I Wars of Independence, Independence of the Baltic States, II WW2, IV Soviet Occupation, Restored Independence

Militārais mantojums gar dzelzs priekškaru

Exile and Resistance Museum in Palanga

in the central part of the city of Palanga.

The museum operates in one of the smallest wooden villas of the Palanga resort "Vaidilute". It was founded in 1993. Initiative of the Palanga branch of the Union of Lithuanian Political Prisoners and Deportees. Even today, the department takes care of the museum on public grounds. The volunteers of the department have adapted the villa for museum activities, and they lead tours themselves.

The exhibition tells about the participation of Lithuanians in the resistance and the exiles that broke people's destinies. A separate part of the exposition is dedicated to General Jonas Žemaičius-Vytautas (1909–1954), a Lithuanian partisan commander from Palanga. in 2009 By the decision of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, the general was recognized as the leader of Lithuania, which fought against the Soviet occupation, and actually served as the president. in 2009 he was also given the title of honorary citizen of the city of Palanga. in 2004 A monument to the general was built in the center of Palanga.

“Memel-Nord” Coastal Artillery Battery

1939 after the annexation of Klaipėda County to Germany, the German army started the construction of coastal defense batteries in the vicinity of the city. Two batteries were planned: the first - Memel Süd in Smiltine (it was not built) and the second - Memel Nord - north of Klaipeda. Initially, it was intended to protect the coast from enemy ships, but later it was converted into an anti-aircraft defense point. The battery operates until 1955, the Memel-Nord battery has not suffered from the war. It consists of three buildings, in the center is a concrete structure fire control post, flanked by two artillery blocks with ammunition storage. in 2002 a museum exposition has been created in one of the artillery blocks.

 
Anti-mine ship-museum M52 "Sūduvis"

Klaipėda city's Royal Dane embankment, next to the Castle Bridge.

The ship belonging to the "Lindau" mine trawler class was built in 1956-1958. in West Germany. The purpose of these ships is to detect and destroy sea mines. Accordingly, the ship's hull was made of Brazilian oak, the decks were made of teak, and the devices were made of non-magnetic metal.

1958-1999 the ship belonged to the German Navy and was christened M1071 Koblenz. 1978-1979 from a minesweeper it was converted into a minesweeper (minehunter).

in 1999 the ship was handed over to the Naval Forces of the Lithuanian Army. The ships of these forces are traditionally named after the historical regions of Lithuania, so the new ship was christened with that name - M52 "Sūduvis". The ship served Lithuania for 22 years, participated in international and national exercises and operations.

in 2021 the ship completed its service in the Lithuanian Naval Forces and was handed over to the Lithuanian Maritime Museum. M52 "Sūduvis" was then adapted for museum and educational activities when it was opened to the public. A ship on display with authentic working equipment.

M52 "Sūduvio" displacement 463 t, engine power 4000 HP, speed 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h), crew of 42 people. Armament and equipment of the ship: 40 mm caliber cannon, acoustic system, minesweeper robot.

World War II Exposition “Muziejus 39/45”

In the city of Klaipėda.

The museum “39/45”, which belongs to the History Museum of Lithuania Minor, tells the story of the Second World War in the city and region of Klaipėda. The museum is located under the rampart, on the site of the former eastern curtain wall of Klaipėda Castle, where German military units had set up an explosives warehouse during the war.

The museum's exposition is modern and attractive to visitors - the exposition consists of 4 halls presenting different stages of the war era, and the exhibition halls are equipped with 13 interactive points. In the hall "Klaipėda on the Eve of the War", you can get acquainted with historical documents and photographs, and the cardinal changes of that time in Europe are depicted on an original animated map. The hall "Klaipėda Storm" presents the extremely tragic history of the city of Klaipėda and its inhabitants, while the other "Klaipėda after the War" exhibits an installation dedicated to the memory of the destroyed churches of the city. In the last hall, "Memory", a symbolic 6-meter-long carriage with a glass lid is placed, under which are many ordinary household items that once belonged to both German soldiers and Klaipėda civilians. The glass is filled with a layer of sand, so in order to see the exhibits, you will have to clean the sand with your fingers.

