Prior to World War II, Stalin and Hitler signed the so-called Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact that divided Central and Eastern Europe into Soviet Union and Nazi Germany spheres of influence. Lithuanian statehood ceased to exist in June of 1940, when troops of the Red Army entered its territory. One year later, Lithuania was occupied by Nazi Germany, and in 1944, the Soviet Union re-occupied the country.

Making a decision was key for every Lithuanian after the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania for the second time. To give up, to submit or to resist? Thousands of partisans, foot messengers and supporters chose armed resistance (1944–1953). In 1944, many fighters, often called freedom fighters, withdrew into the woods to organize a powerful armed partisan resistance movement. From 1944 to 1953, around 50,000 partisans and a growing number of liaisons and partisan supporters fought for freedom (at that time, Lithuania’s population was slightly more than two million people). Over 20,000 partisans were killed, around 140,000 people were arrested and imprisoned in forced labor camps, and 118,000 more were exiled to Siberia.

In February 1949, partisan representatives from all over Lithuania founded Lietuvos laisvės kovos sąjūdis (Union of Lithuanian Freedom Fighters, hereinafter LLKS), and on 16 February 1949, they signed a political declaration. Stating that the LLKS Council was the only legitimate government of occupied Lithuania, the declaration was the main document for the succession and struggle in restoring the independent democratic state of Lithuania. The signatories of the declaration were eight persons, united by the spirit of non-reconciliation to occupation and civic responsibility under ruthless conditions.

The exhibition “19490216: Code of Decision“ presents eight members of the Lithuanian Freedom Fighters, 1949 February 16th the life story of the signatory of the declaration draws attention to the complex value choices still relevant today: personal well-being or responsibility for the future of the homeland? Eight different life stories are united by one theme: the decision to withdraw into the resistance movement. The choice made under extreme conditions reveals that in modern Western societies one does not born but becomes a historical personality.

The exhibition is open at the Vincas Kudirka Museum in Kudirkos Naumiestis and will run until September 2026.

Organisers: Centre for Civil Education and the National Museum of Lithuania.
Curators: Nideta Jarockienė, Ieva Cicėnaitė, Norbertas Černiauskas, Enrika Kripienė, Luka Sinevičienė, Gintarė Šatavičiūtė, Eglė Belozoraitė.

Photos by Silvestras Samsonas, National Museum of Lithuania