean that the person actually did it. I think you all know how that worked and I would be quite a bit surprised if there is any one out there (except some one sympathetic to the Soviets or Russia) that is naïve enough to actually accept all these Soviet convictions on face value. Many of these convictions were based on trumped up charges and most of the signed confessions came after the person had suffered physical and mental torture. What the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre has been doing and are still in the process of doing is researching each and every conviction to try and find out what each person actually did or if he actually did anything at all that could be construed as an actual violation of Soviet rules and regulations. I am sure you can imagine the overwhelming task this is and why it is taking so long.

There are some other numbers you will see on the Internet. These I believe came from people actually looking at all the Soviet arrest and conviction documents and coming up with some total numbers for each group. First of all I must sincerely say that I admire these people for taking the time to do this painstaking research and I tip my hat to them. Having said that, the next thing I am going to say comes with quite a bit of discomfort and displeasure considering all the effort and dedication that was put into their research. By tallying up all the numbers for the various charges the Soviets brought against these people it only provides a the total for each group of the Soviet charges, it does not represent the total of charges that the people actually committed and it does not take into consideration the amount of the people who actually committed no offense at all but were brought up on trumped up charges.

I am not and was not involved in any of the case by case research being conducted by the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre so I really don’t know about any of the details of how this research is conducted. All I can imagine is that it must be enormously tenuous. If you would like any information on their research process it would be more advisable to ask them instead of directing questions to me regarding this matter.

People charged with criminal offences – People were saying that these were common criminals, some even murderers. Why a Chapel-columbarium and memorial for them?

Deserters from the Red Army – People were asking why a Chapel-columbarium and memorial for members of the army that invaded us, took our freedom away and in the process committed some terrible atrocities?

 Fighters of the Polish Armia Krajowa – These fighters fought heroically and valiantly against the forces of Nazi Germany. In spite of this, the Soviets unfortunately looked upon them as a threat since these fighters aligned themselves with the Polish government in exile (dear readers please understand that an entire book can be written about the Armia Krajowa fighters so I ask your forgiveness in advanced for my all to brief mention of their activities) so this partly explains why some were executed. Yes, members of the Polish Armia Krajowa fought bravely against the Nazis and also at times against the Soviet army so why should this cause controversy? Apparently it was also reported that a number of times members of the Polish Armia Krajowa attacked Lithuanian villages and in the process left the villages in ruins and with no survivors. Based on these reports, there were Lithuanians asking why a Chapel-columbarium and memorial for them.

People who served in civil or military structures of Nazi Germany – This group includes people that were in the Lithuanian police, people in the Lithuanian security service which then was under German control, collaborators with secret Nazi units and their subordinate offices, people that served in voluntary squads and people that worked as supervisors of prisons and concentration camps. Any time you talk about people serving in any part of the structure of Nazi Germany you will have controversy and this is totally understandable so the question again was brought up as to why a Chapel-columbarium and memorial for them. This group of people was not the group that collaborated with the Nazis in the murder of Jews. That was a different group and we will most certainly address the other group in a moment.

Lithuania, like many countries in Europe, was occupied by both the Soviets and the Nazis during the war. In any country that I know of that was first occupied by the Soviets, when the army of Nazi Germany arrived and forced the Soviets out, the people of that country often welcomed the German army as liberators. Of course years later we can look back on this as not being the case and the people of these countries soon learned that this wasn’t the case. They were being rid of one terror only to have it replaced by another terror but at that moment in time this is how these people looked at the situation. The Soviets had already shown their hand to the people in these countries by conducting executions, arrests, forced deportations, imprisonment and sentencing people to gulags so I think many can see the reason why these people would be glad to see the Soviets leave. Based on what the Soviets had done to the people of these countries, during their occupation, there were people in these countries, including Lithuania, that assisted the army of Nazi Germany in their fight against the Soviets. Years later some look back at this and say that these people should not have done this. Then some say that in principle you are right but you also need to keep in mind what the conditions were in Europe at this time for these people.

For some this may seem a reasonable argument for the people in this group who were assisting the German army fight the Soviet army - BUT – There are some in this group that the charges against them are based on other actions and very serious ones at that. From what I understand, you need to look at each and every individual person to see what their activity was and then with some of the people you would then need to research the validity of the charges.

In other words, the controversy regarding this matter will go on and on. Personally it is my hope that this ongoing controversy will serve as an ongoing reminder that during these times there were two brutal powers fighting for control of Europe and this, I hope, will help to prevent the situation where two brutal regimes are again fighting each other for control of Europe or any other part of the world.

People charged with war crimes – This group was comprised of people of different national backgrounds that were sentenced for crimes against civilians and people that participated in the crime of the genocide of the Jewish people. What can possibly be said about these people? Even as I get older and “seem to” have a better understanding of how things work in this world I am still aghast and shocked at what one human being is capable of doing to another human being. Of all the inhumane acts a person can commit I would rate that murdering another human being would be at the top of the list. I would need to add another much higher above that and that is a person committing crimes against humanity and to add to that and much higher on this list of atrocities is the committing of genocide. The act of murdering another human solely based on the person’s race, religion or nationality is with out a doubt the most heinous and vile acts a person can commit. So obviously the question was asked - Why a Chapel-columbarium and memorial for them?

So the question was asked - Why a Chapel-columbarium and memorial for these five groups?

To partially answer this question you need to look at the remaining two groups of people that were executed in the “KGB Prison” and then buried in the Mass Graves of Tuskulėnai. Please keep in mind as you read about these two groups that most Lithuanians in Lithuania and Lithuanians around the world regard these two groups to be heroes based on their actions against the Soviet army and the Soviet Union.

Participants of the uprising of 23 June 1941 – As you know, the Soviet army invaded Lithuania in 15 June 1940 and the unpopular Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic was soon established. Political repression and terror were used to silence any critics and suppress any resistance. In the early morning of 22 June 1941 the territory of Lithuania was invaded, as part of Operation Barbarossa, by two advancing German army groups. With Soviet forces now in disarray, Lithuanian “rebel” forces, known as the Lithuanian Activist Front (LAF), now saw an opportunity to take back control of the country. The main forces of the LAF were concentrated in Kaunas and on the afternoon of 22 June they set about taking control of key sites in the city. On 23 June the uprising spread to Vilnius. From Vilnius the uprising quickly spread to almost every area of Lithuania. While initially spearheaded by the LAF, the participants of the uprising soon included Lithuanians from all walks of life. It is estimated that 16,000 to 20,000 people in all took part and in the end more than 600 lost their life in the fighting. Actually the loss of life was far greater if you take into account all the prisoners the Soviet army had captured and then executed as a part of their retreat from Lithuanian territory. In one location more than 700 participants, that had been captured, were executed by the retreating Soviets.

While the uprising was unsuccessful in regaining Lithuania’s freedom and sovereignty, what it at least showed was that the Lithuanian people were prepared to go to extreme measures to try and regain their freedom and that Lithuania’s membership into the Soviet Union did not come about as a result of their request.

Based on the brave actions of the participants of the uprising and based on the large numbers that lost their life you can well see why these people are considered heroes of Lithuania. Lithuania is not the only country where uprisings similar to this have taken place and in these other countries the participants are regarded as heroes. So you may ask why are some people looking at the participants of Lithuania’s uprising that were executed at the “KGB Prison” and then buried in the Mass Graves of Tuskulėnai and asking - Why a Chapel-columbarium and memorial for them?

The controversy over the participants of the uprising of 23 June 1941 is mostly based on the group known as the Lithuanian Activist Front (LAF). The LAF was the group that spearheaded the uprising and members of the group were scattered about Lithuania. The group was primarily known for their ultra-patriotism and there steadfast desire for regaining freedom for their country. Quite tragically though there were some members of this group whose activities exceeded that of attacking an occupying army and this is where the main controversy comes from. Eye witnesses, Jewish survivors and authors accuse some members of the LAF, especially in Kaunas but also in other towns, of indiscriminate and gruesome excesses against Jewish residents, with some of these offences taking place before the Nazis arrived to take control. It was some members of the LAF that also collaborated with the Nazis in the Holocaust. Since the LAF was an integral part of the uprising you can perhaps understand why some would ask - Why a Chapel-columbarium and memorial for them?

As you can well imagine, there are opponents to this controversy. The other side to the argument is that the people that the Soviets arrested, sentenced, executed and then buried in the Mass Graves of Tuskulėnai for their participation in the uprising can not be automatically accused of being the members of the LAF who collaborated with the Nazis. They base this on the point that most members of the LAF did not become Nazi collaborators. After the uprising most went home to wait the opportunity to fight another day. It is also brought up that the LAF was banned by the Nazi occupying force in September of 1941 and some of its leaders were sent to concentration camps. While there were tragically some Nazi collaborators in the group, the Germans looked at the group on the whole as a threat because of the group’s unrelenting goal of restoring Lithuania’s freedom rather than cooperation with any occupying force be it Soviet or German.

