For over 100 years these gallant. freedomloving people fought czarist oppression until. following World War I. they succeeded in becoming an independent state on February 16. 1918. After 21 short years of freedom. Lithuania became a battleground of World War II. occupied first by the Nazis and then by the Red army. All freedoms were abolished under the ruthless oppression of their Communist masters. Yet. despite wanton murder of their leaders. deportations to Soviet slave camps. and daily harassment. these indomitable people never lost hope that their freedom will ultimately be returned. Their intense devoticn to liberty has been exemplified by the Lithuanian sailor. Simas Kudirka. who dramatically but unsuccessfully tried to escape from a Soviet ship.
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deportations