“Escape bunker 1944”

In the center of Klaipėda city.

A 1944 German military tunnel shelter built to help civilians in Klaipėda survive the bombings and artillery shelling of World War II. It is believed to have been built by the Reich Railway Administration. The bunker is constructed of one-meter-thick reinforced concrete walls topped by an earthen embankment.

Since 2009, the hideout has been included in the Register of Immovable Cultural Properties of the Republic of Lithuania and the object has been marked with a military heritage sign. Having been abandoned for a long time, it has been renovated on a private initiative since 2016. Currently, a puzzle room has been installed in it, thus protecting it from further deterioration and providing entertainment for people.

Orvidai Homestead-Museum

Near Salantai, on the right side of the Salantai–Plungė road (KK169) (there are information signs).

This space was started more than 40 years ago by stone masters father and son Kazimieras and Vilius Orvidai (1905–1989; 1952–1992). During land reclamation, they brought stones of more interesting shapes and centuries-old trees from the surrounding area to their homestead and created monuments with religious themes from them. It is said that this museum was born out of grief over the nature being destroyed by Soviet land reclamation and the desire to breathe life into the condemned stones, to resurrect them for a second life. The works created by the Orvidai themselves and other artists that appeared on the Orvidai homestead did not comply with Soviet ideological and artistic canons: the works created from stone, wood, metal and old agricultural implements intertwined symbols of various religions (Catholic, pagan, Buddhist). The homestead was also a gathering place for people who did not fit into the Soviet reality of life, and it became a place of refuge and gathering for those who thought differently. The Soviet government had repeatedly planned to destroy this space, but it was nevertheless saved. The Orvidai homestead became extremely popular during the period of the Lithuanian Renaissance.

Visitors to the farmstead-museum are greeted by the IS-2 tank. This tank was developed by the Soviets during World War II as a response to the German Tiger I. The name of the tank series IS is an acronym for the Soviet tyrant Joseph Stalin. Previously, this tank stood in Salantai, was part of the memorial to the burial site of Soviet soldiers of World War II. In 1991, it was transported to the Orvidai farmstead and became its exhibit.

 
Litvak Memorial Garden

In 2014, the Jakov Bunka Charity and Support Foundation established the Litvaks Memorial Garden in the Žemaitija National Park, in the village of Medsedžiai, approximately 2 km from the center of Plateliai. This monument is dedicated to the memory of the destroyed Lithuanian Jewish communities.

The 12-acre garden replicates the outline of Lithuania, and the places where Jewish communities were destroyed in 1941-1944 are marked with forged metal apple trees. The author of the forged apples is Artūras Platakis. Apples in trees - families who lived in communities. Litvaks all over the world can contribute to the creation of the garden by ordering new apple trees and apples in memory of their ancestors. Karelian granite columns are also being erected in the garden to individually honor the achievements of Litvaks in the world.

In 2016, this initiative was expanded - the commemoration of Lithuanian Lithuanian and Jewish saviors during the Holocaust was commemorated with apple trees. The stand at the entrance to the garden tells about the former Jewish communities of Lithuania in numbers.

At the moment, an apple tree has already "grown" in the garden in memory of the Jewish communities of Alytus, Alsėdžii, Kalvarija, Mosėdis, Plateliai, Plungė, Telšiai, Vabalninka, Viekšnii and others.

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.