Another argument raised is that just because the Soviets arrested, sentenced, executed and then buried a person in the Mass Graves for their participation in the uprising this does not even mean that the person was a member of the LAF. There were thousands of people that joined in the uprising that had no affiliation to the LAF or any other organized group. They were just ordinary people trying to go about their daily lives, as best they could during those times, and saw events happening that could possibly regain their freedom and they did their part to do what they could in support of their country.

Obviously this controversy will go on. I would like to think though that both sides would agree that if you are talking specifically about the members of the LAF that did in fact collaborate with the Nazis in the persecution of the Jews then this is a totally different matter all together.

Participants of the anti-Soviet movement –A part of this group were the people whose actions and activities were to such an extreme that the Soviets determined that the only resolve was to kill them. Please keep in mind that thousands and thousands of people were victims of the Soviet’s terror and for these many thousands, the punishment handed out by the Soviets was forced deportation to Siberia, imprisonment or being sent to a Gulag. It was usually only in the cases of what the Soviets thought was extreme anti-Soviet activity that the death penalty would be handed out. Based on this, you can see that these people were very actively involved in the fight for Lithuania’s freedom. I’m sure you can understand why they are regarded as heroes.

The other part of this group is the Partisans or who are affectionately and respectfully referred to as the “Miško Broliai” (Forest Brothers). These were the men and women that took to the forests of Lithuania and participated in armed resistance against the occupying Soviet army. Referred to as the (Lithuanian) Partisan War, it was the longest and bloodiest partisan war in the history of modern Europe. In spite of this, this war is sometimes referred to as the “Unknown War” since there are many outside of Lithuania that have no knowledge of this war ever taking place.

The hardships these people endured just to survive living in the forest for years is almost incomprehensible. Combine this with the ever present threat of Soviet attack and the stark reality of serving in combat against an army that overwhelmingly outnumbered their ranks and you can begin to understand why these people are so respected by the people of Lithuania and Lithuanians around the globe. To add to this, it was admitted that they knew that they could never ultimately defeat the Soviet forces. Their aim was to continue the war long enough to attract the attention of the western powers which would then hopefully lead to their intervention with the final outcome being the restoration of Lithuania’s independence. Unfortunately this intervention never came and Lithuania would continue to be occupied for many years to come.

The patriotism and courage of these Partisans have become a legend of modern day Lithuania and their legend is passed from generation to generation and taught in our schools.

As another example is that the Lithuanian Special Operations Force (LITHSOF) (Lietuvos Specialiųjų Operacijų Pajėgos) which is an elite special operations unit of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, proudly uses the nickname “Žaliūkai” (green-men) and were named after the Forest Brothers.

You would think that with this group there would be no controversy but still there were some that asked - Why a Chapel-columbarium and memorial for them?

In this summary, I tried to do my best to not only make every one aware of the controversy that was present when it was first decided to do something regarding the people that were buried in the Mass Graves of Tuskulėnai but to also do my best to explain why there was controversy. If I have failed in any of these areas I can assure you that the reason was that, even though I do my best to understand where every one is coming from, I apparently don’t completely understand all the points all parties are trying to make.

A primary reason for wanting to explain all the controversy was to try and give every one just a small idea of the immense pressure and responsibility the people that were involved in the planning of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park felt at the time and the sensitivity required in their decision making based on all the controversy.

The problem that they faced in the planning stage is the same problem that is faced today – THEY HAD ABSOLUTLY NO IDEA WHO WAS WHO!                
After their execution each body had been stripped naked, thrown into a hole in the ground, had diesel fuel poured all over them and then left to lie there in the dirt for 47 years or more. What remained after all this was more than 700 unidentifiable skeletons. They knew that they had bodies of patriots and bodies of criminals and some of these criminals had committed some of the most severe of crimes. So how do you sort out who is who?

Being aware of all the issues involved there remained one key point – We have 724 dead bodies sitting in 724 cardboard boxes in a storage room of a building and they need to be buried in some civilized fashion so the decision was made to build a structure to put them in and the structure would be located on the grounds of Tuskulėnai. In a civilized society, when a person dies, civilized people bury the dead in a civilized way, to do otherwise in uncivilized. The structure was simply called the Chapel-columbarium which is what it is, a Chapel-columbarium. When you go inside the Chapel-columbarium there are no lavish displays or anything that sends or gives any kind of message. What you see is rack after rack holding metal boxes with only numbers on them. There are no names on the boxes, only numbers as no one knows the identity of the person that lies inside.

Would the Chapel-columbarium be different if all the victims that were buried in the Mass Graves had been people that had been executed for being Participants of the anti-Soviet movement and for being a Partisan? – I do not know

Would the Chapel-columbarium be different if all the victims that were buried in the Mass Graves had been people that had been executed for being people charged with criminal offences, deserters from the Red Army, fighters of the Polish Armia Krajowa, people who served in civil or military structures of Nazi Germany and people charged with war crimes? – I do not know

It is my understanding that if some one could go into the Chapel-columbarium and go to each casket and be able to accurately say that this one is a patriot and this one is a criminal that the caskets containing the criminals would be willingly taken away and put in a different location. This unfortunately is not possible since to this day the identity of these people is not known. The problem remains the same today as when the excavations were first started.

As one person put it, “it wasn’t possible to separate the bones into two neat piles — patriots here, criminals there”.

The decision of what to call the area was also a matter that was made with much sensitivity in regards to who was buried in the mass graves. In the end the “Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park” was decided as what the name would be. I really don’t know if the words “Peace Park” created any controversy. To me it’s rather difficult to think that the hope for peace would cause any negative reactions.

The word “Memorial” however did create much controversy. The question was asked as to why would any one want to build a memorial for “criminals”. It is explained that the word “memorial” is not intended for the people that were buried in the mass graves in regards to who these people were and what they did when they were alive. The word memorial is in regards to the people that were victims of Soviet terror. Since the Soviets executed, stripped naked, threw into a hole in the ground, poured diesel fuel on and then left to lie there in the dirt for 47 years or more each one of these people they thought it safe to say that these people were victims of Soviet terror.

Would the name the “Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park” be different if all the victims that were buried in the Mass Graves had been people that had been executed for being Participants of the anti-Soviet movement and for being a Partisan? – I do not know

Would the name the “Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park” be different if all the victims that were buried in the Mass Graves had been people that had been executed for being people charged with criminal offences, deserters from the Red Army, fighters of the Polish Armia Krajowa, people who served in civil or military structures of Nazi Germany and people charged with war crimes? – I do not know

In writing this series of articles about the Mass Graves of Tuskulėnai I wanted to at least let people know that it exists. For the people who already knew it exists I hoped to provide some additional information. I wanted to let people to know that the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park is the other part of the Museum of Genocide Victims (often referred to as the KGB prison or KGB museum) and both of these are a part of the Memorial Department of the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania. In writing about the Mass Graves of Tuskulėnai I also hoped to provide more awareness to people around the world as to the tragic events that were taking place at this time, not only in Lithuania but in all too many countries in Europe as a result of Soviet repression. It still amazes me as to how many people around the world have no idea that these tragic events took place.

As I said before, I did not write this to create or reignite the controversy attached to Tuskulėnai. I do not write with the intent of creating or reigniting controversy. Unfortunately the controversy will always be there and with all sincerity I can say that I respect most all of it. There is, I believe, one good thing about the controversy that will continue in regards to the events that took place in this part of Europe during these times. The good thing is that many people all over the world will continue to talk about what happens when a deranged mad man, that controls a super power (in this case two deranged mad men that controlled two super powers) is allowed to continue over a period of time to create and build an empire based on hate, terror and oppression. What happens – We saw what happens.
My hope is that if the controversy continues and it will continue, it will remind people of what happens when people like this are left unchecked and maybe – Just maybe - Help to prevent another devastating scenario from occurring again. Not only in Europe but in any other part of the world.  

Su pagarbe – Vincas Karnila
Associate editor

The SECRETS OF TUSKULĖNAI MANOR

In the visitor center building which is located on the grounds of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park in the building marked Žirmūnų Gatvė 1N, there is an exhibition entitled “SECRETS OF TUSKULĖNAI MANOR”. While the burial place of the victims of the Soviet’s mass murders that occurred from 1944 to 1947 remained one of the secrets of the Tuskulėnai Manor until after Lithuania once again regained their freedom, there are still some other secrets of the Tuskulėnai Manor we would like to share with you along with giving you an idea of the layout of the park.

TUSKULĖNAI

16th–21st century 

The territory in which the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park is located has been known since the 16th century as the land of the royal manor. Its function was to serve the castles of Vilnius. The Manor featured a large homestead with orchards and ponds. It was called the Derewnictwo Manor. The founder of the Manor was the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, Sigismund II Augustus. The family of this ruler had stayed in this suburban Manor on many occasions. In the mid-17th century the Manor lost its royal status and belonged to noblemen such as Wołłowicz, Pac, and Tyzenhauz. The territory was surrounded by vast hunting grounds and crossed by a road for worshippers to Vilnius Calvary. In the second half of the 18th century, the Manor was divided into individual and independent farms. The portion of the homestead which passed to the hands of the monks of the Lateran Chapter began to be called Tuskulėnai, whereas the remaining part of the former Manor was referred to as the Derewnictwo Folwark.

