Secret Veterinarian
Veterinary doctor Stanislovas Mikašauskas, who worked at the Plokštinė military base, shares his memories of unusual access to the base's territory and strict secrecy even in an informal environment.
The Plokštinė military base was a strictly guarded facility belonging to the Riga Military District. Stanislovas Mikašauskas, who worked as a veterinarian at the time, remembers an unusual entry into the base: "The commanders of the military base hired me as a veterinarian. The first time, a major came and said that they needed me immediately. They loaded me into a truck with firewood and brought me into the territory. They took me to the building where the pigs were, let me out. And after work, they led me through the fence into the forest."
Although the doctor signed official documents, he entered the base illegally. As he explains: "And if the pigs get sick, you won't wait." The military warned him: "If you get caught by any inspectors, you'll explain what you did, and everything will be fine. But know that you'll stay for two days until they find out what kind of bird you are."
Even later, after becoming the chairman of the collective farm and hunting with the officers who served at the base, S. Mikašauskas did not approach the secrets of the base: "We used to hunt ducks together, but there was no talk about the base itself. We tried to ask, but they kept quiet. And some people talked about the tunnels, but it seems to me that if those tunnels had existed, someone would have passed through them anyway."
Related timeline
Related objects
Cold War Exposition
The exposition is arranged in the former ballistic missile launch complex of the Soviet Union, which is the only well-equipped facility of its kind in Europe. The Plokštines missile base was completed in 1962. on December 31. It was placed in the largest forest massif, east of Lake Plateļi. There were 4 SS-4 "Sandal" medium-range ballistic missiles equipped with 2-megaton thermonuclear warheads, aimed at Western European countries. 1978 after the base was discovered by US intelligence, it was closed with the removal of armaments. 2012 after reconstruction, an exhibition of relevant content was opened here.
Plokštinė Military Town
in 1962 "Dvina", one of the first underground R-12 ballistic missile launch complex in the Soviet Union, started operating in the Ploštinė forests (Plungė district).
A military town has been established 0.5 km from the missile launch base. On the territory of 12 hectares, about 30 buildings of various purposes were built: residential houses (barracks), officers' headquarters, 2 canteens, a boiler room, a power plant, a medical station, a club, a pig farm, warehouses, garages and other buildings.
The platform's underground missile launch complex operated until 1978. June 18 The soldiers left the area, taking only their weapons with them. in 1979 the management of the former military complex was handed over to the Association of Republican Agricultural Recreational Institutions of the Plungė district, and the Platelia Pioneers' Rest Camp "Žuvėdra" was established in the military town. The area was remodeled and adapted to the needs of the camp, which operated until 1990. After Lithuania regained its independence, the Pioneer Camp was closed.
Since 1993 the facility is managed by the Žemaitija National Park Directorate. Many buildings of the military campus were demolished in 2017 due to their state of emergency. Currently, there are about 10 buildings left in the area, which can be viewed from the outside by visitors. There are information stands that tell about the former buildings and their purpose.