 
Freedom Monument in Plungė

The Freedom Monument on Laisvės Alley in the city of Plungė began to be built around 1928 by the artist Kleinauskis to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Lithuania. The project was completed in 1931 and recognized as the tallest (18 m) Freedom Monument in Samogitia.
The idea of the monument did not satisfy the Catholic community of the city, as the main figure of the monument – a plaster sculpture of a winged angel with a sword and a crown in his hands – seemed too vulgar and naked. For this reason, the initial idea of building the Freedom Monument in front of the church was resisted, and the latter was eventually built on Laisvės alėja. It is said that the citizens would throw stones at the sculpture. The monument did not please the city authorities either – Independence Day celebrations were held near the St. Florian statue, ignoring the Freedom Monument.
Finally, the ruined sculpture was dismantled around 1936, and around 1950-1953. The Soviet occupation authorities, fighting against the manifestations of the ideas of freedom, blew up the remains of the monument. In 1992, the monument was restored and consecrated, with the new sculpture and coat of arms cast from brass. The author of the restored monument is sculptor Vilimas Ketvirtis. The sculpture of the angel was cast in St. Petersburg, and the coats of arms of Plungė were cast in Kaunas.

Kaušėnai Holocaust Memorial

A memorial to the victims of the Kaušėnai Holocaust has been installed in the village of Kaušėnai (Plungė district) at the site of the Jewish massacre. The memorial is dedicated to the memory of the Jewish community of Plunge and surrounding villages destroyed during the Second World War.

The memorial was founded on the initiative of the last Jew of Plunge, Jakov Bunka. The first monument was erected in 1952 to the victims of the Second World War, and in 1986-1989 a memorial was built to honor the dead Jews. In 2011, the Memorial Wall was installed, which is made of 1,800 bricks from the demolished Plunge synagogue, each of which is dedicated to the memory of the murdered person, and plaques with the known names of 1,200 (out of 1,800) Jews are attached to the wall. Rescuers' Alley has been created next to the memorial, where individuals who saved condemned Jews in Plunge and its surroundings during the Nazi occupation are listed on separate name columns.

On July 12-13, 1941, about 1,800 Jews from the Plunge region were killed and buried in the Plunge synagogue in brutal conditions. On the day of the genocide, those who could walk were driven to walk 5 km to the place of execution, others were transported by trucks in separate groups. The victims were ordered to dig holes for themselves, after which they were shot. The other group had to bury the dead and dig a new hole for themselves.

The memorial is in the top ten of the most impressive memorials reflecting the tragedy of the European Jewish people.

Samogitian Museum "Alka"

The museum is located in the city of Telšiai, on the north-western coast of Lake Mastis.

in 2024 In September, after the reconstruction, the newly opened Žemaitia Museum "Alka" presents the history and culture of the Žemaitija region - archaeological finds, rare and unexpected historical artifacts, ethnographic treasure, the legacy of interwar and emigrant artists, the exclusive heritage of Žemaitija estates: historical furniture, masterpieces of art.

Three exhibition spaces are particularly interesting from the perspective of military heritage:

1. The audio-visual installation "Epochų lůmis" which is complemented by a small exposition of artifacts from the Second World War. The exclusive exposition, divided into two parts, displays authentic items used by soldiers during the Nazi German and Soviet occupations - helmets, ammunition boxes, bayonets, and relevant video projections.

2. "Loss stories" in which the painful part of the nation's history is told through the stories and destinies of different individuals and families, determined by the brutal Soviet occupation regime's terror against the local population.

3. "Guerrilla War in Žemaitija" exposition is arranged in a stylized reproduction of the interior of a post-war partisan hideout. In the exhibition, you can familiarize yourself with the structure of the Lithuanian partisans, see authentic artifacts found at the site of the Battle of God's Seat Forest near Telšiai, as well as examples of weapons typical of that period, an excerpt from a documentary film dedicated to this battle, and various photos of partisans who operated in this region are shown.