In the early 19th century, Tuskulėnai Manor was managed by Elizabeth, the wife of Rogovsky, advisor to the Russian Tsar. The Manor acquired its current shape around 1825, when it was managed by Vilnius Governor-General Alexander Rimsky-Korsakov. On his instructions the prominent architect Karol Podczaszyński designed the Manor House in the classical style as well as servant quarters (the office). It was also at this time that a park with ponds was established and the central part of the Manor grounds was fenced with a brick wall.

In the 1840s, the Manor was purchased by Julian Titius, a doctor and a public figure, and the place became an important cultural centre for the residents of Vilnius. The Manor House contained a valuable collection of paintings and a rich library. Vilnius intellectuals such as the composer Stanisław Moniuszko, writer Józef Ignacy Kraszewski, and others visited the Manor.

In the second half of the 19th century Tuskulėnai Manor became a part of the city. The final owner of the Manor was the family of Tsarist Army’s general Melentyev.

In the second half of the 19th century, the Derewnictwo Folwark was acquired by General Alexander Losev, an assistant to the Governor General of Vilnius Mikhail Muravyov (known as the Hangman) in suppressing the 1863–1864 uprising in Lithuania. In 1866, he built a hunting lodge on the grounds of the folwark.

In 1928, the Derewnictwo place was purchased by Francyszek Walicki, an engineer from Vilnius, who turned a hunting lodge into a summer residence for his family. The reconstructed building was painted in bright colours and was therefore called the White Manor House. Between 1930 and 1931, the engineer erected St. Teresa’s Chapel here in memory of his parents.

In 1940, after the first Soviet occupation the Tuskulėnai Manor was nationalised. During the Nazi occupation between 1941 and 1944, the Tuskulėnai Manor House belonged to Wincenty and Jadwiga Antonowicz where they hid Jews in cellars.

In 1944, after the second Soviet occupation of Lithuania, the Tuskulėnai Manor and the White Manor House passed to the charge of the NKVD–MVD and NKGB–MGB.

After the re-establishment of independence in Lithuania, mass graves of the participants of the underground anti-Soviet movement executed at Vilnius NKGB–MGB internal prison between 1944 and 1947 or those who perished in Vilnius district were uncovered within the grounds of Tuskulėnai Manor. In order to commemorate them, following the decree of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania dated 2002, the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park was established. It consists of the chapel-columbarium with the remains from the mass graves, the Tuskulėnai Manor House, the Office, and the park (where boundaries of former mass graves are designated) with the White Manor House and St. Teresa’s Chapel nearby. As objects of cultural heritage all buildings situated on the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park were inscribed in the Register of Cultural Property.

Photo property of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved 

The grounds of Tuskulėnai Manor

The Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park is located in grounds which were royal property in the 16th century. The large territory of the Manor stretched between the road to Verkiai and the River Neris and included buildings for various purposes, orchards, and ponds surrounded by vast hunting grounds.

In the course of time, the Manor lost its royal status and changed hands. The Pieglowski, governors of the Manor in the 17th century, had ponds made, built a residential house and a distillery. At the beginning of the 18th century, the Manor included agricultural land, an orchard, and utility buildings. According to written historical evidence, the Manor also had a unique floating mill. In the second half of the 18th century, the Manor was divided into independent homesteads. The portion of the homestead which passed to the hands of the monks of the Lateran Chapter began to be called Tuskulėnai. It was used for utility purposes. In the second half of the 19th century the territory of Tuskulėnai Manor became part of Vilnius city.

The old buildings of Tuskulėnai Manor sank into a state of disrepair and the functions and image of the territory changed over time. The Manor House that has survived to the present day was built around 1825 as a country-house with a cultural, entertainment, and recreational purpose. It is thought that initially this ensemble built in the classic style was surrounded by a brick wall and that development of a landscape park with small architectural structures was started on the grounds of the Manor House. Round flower beds were planted in front of the main façade of the house with paths stretching from the flower beds. On the lower terrace on the River Neris, there were ponds which later became overgrown with weeds, because the grounds were neglected after nationalisation of the Manor in 1940.

In 1944, the territory of Tuskulėnai Manor together with its buildings passed to the charge of the Soviet repression structures NKGB–MGB. Part of the grounds was only opened to the public in the 70s when the Culture and Sports Building was built for the Ministry of the Interior and a square was laid out. After the re-establishment of independence in Lithuania, mass graves as a result of Soviet executions were identified on the territory of the Manor. In 2002, the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park was established by combining the grounds of the Tuskulėnai Manor House and the nearby grounds. The buildings of the complex were restored between 2005 and 2008, the chapel-columbarium was built prior to that in 2004, and in 2010 the park was tidied up.

Photo property of the archives of the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.
All rights reserved.

This photo gives you some idea of how the grounds were just an unkempt field and numerous buildings for industrial use and auto repair had been put up over the years during the Soviet occupation.

This photo from approximatly the same view shows the grounds after restorations.

The Tuskulėnai Manor House

The present Tuskulėnai Manor House was built around 1825 by order of Vilnius Governor-General Alexander Rimsky-Korsakov and is an example of a country-house built in the late classical period. Historical references state that it was designed by Karol Podczaszyński, Professor of Architecture of Vilnius University renowned as one of the proponents of the classical style in Lithuania.

Photo property of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved

The design of the Tuskulėnai Manor House located on the right bank of the River Neris is original. The house is of rectangular shape (Palladian layout), single storey, with a mezzanine and wings on either side with attic area above. The façade of the house is symmetrical of rather reserved shape, decorated with architectural elements.

Photo property of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved

The gables of the central part of the façade facing the River Neris on the east are decorated with stone ornaments with plant motifs and three statues of the mythological goddesses of antiquity, Diana, Juno, and Venus are to be found on the roof. Statues were rarely a decoration of a residential home. The walls and the ceiling of the representational halls of the Manor House were elaborately decorated with classical paintings and the floor was made from parquet panels. Stoves decorated with ornate tiles were used to heat the premises. During the reconstruction carried out at the end of the 19th century, window openings and the entrance were partially moved; the stone ornaments were destroyed together with the sculptures on the gable. After WWII, the Manor House passed into the hands of the Soviet repressive structures NKVD–MVD. It was used, but not looked after and consequently the building lost much of its original appearance.

Photo property of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved

Between 2005 and 2008, the Tuskulėnai Manor House was restored on the basis of historical, iconographic, and architectural research: the structural elements of the building were reinforced, the primary layout of the building was recreated, the classical wall and ceiling paintings were restored, and the eastern façade was decorated with stone ornaments with plant motifs and sculptures of the goddesses of antiquity.

Photos property of the archives of the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.
All rights reserved.

These photos show the sad state the Tuskulėnai Manor House was in before restoration.

Servant quarters of Tuskulėnai Manor

The construction of the servant quarters started at the same time as the construction of the Manor House – in the first half of the 19th century and was restored and extended at the end of the 19th century. The building today represents the result of the construction that continued for a century. All stages of the construction affected the external appearance of the building.

The building consists of two clearly defined blocks. The older one was built in the classical style and is thought to have been designed by Karol Podczaszyński, the architect of Tuskulėnai Manor House. The brick portion of the building is intended to accommodate servants. The same ornaments are used for this portion of the building as in the Manor House.

Photo property of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved

Photo property of the archives of the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.
All rights reserved.

Photo of the front of the Servant quarters of Tuskulėnai Manor before restoration.

At the end of the 19th century, a wooden addition was built on the back of the building. It is an original structure and features complex cornices, round semi-columns, and tall windows between the columns. The wide door on both sides of the building indicates that in addition to accommodation for servants, there might also have been premises for a coach house or stables.

Photo property of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved

Photo property of the archives of the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.
All rights reserved.

This photo shows the condition of the area behind the servant’s quarters before restoration.

In 1940, the Office was nationalised together with the Tuskulėnai Manor House and in 1944 passed into the hands of the Soviet repressive structures of the NKVD–MVD. Later, the spacious premises were divided into many small rooms, whereas the exterior of the building was dwarfed by many additions.

Between 2005 and 2008, the Office of Tuskulėnai Manor was restored, the primary layout of the building, the facades, and architectural elements were re-created. The servant’s quarters’ building now houses the administrative offices of Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park and its address is Žirmūnų Gatvė 1F.

The White Manor House

In 1866, the general of the Tsarist Army Alexander Losev built a hunting lodge near Tuskulėnai Manor. This was a small single storey building with a basement, no specific architectural features, a simple layout and minimal ornamentation.

Photo property of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved

Photo property of the archives of the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.
All rights reserved.

