The Cold War in the Platelia Lake area, Samogitia National Park
The route takes you through the former ballistic missile base and its surroundings, introducing you to the legacy of World War II, the tensions of the Cold War, and the reality of Soviet occupation. Students will visit underground missile silos, a military camp, and memorial sites that reveal both the everyday lives of soldiers and the importance of the resistance movement and the preservation of historical memory. The excursion provides an opportunity to understand 20th-century security policy, ideological conflicts, and human experiences under totalitarian regimes.
What the tour includes
During the excursion, the student will also learn about the Cold War – a time when, after World War II, tensions reigned between the superpowers, military preparations and a technological race took place, even if the war did not directly take place. During this excursion, the student will be able to gain a deeper understanding of the Cold War period, resistance to occupation and the importance of remembrance today. At the Cold War exhibition in Plokštínė, located in the former ballistic missile base, the visitor will enter a once top-secret underground missile base where nuclear missiles were stored, aimed at Western Europe. Walking through the underground rooms and viewing a real missile launch shaft, he will understand how dangerous and tense the Cold War world was, even if the war never started. In the Plokštínė military town, you can find out - how Soviet soldiers lived - where they slept, ate, received medical treatment and spent their free time. Information stands will help you imagine how this place turned from a secret military area into a pioneer camp and later into a historical site. At the Monument to the Defenders of Lithuanian Freedom in the village of Plateliai, students will learn about the struggle of the Lithuanian Freedom Army against the Soviet occupation. This place will help you understand that ordinary people – students, soldiers and rural residents – who were ready to risk their lives fought for freedom. In the Litvak Memorial Garden, you can learn about the Lithuanian Jewish communities that were destroyed during the Holocaust in a peaceful and symbolic environment. Metal apple trees with apples tell the story of families, destinies and memory, showing how important it is to commemorate the past and respect human lives. Overall, this excursion will help students better understand the complexity of history, the consequences of war and occupation, as well as the importance of freedom and memory.