Lithuania had a representative government. and became a respected member of the League of Nations. Literature flourished and education proceeded at a fast pace. With the aggressions of Hitler and Stalin. long foreign occupation began again. On August 3. 1940. Lithuania became a constituent republic of the U.S.S.R. The Soviets deported to Siberia 30.000 members of the Lithuanian intelligentsia on the night of June 14. 1941. As Nazi armies marched east against Stalin. the Soviets executed 5.000 political prisoners in their hasty retreat. The German occupation of the little country brought another attempt to destroy the culture of the Lithuanians as the Germans pursued a policy of colonization and resettlement.
Keywords matched
deported