Photo of the White Manor House before restoration

In 1928, the dilapidated hunting lodge together with the adjacent utility buildings was purchased by Francyszek Walicki, a geodetic engineer and the head of Vilnius Geodetic Agency, from the then owner, Lydia Minakowa. The engineer turned it into a summer residence for his family. The building was reconstructed by replacing the windows, installing a wooden veranda, and connecting water and electricity. A veranda with ornate carvings was built on the eastern side of the building which was painted in bright colours and was therefore referred to by local residents as the White Manor House.

The area owned by the Walicki family, a well maintained orchard, flower beds, and a kitchen garden were planted. An oval flower bed of complex composition was planted on the terrace that was formed on the slope. Specially designed steps for descending to the flower bed were built.

In 1944, after the second Soviet occupation of Lithuania, the White Manor House was nationalised and turned into a summer residence for Soviet Communist Party officials. The building was subsequently used to house a kindergarten for the children of KGB officers and then as apartments for KGB officers.

The White Manor House, address Žirmūnų Gatvė 1N, now serves the function of the park’s information center and also houses the exhibition “The Secrets of  Tuskulėnai Manor”.

Photo property of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved 

The White Manor House was restored between 2005 and 2008. During the restoration, a valuable 17th century pottery kiln was uncovered.

KILN

In the course of the reconstruction of the White Manor House (the villa of Francyszek Walicki), archaeologists (supervisor Vytautas Urbonavičius) discovered a unique structure – fragments of a kiln. This discovery unveiled the little known world of old pottery craft in medieval Vilnius.

The kiln was used in the second half of the 17th century for firing building materials such as bricks, tiles, floor tiles, and lime. The kiln was square in shape, 6 x 6 m in size. The bottom part of the exhibited kiln – the flame port (flue) – was buried in the ground. Pottery was stacked on the remaining arches. The kiln was used for a long time. After each firing it was thoroughly cleaned and repaired. It has been estimated that 18,000 bricks could be fired at one single time in the kiln. During this period, there were several such kilns in the environs of the White Manor House. The possibility that this brickyard supplied products for the construction of St Peter and Paul Church and the monastery in the vicinity cannot be excluded. Written chronicles state that a ferry across the River Neris was built in 1671 to transport building materials produced by craftsmen of Šnipiškės settlement.

Photo property of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved

The brickyard operated within the grounds of the White Manor House until the late 18th century–early 19th century. A kiln for building materials from this period was identified and later conserved in the northern part of the territory of the Manor House.

The longevity of the ceramics production centre was first of all determined by the large deposits of raw material. It has been said that the Vilnius suburban settlement of Šnipiškės located along the right bank of the River Neris had good quality clay deposits since the earliest times. It is therefore no wonder that as early as the 16th century, when the demand for ceramic building materials grew rapidly, mass construction of kilns in the suburban settlement of Šnipiškės followed.

St. Teresa’s Chapel

Between 1930 and 1931, F. Walicki erected St. Teresa’s Chapel, in memory of his parents, on the grounds of Tuskulėnai Manor, next to the White Manor House. The famous Vilnius sculptor, Piotr Hermanowicz was the building consultant and the interior designer of the chapel. This well-proportioned and very compact chapel is made of the unique pre-war monolith reinforced concrete with decorative elements. A belfry with a gilded cross was erected on the roof of the chapel and covered with ceramic tiles. Inside the chapel, there used to be an oil painting of St. Teresa by Marian Kulesza above the altar and an elaborate chandelier. A recreation area with a bench was erected next to the chapel.

Photo property of the archives of the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.
All rights reserved.

St. Teresa’s Chapel before restoration

On 31 September 1931, after obtaining a permit from the Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Vilnius, the chapel was consecrated and inaugurated. Catholics from neighbouring settlements attended Mass here at the weekends.

One of two Angel sculptures on the walls of the Chapel

In 1944, the White Manor House was nationalised, the St. Teresa’s Chapel was abolished and lost its sacral function.

Between 2005 and 2008, the chapel was restored by rebuilding the altar.

The Exposition

“The SECRETS of TUSKULĖNAI MANOR” 

Located in the White Manor House is not only the Information Center but also the Exposition
“The Secrets of Tuskulėnai Manor”. The exposition is comprised of four areas. 

In the first hall you will find the exposition

“TUSKULĖNAI 16^th  - 21^st CENTURY”

Here you will find archeological and iconographic material that illustrates the history of Tuskulėnai Manor.

Photo property of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved

You will also find a restored 17^th century kiln exhibited along with an interactive screen that will walk you through the history of  Tuskulėnai from the 16^th to 21^st century. Great information along with some really incredible photographs.

In the second hall you will find the exposition

“TUSKULĖNAI MASS GRAVES”

Here the process of sentencing to death by the courts of the Soviet Occupation Regime is explained along with copies of actual Russian language documents that were the part of the execution process. The place of burial which the Soviets kept a closely guarded secret is also presented.

Photos property of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved

In this hall you will also find exhibits of the personal belongings of the executed donated by their relatives. You will also find in this hall four interactive screens. The screens display in alphabetical order the victims. As you press each victim’s name the screen shows all available information for that person including photos and the actual Russian documents for their execution.

In the third hall you will find the exposition

“BISHOP VINCENTAS BORISEVIČIUS”

Here you will learn of the spiritual strength and great courage of Bishop Borisevičius in the face of the cruelty of the totalitarian Soviet regime. Included are archival documents from the Bishop’s criminal record, his liturgical clothing, personal belongings and photographs.

Photo property of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved

There is also a video presentation of his reburial ceremony conducted September 1999.

In the fourth hall you will find the exposition

“EXECUTIONS BETWEEN 1944 AND 1947”

Here is a presentation showing the brutal ways those sentenced were killed. There are

archival documents about the executioners and the awards they received for their “good service” are displayed. There is also a video presentation which presents how the Soviet executioners carried out mass executions.

Photo property of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved

I would also like to point out one very striking feature of the exposition. In halls 2, 3 and 4 there are glass floors (please note the photos). Underneath the glass are the shoes of many of the victims illuminated in a soft light. The exposition is excellent. It provides a wealth of knowledge in addition to evoking a wealth of emotions and I can honestly tell you that the shoes of these people, silently sitting in their soft glow, reach out to you and connect to your inner feelings. They are a constant and very sombre reminder of what happened here on the grounds of Tuskulėnai Manor during the years of Soviet oppression.

KGB – rus. КГБ, Комитет Государственной Безопасности – Lith. Valstybės saugumo komitetas – Committee for State Security [of the USSR]
MGB – rus. МГБ, Министерство государственной безопасности – Lith. Valstybės saugumo ministerija – Ministry of State Security [of the USSR]
MVD – rus. МВД, Министерство внутренних дел – Lith. Vidaus reikalų ministerija – Ministry of Internal Affairs [of the USSR]
NKGB – rus. НКГБ, Народный Комиссариат Государственной Безопасности – Lith. Valstybės saugumo liaudies komisariatas – People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs [of the USSR]
NKVD – rus. НКВД, Народный комиссариат внутренних дел – Lith. Vidaus reikalų liaudies komisariatas – People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs [of the USSR]

VISITOR INFORMATION

Here is some information that will help when you are planning your visit to The Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park.

Opening hours are:

Wednesday to Saturday 10 am to 6 pm
Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
Closed on Monday and Tuesday

If you want to telephone the Information and Exposition Center at Žirmūnų Gatve 1N their number is +370 5 275 2547

The telephone numbers of the administrative offices located at Žirmūnų Gatve 1F are end_of_the_skype_highlighting
+370 5 275 07 04 and +370 5 275 12 23

Their Email address is
tuskulenai@genocid.lt

They invite you to check out their web site for additional visitor information
www.tuskulenumemorialas.lt/en/

For additional information about the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park
www.genocid.lt/tuskulenai/en/

NOW IT’S TIME TO SAY THANK YOU

There is quite a long list of people to thank. These are all the people that did so much to help me assemble all this information so that it could be shared with all of you. One thing that I would like to point out is that all of these people, with the exception of one, work for offices of the Republic of Lithuania. Based on the level of professionalism and knowledge these people displayed along with their dedication, ambition and willingness to assist and help, the government of Lithuania should be not only proud but honored to have people like this in their service. I can not remember ever having this much qualified help and assistance with anything. I would also like to add that all of this was combined with wonderful friendly personalities. It was an absolute pleasure to meet all of you.

Now the difficult part is to decide where to begin. I should probably begin with some of the people that helped me so much in the archives.

In the Central Archives of Lithuania there is an incredible lady. I have never seen any one with so much energy and with so much attention to detail. Ramutė I thank you for helping me find all the beautiful photos of Bishop Borisevičius. I also thank you for showing me all those other photos that will be helpful for future stories. In fact those photos are a story in themselves.

