Union of Lithuanian Freedom Fighters
Encyclopedia
The Union of Lithuanian Freedom Fighters or Movement for the Struggle for Lithuanian Freedom ( or LLKS) was a resistance organization of the Lithuanian partisans
, waging a guerrilla war against the Soviet Union
in the aftermath of World War II
. The organization was established on February 10, 1949, during a meeting of all partisan commanders in Minaičiai
village. Jonas Žemaitis
(codename Vytautas) was elected as the chairman of its presidium. On February 16, the 21st anniversary of the 1918 Act of Independence of Lithuania
, the Union adopted a declaration proclaiming itself to be the supreme political and military authority in Lithuania
. In 1996, after Lithuania regained independence in 1990, the Seimas
(parliament) recognized the declaration as an official act of the Republic of Lithuania and Žemaitis as President of Lithuania. The organization and the partisan war were suppressed by the Soviet security agencies by 1953.
Lithuanian partisans
The Lithuanian partisans can refer to various irregular military units in different historical periods active in Lithuania against foreign invaders and occupiers:...
, waging a guerrilla war against the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in the aftermath of World War II
Aftermath of World War II
After World War II a new era of tensions emerged based on opposing ideologies, mutual distrust between nations, and a nuclear arms race. This emerged into an environment dominated by a international balance of power that had changed significantly from the status quo before the war...
. The organization was established on February 10, 1949, during a meeting of all partisan commanders in Minaičiai
Minaičiai
Minaičiai or Mėnaičiai is a village in Lithuania, located on the Šušvė River. It has a primary school. According to the 2001 census, it had 205 residents....
village. Jonas Žemaitis
Jonas Žemaitis
Jonas Žemaitis was one of the leaders of armed resistance against the Soviet occupation in Lithuania and acknowledged as the Head of State of contemporary occupied Lithuania.Žemaitis was born in Jonas Žemaitis and Petronėlė Daukšaitė's family...
(codename Vytautas) was elected as the chairman of its presidium. On February 16, the 21st anniversary of the 1918 Act of Independence of Lithuania
Act of Independence of Lithuania
The Act of Independence of Lithuania or Act of February 16 was signed by the Council of Lithuania on February 16, 1918, proclaiming the restoration of an independent State of Lithuania, governed by democratic principles, with Vilnius as its capital. The Act was signed by all twenty...
, the Union adopted a declaration proclaiming itself to be the supreme political and military authority in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. In 1996, after Lithuania regained independence in 1990, the Seimas
Seimas
The Seimas is the unicameral Lithuanian parliament. It has 141 members that are elected for a four-year term. About half of the members of this legislative body are elected in individual constituencies , and the other half are elected by nationwide vote according to proportional representation...
(parliament) recognized the declaration as an official act of the Republic of Lithuania and Žemaitis as President of Lithuania. The organization and the partisan war were suppressed by the Soviet security agencies by 1953.