“Iron Curtain” on the Lithuanian coast
The route introduces the history of World War II, the national partisan and Soviet occupation periods, as well as the restoration of independence. Students will visit military fortifications, museum exhibits, a mine-clearing ship and a resistance movement museum, which reveal the reality of war. The excursion combines authentic places, interactive experiences and personal stories about the historical events of the 20th century.
What the tour includes
The Baltic States were the westernmost border of the Soviet Union during the Soviet era and the Cold War. Behind them lay the “decaying West” proclaimed by Soviet propaganda. So that Soviet people would not see and experience how people lived in the west of the Soviet empire, the borders of the USSR were guarded very carefully. With the collapse of the totalitarian Soviet regime, the Iron Curtain also collapsed. On this excursion, students will be able to learn about and experience the history of the 20th century in a diverse and exciting way – both in museums and in real historical objects in nature. In the World War II exhibition “Museums 39/45” they will be able to learn about the events of the war in Klaipėda and its surroundings. Interactive exhibitions, animated maps and authentic objects will help you understand how the war affected the city and its inhabitants. A special experience will be the opportunity to clean the sand from the exhibits with your fingers and discover the everyday things of people during the war. In the mine countermeasures ship-museum M52 “Sūduvis”, students will be able to board a real warship, see authentic, still operational equipment and learn how mines are searched for and destroyed at sea. This will allow them to understand the everyday life of sailors, military technology and the importance of the ship in the Lithuanian Navy. In the coastal defense battery “Memel-Nord”, they will be able to get acquainted with the military fortifications of the Second World War on the Baltic Sea. By looking at the concrete structures and the exhibition, visitors will learn how Klaipėda was protected and how coastal artillery worked. In the Museum of Exile and Resistance Movement in Palanga, students will learn about the Lithuanian resistance movement and deportations. Stories about real people will help them understand how historical events broke their destinies, but at the same time showed courage and the desire to preserve their identity. Overall, this excursion will allow them to see, feel and better understand history, connecting learning with real objects, emotions and living stories.