I want to thank the Vice Director of the Lithuanian Special Archives, Kęstas Remeika, for his cooperation and his assitance. Dear readers, you have no idea how difficult it was to get much of this information and photos in fact in some cases it was virtually impossible. Mr. Remieka‘s cooperation made the impossible possible.

Also at the Lithuanian Special Archives is Inga. Dear readers please keep in mind that most every document in the Lithuanian Special Archives is written in the Russian cryptic alphabet and I understand absolutely nothing in the Russian cryptic alphabet. It was Inga that came to my rescue. After sorting through document after document, when I came across something that looked like what I needed Inga was person that did all the translating for me. In addition, after she got a better idea of what I was looking for she also helped look for some of the information. Inga I sincerely thank you. I do not know what I would have done if you were not there to help.

I want to thank all the members of the staff of the Museum of Genocide Victims (KGB Museum) for the time they spent with me. The information they provided was most helpful and it allowed me to better understand the events that were taking place during this tragic time in Lithuanian history which allowed me to be better able to organize all the information for these articles. I must also tell you that the staff here at the Museum of Genocide Victims, just like the staff at the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park, are wonderful people. Every one of them are dedicated to the principle of the museum and are always more than happy to share information.

A big thank you goes to the people at the Castle Research Center “Lietuvos pilys” for allowing us to use their diagram of the excavation sites and I am sure that we would all want to thank them also for their ongoing work at Tuskulėnai.

The photos of the buildings and grounds of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park before restorations are courtesy of the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania and we greatly appreciate them allowing us to show them to you.

We would again like to give Dr. Rimantas Jankauskas, Senior researcher for the State Forensic Medicine Service under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania, a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Anatomy, Histology and  Anthropology Department, at Vilnius University and Senior researcher and Head of Department of Mykolas Romeris University Forensic Institute in Vilnius, our sincere thanks for allowing us to use the photographs of the head wounds and we would also like to say thank you for all the work you have done over the years in an effort to identify the victims and reunite them with their families.

As I said before, all the people on this long thank you list are in one way or another associated with an office of the Republic of Lithuania except one and this is Cate Bird from the Department of Anthropology of Michigan State University in the U.S.A. Cate, I really don’t know how to thank you for all your work at Tuskulėnai. In fact Lithuanians all over the world thank you for what you are doing. Your research to ultimately demonstrate how Soviet-sponsored violence fits within broader narratives of global state-sponsored violence during the twentieth century is truly an honourable endeavour. 

Now I have saved for last the people that with out their help this story would have probably been impossible to put together. For all the people at the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park

Thank you – Ačiū labai - Padėkokite jums – Aitäh – Paldies – Дякую – Dakujem – Dziękujemy

I have said many times in these articles how great the staff is at Tuskulėnai and I need to say it again. They are GREAT. I can honestly say that after every time I met with them or talked with them on the phone I would say to myself that I can’t believe how wonderful and helpful these people are. Please keep in mind that much of the text for these articles was originated by the Tuskulėnai staff. Much of my work was just getting all the material together and organizing it into a story.

I would like to begin by thanking the director of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park, Dovilė Lauraitienė, for all her help and support and for allowing me to work with her wonderful staff.

When I first visited Tuskulėnai, the first person I talked to was a very helpful and charming lady by the name of Solveiga Steponavičienė. I told her that I wanted to do a story about Tuskulėnai and she immediately started making phone calls to get people to come to talk with me. She then took me around and started to give me information. It was Solveiga that took me for the first time into the Chapel-columbarium. This first visit to the Chapel-columbarium a most moving and emotional experience and I thank you for taking me there. So as you can see, it was Solveiga that really got the process started for this story to be put together – Ačiū labai Solveiga

There are two historians in the staff at Tuskulėnai, Vytautas Starikovičius and the senior historian Remigijus Černius. These two men are amazing. I have no idea how you two can remember so many details. Not only do they know so much but they also know where everything is. They are like walking computers. Vytautas and Remigijus thank you. Every time I talked with you for ten minutes you probably saved me ten weeks of work.

Now let me tell you about Martynas Striūkas.

The best way to tell you about Martynas is that in spite of all the help I received from so many people, if it was not for Martynas I can honestly say that this story would have never been completed. I have mentioned a number of times that you have no idea how difficult it was to get all this material together and the primary person responsible for helping me get everything was Martynas. He was my contact man with everything and everybody and 24/7 he was my “go to guy”.

Martynas - Nuo mano širdies LABAI AČIŪ

Please look for the conclusion to The Mass Graves of Tuskulėnai

The SUMMARY

Dear readers please keep in mind that we still

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Dear VilNews readers, we need your help. As we have said, the victims that were executed in the NKGB–MGB internal prison in between 28 September 1944 and 16 April 1947 were buried in secret mass graves in the territory of the Tuskulėnai Manor. These victims have been found, their bodies recovered, given the dignified burial they never received and their souls have been blessed by a Holy person of the religion the worshipped.

26 May 1947, following the order of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR, the death penalty was abolished.

On 12 January 1950, the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR passed a decree re-instating the death penalty. Between October 1950 and July 1952, 182 people sentenced to death were executed at Vilnius NKGB–MGB internal prison.
Their place of burial is still not known. 

After July 1952 to 1961 executions continued pursuant to the 1926 Criminal Code Article 58 of RSFSR.
The burial place of these victims is still unknown. 

The 1926 Criminal Code Article 58 of RSFSR was terminated in 1961 but executions continued.
The burial place of these victims is still unknown 

Dear readers we would like to find where these people are buried, recover their bodies, give them the dignified burial they never received and have them blessed by a Holy person of the Religion they worshipped.

This is where we need your help. The NKVD and NKGB–MGB officers that oversaw these executions are now all dead. What ever records and documents which still exist are most likely locked away in a vault somewhere in the Russian Federation and it would seem highly unlikely that anyone in the Russian Federation would be kind enough allow access to these documents and records so that we could find out the location of the burial sites or simply tell us where these people are buried.

We know that there are people out there that know the location of some of these burial sites. Maybe it is a person that processed the documents, maybe it is some one that was just a rank and file soldier that was ordered to drive the truck that transported the bodies or was ordered to dig the trenches for the graves, maybe it is a colleague of one of these people or maybe it is the bartender that heard some of these people talk of it one night. The possibilities are endless.

Maybe none of these people with first hand knowledge of the burial sites are still alive. In that case we are sure that there are people out there with second hand or even third hand information. To have first hand knowledge of these executions would weigh very heavily on any civilized person’s heart and it is very possible that after carrying this weight inside them for many years they finally felt the need to free themselves from this burden they carried inside and told some one.

If you have any information at all, any information of any kind – Please tell us.

It is not important to us how you know, who it was, what they did or who told you.

None of this is important.

The only thing that is important is that we find where the executed people are buried.

This is all we care about.

What we want to do is best explained in the words from Bronius Eiva’s farewell letter he wrote to his wife while waiting his execution while in the prison of Ukmergės Peoples Commissariat for Internal Affairs.

“Please find out when I was shot or hanged and where they bury me.
Dig me up and take me to Šeta cemetary.”

This is all we want to do – Find where they are buried, dig them up and then give them a proper burial but we can only do this with your help.

All information will be kept strictly confidential
We are not concerned with who or what
We are only concerned with where these people are buried

If you have any information of any kind please contact:

The Memorial Complex of Tuskulenai Peace Park
Žirmūnų Gatvė 1F,
LT-09239, Vilnius
Lithuania

Telephone: +370 5 275 1223
E-mail. tuskulenai@genocid.lt

You can also contact me at vkvilnius-tuskulenai@yahoo.com

We sincerely thank you for your help.

Su pagarbe
Vincas Karnila 

The CHAPEL-COLUMBARIUM 

View from the Park level - Photo property of The Memorial Complex of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved

The focal point of the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park is the Chapel-columbarium. The building with its exceptional architecture was intended to memorialize and honor the memory of the victims of Soviet terror. This chapel is a place of eternal rest for the remains of 717 people, killed between 1944 and 1947 in NKGB-MGB internal prison, which were found and exhumed during archeological research in the territory of Tuskulėnai Manor between 1994 and 1996 and in 2003. The project authors chose the structure in the form of a burial mound which you can see from the above photo.

Main entrance - Photo property of The Memorial Complex of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved

The Chapel-columbarium is a barrow-shaped building, the underground part of which there is a dome-shaped chapel surrounded by a gallery of crypts with coffins bearing the remains of the victims exhumed from the territory of Tuskulėnai Peace Park. The remains were brought to the crypt on the All Souls’ Day in 2004.

Photo property of The Memorial Complex of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved 

As we said, the Chapel-columbarium is the focal point of The Memorial Complex of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park and the remains of the victims that are interned inside is the focal point of the Chapel-columbarium. The first time I went inside to visit with the people who have become one of the symbols of Soviet terror, I honestly can’t put into words the myriad of emotions that overcame me. Quite often I am in the KGB Museum. When I am in there I feel anger towards the people that tortured and killed my fellow country men and women. In the Chapel-columbarium it is not possible for me to feel anger. It is also not possible for me to completely describe my emotions but one is of great sadness for not only how the lives of these people ended but how the Soviets disposed of their bodies. The one thing that really strikes me is when I look at all the small caskets that hold the remains of these people and look at the numbers on them is that -  These people had names, they were people.