 
Venclauskiai House-Museum

Venclauskių House-Museum is an exclusive residential house of interwar historicist architecture located in the city of Šiauliai. The building, nicknamed the White House, was built in 1926. in the former Šiauliai suburb lands for the family of Kazimieros and Stanislavas Venclauskiu. Kazimieras and Stanislava Venclauskiai - actors of the Lithuanian national movement and the restoration of the Lithuanian state, also famous as guardians of many strays and orphans.
During World War II, Stanislava Venclauskienė and her daughters Danuta and Gražbyle became famous as saviors of Jews. Despite the fact that the German commandant's office was located in their house during the war, they helped the Jews imprisoned in the Šiauliai ghetto and hid them at home. Danutė Venclauskaitė had permission to enter the Šiauliai ghetto, visiting there secretly bringing food and medicine. All three women have received the title of Righteous Among the Nations and have been awarded the Cross for the Rescue of the Perishing.
in 1991 Gražbylė and Danutė Venclauskaitė donated the family home to the "Aušros" museum in Šiauliai. In the building in 2019 after the reconstruction, the Venclauskių House-Museum was established. The permanent exposition of the museum tells the story of the Venclauski family, and the rooms in the basement are devoted to the themes of the Holocaust and the rescue of Jews.

 
Lyduvėnai railway bridge

The bridge was built on the 50.7 km of the Radviliškis-Pagėgiai railway section and was built across the Dubysa valley. It is the longest (599 m) and highest (42 m) railway bridge in Lithuania.
The first wooden Lyduvėnai bridge was built in 1916. Kaiser German forces. Due to the constant threat of fires, it was decided to rebuild the bridge, replacing the structures with concrete and metal ones. The bridge was commissioned in 1918. May 17 and named after the commander of the German army, Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg.
After Lithuania regained its independence, the bridge was intensively used for both state and international transit purposes. In order to protect it in case of war, in 1937 three reinforced concrete defensive facilities were installed (one remains today).
Despite attempts to save the bridge (unsuccessfully bombed several times), in 1944 July 26 the retreating Nazi German army blew it up. The Soviet army hastily installed a temporary wooden bridge on the new supports. in 1951 the reconstruction of a steel bridge with 9 partitions of two types has begun: 6 of them are new Russian ones, and 3 are German, which have remained since 1918. The first train passed in 1952. May 1st
in 2023 at the end of the year, after the last reconstruction, tours for tourists were started on the service path of the bridge, which is located in the lower part of the bridge.

Kaunas Ninth Fort Museum

Until 1890 The Russian Empire had built a system of fortifications around the perimeter of the city of Kaunas. It included 8 forts and 9 artillery batteries. The construction of IX Fort started in 1902, but was completed shortly before the First World War. During the time of the Lithuanian state, 1924 the fort became a branch of Kaunas prison. During the USSR, the NKVD prison was located here, as a transfer point to the GULAG camps. During the German occupation - the Holocaust, it was a place of execution. Today, a history museum has been established here.

 
Kaunas nuclear bunker

A museum has been created in the nuclear bunker of Kaunas, which is located 6 m below the ground, which gathers exhibits of private collectors (> 1200). The most interesting are the collection of gas masks and the largest exhibition of Cold War radio equipment and spying devices in the Baltic States.

Memorial of January 13th of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania

In the city of Vilnius, near the Second Chamber of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania

in 1991 In January, due to the efforts of Lithuanian people who sought freedom and defended it, the Lithuanian Parliament House was surrounded by barricades. The barricades were an attempt to protect themselves from the military aggression of the Soviet Union at that time - Soviet attempts to carry out a coup d'état in Lithuania and restore Soviet power. It surrounded the parliament until 1992. the end in 1993 near the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, a kind of memorial was created from some barricades and other relics - a monument dedicated to the sacrifice of the people of Lithuania.

January 13 - the most tragic day of 1991. the event of January, when the Soviet army and special units occupied the Lithuanian Radio and Television building and the Television Tower, 14 defenders of freedom were killed and about 600 people were injured - the Memorial Day of the Defenders of Freedom was declared. As the tenth anniversary of the Freedom Defenders Day approaches, it was decided to protect the aforementioned composition by installing the January 13 memorial. The memorial was unveiled in 2008.

The memorial preserves the authentic 1991 a fragment of the parliament barricades, a chapel with St. with the image of the Virgin Mary, exhibited during the 1991 objects brought by people after the events of January, the events of the defense of Lithuania's independence are introduced. It is said that this is perhaps the only monument of this type in the world, which gives meaning to the defense of the independence of the parliament and the state.