The occupation of Lithuania was a prelude to the grim days in which the land became a battleground for German and Russian Armies. Continued Soviet occupation following World War II has perpetuated the eclipse of freedom in Lithuania. An especially tragic aspect of that first Soviet conquest 31 years ago was the ruthless deportation of innumerable thousands of Lithuanian citizens to the prison camps of Siberia. It was on June 15. 1940. that the deportations began. Inevitably. much of what happened took place in secret. closed off to the outside world. It is clear. however. that there was a concerted policy to destroy the foundation of Lithuanian national. cultural. and political independence. It must be said today that. despite this sad story. that policy has failed. The spirit of .freedom is alive in captive Lithuania and among Lithuanians everywhere who share that fierce pride in language and tradition which. under God. has preserved the Lithuanian heritage. The memory of the victims of the 1940 deportations is fresh among Lithuanians throughout the world. We pray that their suffering shall not have been in vain. and that the spirit of freedom which they embodied may continue to flourish until at last the Lithuanian people are able to enjoy their rightful heritage among the free peoples of the world.
Keywords matched
deportations deportation