Please look at casket 048 in the photo above.

This is someone’s son or daughter, perhaps also someone’s brother or sister. It also could be someone’s wife or husband or father. This person also had friends and colleagues at work. At one time this person had a name – Now they are 048. Now they are known only to God.

As I said, it is very difficult to put my emotions into words but if you have even the smallest understanding of what I’m saying about casket 048 you will begin to appreciate the solemn power this place can have over you.

As the bodies were exhumed from the massed graves, no one knew the identity of each of the skeletal remains. To look at each, they did not know who was a Lithuanian Partisan that went to the forests to take up armed resistance against the brutal tyrannical power that had taken their country’s freedom away, who was a member of the Polish Armia Krajowa, who had collaborated with the Nazis or who was a deserter from the Soviet Army.

As one person put it, “it wasn’t possible to separate the bones into two neat piles — patriots here, criminals there”.

All that was known was that there were now more than 700 bodies that needed to be buried in some civilized way. In a civilised society, when a person dies, civilised people burry the deceased in a civilised way. This was and is the purpose of  the Tuskulenai Chapel-columbarium and the Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park. It provides a civilised final resting place to these victims of Soviet terror whose individual identities and what they did during life are now known only to God.

About thirty minutes before I entered the Chapel-columbarium I had read the letter of farewell written by Lithuanian partisan leader Bronius Eiva to his wife. All the time I was looking at the numbers on all the caskets his words were repeatedly going through my mind

“Please find out when I was shot or hanged and where they bury me. Dig me up and take me to Šeta cemetery.”

With his words echoing through my head I could not help but think that unfortunately they could not bury Bronius in Šeta cemetery because they didn’t know which body was his but at least they were able to dig him up and give him the best possible burial under the circumstance, have him blessed by a Holy person of the Church and give his family a place to come visit him.

Dear readers, for those of you that live outside of Lithuania I would highly recommend that during your next visit to make it a point to go to first to the KGB Museum and then to The Memorial Complex of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park and go inside the Chapel-columbarium. For our readers that live in or near Lithuania I would highly recommend you also make the time to do the same. While inside your thoughts and reasons for visiting the people that were taken away from their friends, families and countries in such a violent manner will be your own but I am quite sure that you will feel the solemn power this place will have over you

This memorial and sacral building was designed with regard to the surrounding landscape: it looks like a barrow from the park side, and the main entrance is established on its steep, riverbank side. The main material used for the construction was concrete, which suits the underground building due to its durability; and its stark decorative properties reflect the tragic destiny of the people buried there.

Photo property of The Memorial Complex of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved

The authors of the chapel-columbarium project were: Vytautas Edmundas Čekanauskas, Algirdas Umbrasas, Lina Masliukienė, Gitenis Umbrasas, Gediminas Karalius, Marius Šaliamoras, and Jūras Balkevičius. The planning of the project began in 1996, and the chapel was built in 2003-2004. In 2009, the dome of the chapel-columbarium was decorated with an arched mosaic “Trejybė” (Trinity) created by the painter and monumental artist G. Umbrasas. It pictures the intertwined wings of three birds: a swan, a hawk and an owl, symbolizing Fate, Happiness and Freedom. In the same year, the barrow was capped with a metal crown created by sculptor G. Karalius.

 “Trejybė” (Trinity) - Photo property of The Memorial Complex of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved

In 2006, the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania added to the list of memorial days by announcing the designation of 28^th September as Tuskulėnai Victims Memorial Day. This day is commemorated every year in The Memorial Complex of Tuskulėnai Peace Park.

Obviously the Chapel-columbarium is locked at all times but this is absolutely no problem. To get inside the Chapel-columbarium, where the remains of the victims of the Soviet totalitarian regime rest in peace, simply go to the visitor center which is located on the grounds in the building marked Žirmūnų Gatvė 1N.

Information Center at Žirmūnų Gatvė 1N
Photo property of The Memorial Complex of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved 

Tell the staff that you would like to go inside the Chapel-columbarium and they will be more than happy to escort you inside. As I said before, every member of the staff here are wonderful people and they will enjoy sharing all the information with you. In fact I can honestly tell you that meeting with and talking to the staff here will be one of the highlights of your visit. Every one of them is absolutely fantastic.

Look for the next article
Part 6 of 6

The SECRETS OF TUSKULĖNAI MANOR

Dear readers

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Dear VilNews readers, we need your help. As we have said, the victims that were executed in the NKGB–MGB internal prison in between 28 September 1944 and 16 April 1947 were buried in secret mass graves in the territory of the Tuskulėnai Manor. These victims have been found, their bodies recovered, given the dignified burial they never received and their souls have been blessed by a Holy person of the religion the worshipped.

26 May 1947, following the order of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR, the death penalty was abolished.

On 12 January 1950, the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR passed a decree re-instating the death penalty. Between October 1950 and July 1952, 182 people sentenced to death were executed at Vilnius NKGB–MGB internal prison.
Their place of burial is still not known. 

After July 1952 to 1961 executions continued pursuant to the 1926 Criminal Code Article 58 of RSFSR.
The burial place of these victims is still unknown. 

The 1926 Criminal Code Article 58 of RSFSR was terminated in 1961 but executions continued.
The burial place of these victims is still unknown 

Dear readers we would like to find where these people are buried, recover their bodies, give them the dignified burial they never received and have them blessed by a Holy person of the Religion they worshipped.

This is where we need your help. The NKVD and NKGB–MGB officers that oversaw these executions are now all dead. What ever records and documents which still exist are most likely locked away in a vault somewhere in the Russian Federation and it would seem highly unlikely that anyone in the Russian Federation would be kind enough allow access to these documents and records so that we could find out the location of the burial sites or simply tell us where these people are buried.

We know that there are people out there that know the location of some of these burial sites. Maybe it is a person that processed the documents, maybe it is some one that was just a rank and file soldier that was ordered to drive the truck that transported the bodies or was ordered to dig the trenches for the graves, maybe it is a colleague of one of these people or maybe it is the bartender that heard some of these people talk of it one night. The possibilities are endless.

Maybe none of these people with first hand knowledge of the burial sites are still alive. In that case we are sure that there are people out there with second hand or even third hand information. To have first hand knowledge of these executions would weigh very heavily on any civilized person’s heart and it is very possible that after carrying this weight inside them for many years they finally felt the need to free themselves from this burden they carried inside and told some one.

If you have any information at all, any information of any kind – Please tell us.

It is not important to us how you know, who it was, what they did or who told you.

None of this is important.

The only thing that is important is that we find where the executed people are buried.

This is all we care about.

What we want to do is best explained in the words from Bronius Eiva’s farewell letter he wrote to his wife while waiting his execution while in the prison of Ukmergės Peoples Commissariat for Internal Affairs.

“Please find out when I was shot or hanged and where they bury me.
Dig me up and take me to Šeta cemetary.”

This is all we want to do – Find where they are buried, dig them up and then give them a proper burial but we can only do this with your help.

All information will be kept strictly confidential
We are not concerned with who or what
We are only concerned with where these people are buried

If you have any information of any kind please contact:

The Memorial Complex of Tuskulenai Peace Park
Žirmūnų Gatvė 1F,
LT-09239, Vilnius
Lithuania

Telephone: +370 5 275 1223
E-mail. tuskulenai@genocid.lt

You can also contact me at vkvilnius-tuskulenai@yahoo.com

We sincerely thank you for your help.

Su pagarbe
Vincas Karnila 

THE EXECUTIONERS

A special group consisting of the head of Division A of the NKGB–MGB, the head of the prison, deputy head of the prison, wardens, and a representative of the Military Prosecutor’s Office carried out the executions by shooting.

The convicts were shot in a special cell which in an attempt to mask its real purpose, was marked as the “kitchen” on the floor plan of the building.

According to the Criminal Code of the Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic (RSFSR) the only method of execution was by shooting. The majority of the convicts were shot in the back of the head. However, some of them died differently, as signs of stabbing and cuts were identified on some bodies.

Once the execution was carried out the victims were stripped of their clothing, loaded on to a truck, driven to Tuskulėnai and then buried in a mass grave.

Dear VilNews readers, here are the men responsible for carrying out the executions;

Stepan Kharchenko (b. 1904), NKGB–MGB lieutenant-colonel
He organised 535 executions.  

Photo property of the Lithuanian Special Archives.
All rights reserved.

An officer of the repressive structures of the USSR from 1927, he worked as the head of the subdivision of the Smersh Division of the counterintelligence (NKVD Board of Stalingrad Region). He became a member of the Communist Party in 1927. In 1940, he was sent to Lithuania. He managed the 1st Division of the NKVD Board of Vilnius City, later – the 2nd Subdivision of the NKGB. He was one of the organisers of the 1941 June exiles from Vilnius city and county. From 1944 to 1946, he was head of Division A of the NKGB–MGB of the Lithuanian SSR and of the special execution team. In June 1946, he was sent to the NKGB–MGB Board of Rostov Region.

Pavel Grishin (b. 1907), NKGB–MGB lieutenant-colonel
Prior to 1947, when the death sentence was abolished in the USSR, he was responsible for 232 executions. When the death sentence was re-instated, between 1950 and 1953 he managed another 182 executions.

Photo property of the Lithuanian Special Archives.
All rights reserved.

An officer of the repressive structures of the USSR from 1930. He was the head of Division A of the NKVD–NKGB of the Kazakhstan SSR. He became a member of the Communist Party in 1939. From 1946 to 1953 he was the head of Division A of the NKGB–MGB of the Lithuanian SSR and of the special execution team. From 1953, he was head of the 4th Subdivision of the 5th Division of MVD of the Lithuanian SSR. In 1951, he had to give an explanation to the deputy minister of the MGB of the Lithuanian SSR regarding participation in the looting of property of those who had been arrested. He prepared reports for top officials of the Communist Party and security in Moscow about the exile of Lithuanian citizens. Two years after retirement, he became mentally ill and died soon after.

Vasiliy Dolgirev (b. 1896), NKGB–MGB lieutenant-colonel
Between 1944 and 1947, he participated in 41 mass executions and personally executed 650 people. He carried out the greatest number of executions in Vilnius NKGB–MGB internal prison.

Photo property of the Lithuanian Special Archives.
All rights reserved.

He joined the Communist Party in 1919. From 1930 an officer of the repressive structures of the USSR. He served as an operational officer of the NKVD Boards of Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk Region. In 1939, he was appointed deputy head of the Zlatoust NKVD internal prison, later he became the head of this prison. Notorious among his colleagues as a drunkard, he was consequently arrested several times and reprimanded. In 1940, as a punishment, he was dismissed and appointed head of the Chelyabinsk police detention centre – a place for persons picked up for being drunk in public. From 1942, he was operational officer of the construction battalion of the NKVD Board of Chelyabinsk Region. In 1943, he was appointed as the head of the NKGB Board of Kurgan Region. In July 1944, he was sent to Lithuania and in August appointed the head of the NKGB internal prison of the Lithuanian SSR in Vilnius. In May 1945, he was demoted to deputy head of the prison. In January 1947, he was appointed the head of the subdivision of the Administration and Utilities Department of the MGB of the Lithuanian SSR. From 1950, he was head of the Department in the Fight against Looting of Socialist Property of the MGB of the Lithuanian SSR. In 1952, he retired due to illness and was enlisted in the MGB reserve with the right to wear the MGB uniform. He was awarded various orders and medals for his service, including service in WWII, even though he did not spend a day at the front.

Yegor Kuznetsov (b. 1912), NKGB–MGB captain
In September–October 1944, he participated in his first executions: he shot dead 18 persons in Vilnius NKGB internal prison.  

An officer of the repressive structures of the USSR from 1934, he became a member of the Communist Party in 1939. He worked as an NKVD operational officer in Penza Region, Jesin District, later in Serdobsk District. In September 1939, he was appointed an NKVD operational officer of Švenčionys County of Western Belarus. In November 1940 he became head of the NKVD Švenčionys County Division. When the war between Germany and the USSR broke out, between 1941 and 1942, he was the leader of the Soviet partisan platoon in Moscow Region. From 1942 to 1943 he studied in Moscow at the higher school of the USSR NKVD. From 1943 to 1944, he was sent to Chechen-Ingush Autonomous SSR where he organised and carried out the exiles of Chechen and Ingush people. In August 1944, he was sent to Lithuania and appointed the head of the 4th Subdivision of the 4th Division of the NKGB of the Lithuanian SSR and in September – commandant of the Administration, Utilities, and Finance Department of the NKGB. In November, he was appointed the head of the NKGB Alytus County. In 1948, he was sent to the NKGB–MGB Board of Yaroslavl Region.

Boris Prikazchikov (b. 1907), NKGB–MGB captain
Between winter 1946 and spring 1947, he participated in 11 mass executions during which 99 people were killed.  

An officer of the repressive structures of the USSR from 1932, he became a member of the Communist Party in 1929. At the end of 1944, he was sent to Lithuania and appointed the head of the 5th Subdivision of the 2nd Division of the NKGB of the Lithuanian SSR. Between May 1945 and November 1946, he was the head of the NKGB internal prison of the Lithuanian SSR; in December 1946, he was appointed the head of the prison subdivision of the NKGB–MGB of the Lithuanian SSR. In November 1947, he became chief operational officer of Division A. In October 1948, he was dismissed from the NKGB–MGB system ‘in absence of any possibility to be used further’. He died in a car accident soon after.

Vasiliy Podoroga (b. 1915), NKGB–MGB first lieutenant
He was a member of the special group which carried out executions. It is thought that it was he who executed the most famous leader of the Lithuanian partisans, Adolfas Ramanauskas-Vanagas, on 29 November 1957, in the KGB internal prison.

Photo property of the Lithuanian Special Archives.
All rights reserved.

An officer of the repressive structures of the USSR from 1937, he became a member of the Communist Party in 1944. In January 1941, he was sent to Lithuania and worked as a prison warden in Vilnius NKVD internal prison. When the war between Germany and the USSR broke out, he worked as a prison warden in Kuibyshev, Syzran, and Rostov NKVD–NKGB internal prisons. In September 1944, he was sent to Lithuania and appointed a prison warden of Vilnius NKGB internal prison and in 1946, appointed deputy head of the warden corps. Between 1950 and 1954 he worked as an assistant to the head of the prison. In 1970, he retired, but worked until 1987 as a duty officer and watchman at the KGB agencies of the Lithuanian SSR. He later left for Ukraine.

EXPLANATION of ABBREVIATIONS

KGB – rus. КГБ, Комитет Государственной Безопасности – Lith. Valstybės saugumo komitetas – Committee for State Security (of the USSR)

MGB – rus. МГБ, Министерство государственной безопасности – Lith. Valstybės saugumo ministerija – Ministry of State Security (of the USSR)

MVD – rus. МВД, Министерство внутренних дел – Lith. Vidaus reikalų ministerija – Ministry of Internal Affairs (of the USSR)

NKGB – rus. НКГБ, Народный Комиссариат Государственной Безопасности – Lith. Valstybės saugumo liaudies komisariatas – People’s Commissariat for State Security (of the USSR)

NKVD – rus. НКВД, Народный комиссариат внутренних дел – Lith. Vidaus reikalų liaudies komisariatas – People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs (of the USSR)

SMERŠ – rus.СМЕРШ, Главное управление контрразведки СМЕРШ (СМЕРть Шпионам) Народного комиссариата обороны СССР – Lith. SSRS Gynybos liaudies komisariato Kontržvalgybos vyriausioji valdyba SMERŠ (Smert Špionam – Mirtis šnipams) – USSR People’s Commissariat of Defense Chief Counterintelligence Directorate "SMERSH" (SMERt' SHpionam – Death to Spies)

USSR – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

RSFSR – Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic

Kazakhstan SSR – Kazakhstan Soviet Socialist Republic

Lithuanian SSR – Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic

This is a translation of a letter dated 2 May 1942 written by future partisan Aldolfas Bagdonas sent to his Mother for Mother’s Day. He would latter be arrested, convicted, executed and then buried in the mass graves of Tuskulėnai.

“In this letter I am sending you, my dear Mommy, my pure love, my childish attachment and my warm wishes for the future through an unfolding bud, through freshly grown grass bowing deeply to you, and through the song of a starling.”

Anthropological studies

According to the Criminal Code of the Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic (RSFSR), the only method of execution was by shooting. The majority of the convicts were shot in the back of the head. However, some of the remains of the bodies have signs of stabbing and cuts which attests to cruel behaviour with the remains, even though it cannot be excluded that the lives of some people were taken by methods other than shooting.

Photo property of the State Forensic Medicine Service under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania (SFMS)
All rights reserved

1. A person shot in the back of the head.
A bullet entrance wound in the back of the head.
A bullet exit wound in the forehead.

Photo property of the State Forensic Medicine Service under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania (SFMS)
All rights reserved

2. This person was shot, but instead of a “dead-checking” shot,
the person was hit with a flat object.
A skull vault fracture due to the impact of a flat object.

Photo property of the State Forensic Medicine Service under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania (SFMS)
All rights reserved

3. This person was shot and then hit several times on the right temple of the head with an object
with a flat rectangular surface.
A perforating trauma on the right temple due to several bangs (at least three) on the temple with
an object with a flat rectangular surface (2.5 cm in width).

Photo property of the State Forensic Medicine Service under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania (SFMS)
All rights reserved

4. This person was shot and his head was then pierced with a sharp square object.
Entrance of a sharp square object into the temple of the head.
Exit of the object at the top of the head.

Photo property of the State Forensic Medicine Service under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania (SFMS)
All rights reserved

5. This person was not shot, but most likely killed by piercing the head several times with a four-edged device. In addition, other injuries to the skull from the impact of a rectangular shaped object were identified.
A wound on the parietal bone from a four-edged piercing device.
Signs of two bangs with a rectangular shaped object on the left side of the skull.

In 1990, after the re-establishment of independence in Lithuania, the archives became accessible and witnesses could tell their stories, as a result of which the secret of this location was revealed. At the beginning of 1994, the State Security Department of the Republic of Lithuania identified a mass grave within the grounds of Tuskulėnai Manor of people sentenced to death by Soviet repressive structures. An archaeological investigation was conducted and bodies were exhumed. Forty-five graves with 724 bodies were found.

Forensic medicine experts identified that 666 victims had gunshot wounds;

506 of them were killed with one shot to the head
111 – two shots
31 – three shots
13 – four shots
4 – five shots
1 – six shots.

The skulls of 239 victims had signs of gunshot wounds and other forms of physical violence;
122 of these had marks inflicted by a blunt instrument
112 – had signs of cuts and stabbing
5 – had signs of deep cuts.

In 2004, after the remains of the bodies exhumed were transferred to the chapel-columbarium, the place was officially opened to public on All Soul’s Day, November 2.

Editor’s note;

Dr. Rimantas Jankauskas is a Senior researcher for the State Forensic Medicine Service under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania, a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Anatomy, Histology and  Anthropology Department, at Vilnius University and Senior researcher and Head of Department of Mykolas Romeris University Forensic Institute in Vilnius.

From the first excavations at Tuskulenai in 1994 and continuing to present day Dr. Jankauskas has been the primary researcher involved with the recovery of the bodies, identification of wounds and working with family members to identify victims. We would like to give Dr. Jankauskas our sincere thanks for allowing us to use the photographs of the head wounds and we would also like to say thank you for all the work you have done over the years in an effort to identify the victims and reunite them with their families.

Over the years Dr. Jankauskas has had many highly competent and dedicated people working with him. To give you an idea of how the work at Tuskulenai has become an international endeavour, we would like to introduce you to one of them. She is Cate (Catherine) E. Bird from the state of Michigan in the United States. I am sure that you join us in offering our thanks to Cate for her fine work at Tuskulenai.

Dear VilNews readers,

            I am Cate Bird, a doctoral candidate studying Physical Anthropology at Michigan State University. During summer 2012, I am staying in Vilnius to collect data for my doctoral dissertation. My research evaluates state-sponsored violence in the Soviet Union through the analysis of skeletal trauma and burial organization in the Tuskulenai case. While in Lithuania, I am collaborating with representatives from Vilnius University and the Tuskulenai Memorial, as well as working closely with Justina Kozakaitė, a graduate student from Vilnius University.

            Following the Second World War, the Commissariat for Internal Affairs (NKVD) was responsible for identifying internal “enemies of the state” in the Soviet Republics. This state security agency, which would later become the State Security Committee (KGB), targeted anti-Soviet activities in the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic and executed at least seven hundred prisoners from 1944 to 1947.  After executions at the NKGB-MGB internal prison in Vilnius (what is now referred to as the KGB museum), prisoners’ bodies were transported to the Tuskulenai Estate where they were concealed until discovery during the 1990s. During archaeological investigations, a total of 724 individuals were found throughout 45 burial pits. Researchers argue that groups of prisoners were likely executed during one night and subsequently buried in one pit together. As of today, twenty-five pits have been associated with execution dates, based on identification of skeletal remains which correspond to specific individuals named in NKVD documents.  While fifty-five individuals have been identified, the process is ongoing. Dr. Rimantas Jankauskas, a professor in the Faculty of Medicine at Vilnius University, continues to work closely with family members to identify their relatives.

            My dissertation will analyze approximately twelve burial pits and 150 individuals in the Tuskulenai case. Specifically, I am exploring how trauma inflicted before and around the time of death varies. To do this, I will analyze patterns of skeletal and archaeological data by time period (1944-1945 and 1946-1947) as well as by death squad.  Over a three year period, three death squads operated at the Lukiškės prison, including primary executioners as well as warders who were responsible for transporting condemned prisoners, taking part in executions, and burying prisoner remains. My project compares executions performed by two of these death squads, specifically those led by Vasilij Dolgirev and Boris Prikazchikov.

The Tuskulenai case does not represent an isolated event in the Soviet Union. Gorbachev’s policy of glasnost allowed similar episodes of violence toward “enemies of the state” to come to light.  Three cases in particular are useful as comparisons to the Tuskulenai case, including those from Vinnytsia (Ukraine), Katyn (Russia), and Rainiai (Lithuania). While most of the remains associated with these atrocities were buried soon after discovery, forensic reports detail trauma and burial conditions in each episode.  My project will examine how skeletal trauma in the Tuskulenai case compares to these other cases in order to determine how NKVD violence varied during the 1930s and 1940s.

            Ultimately, this research can demonstrate how Soviet-sponsored violence fits within broader narratives of state-sponsored violence during the twentieth century.  Data is currently being collected with the intent of comparing the Tuskulenai case to other global conflicts, such as those in Guatemala, Argentina, and East Timor. Hopefully, this research will contribute to knowledge of the institutionalization of Soviet violence toward Lithuanians as well as locate the Tuskulenai case within a broader anthropological analysis of state-sponsored violence.  

Yours sincerely – Cate Bird
birdcath@msu.edu

Look for the next article
Part 5 of 6

THE CHAPEL – COLUMBARIUM

Dear readers

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Dear VilNews readers, we need your help. As we have said, the victims that were executed in the NKGB–MGB internal prison in between 28 September 1944 and 16 April 1947 were buried in secret mass graves in the territory of the Tuskulėnai Manor. These victims have been found, their bodies recovered, given the dignified burial they never received and their souls have been blessed by a Holy person of the religion the worshipped.

26 May 1947, following the order of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR, the death penalty was abolished.

On 12 January 1950, the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR passed a decree re-instating the death penalty. Between October 1950 and July 1952, 182 people sentenced to death were executed at Vilnius NKGB–MGB internal prison.
Their place of burial is still not known. 

After July 1952 to 1961 executions continued pursuant to the 1926 Criminal Code Article 58 of RSFSR.
The burial place of these victims is still unknown. 

The 1926 Criminal Code Article 58 of RSFSR was terminated in 1961 but executions continued.
The burial place of these victims is still unknown 

Dear readers we would like to find where these people are buried, recover their bodies, give them the dignified burial they never received and have them blessed by a Holy person of the Religion they worshipped.

This is where we need your help. The NKVD and NKGB–MGB officers that oversaw these executions are now all dead. What ever records and documents which still exist are most likely locked away in a vault somewhere in the Russian Federation and it would seem highly unlikely that anyone in the Russian Federation would be kind enough allow access to these documents and records so that we could find out the location of the burial sites or simply tell us where these people are buried.

We know that there are people out there that know the location of some of these burial sites. Maybe it is a person that processed the documents, maybe it is some one that was just a rank and file soldier that was ordered to drive the truck that transported the bodies or was ordered to dig the trenches for the graves, maybe it is a colleague of one of these people or maybe it is the bartender that heard some of these people talk of it one night. The possibilities are endless.

Maybe none of these people with first hand knowledge of the burial sites are still alive. In that case we are sure that there are people out there with second hand or even third hand information. To have first hand knowledge of these executions would weigh very heavily on any civilized person’s heart and it is very possible that after carrying this weight inside them for many years they finally felt the need to free themselves from this burden they carried inside and told some one.

If you have any information at all, any information of any kind – Please tell us.

It is not important to us how you know, who it was, what they did or who told you.

None of this is important.

The only thing that is important is that we find where the executed people are buried.

This is all we care about.

What we want to do is best explained in the words from Bronius Eiva’s farewell letter he wrote to his wife while waiting his execution while in the prison of Ukmergės Peoples Commissariat for Internal Affairs.

“Please find out when I was shot or hanged and where they bury me.
Dig me up and take me to Šeta cemetary.”

This is all we want to do – Find where they are buried, dig them up and then give them a proper burial but we can only do this with your help.

All information will be kept strictly confidential
We are not concerned with who or what
We are only concerned with where these people are buried

If you have any information of any kind please contact:

The Memorial Complex of Tuskulenai Peace Park
Žirmūnų Gatvė 1F,
LT-09239, Vilnius
Lithuania

Telephone: +370 5 275 1223
E-mail. tuskulenai@genocid.lt

You can also contact me at vkvilnius-tuskulenai@yahoo.com

We sincerely thank you for your help.

Su pagarbe
Vincas Karnila