Lithuanian Partisans Declaration of February 16, 1949
Lithuanian Partisans Declaration of February 16, 1949 (Lithuanian: Lietuvos laisvės kovos sąjūdžio deklaracija) is a document, created by Lithuanian partisans and signed by Union of Lithuanian Freedom Fighters (ULFF) on February 16, 1949, in Minaičiai (Radviliškis District Municipality). By signing the declaration, the ULFF assumed responsibility to lead the restoration of independent democratic state of Lithuania, where equal rights for all citizens and social care is guaranteed. Document also states that "Communist party, as dictatorial and essentially opposite to the main aim of Lithuanian nation and keystone provision of the Constitution – independence of Lithuania, – is not considered a legal party". The declaration appeals to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Lithuanian Constitution of 1922 and addresses the whole democratic world asking for help.
In February 1949, meeting of partisan leaders took place in the bunker in Minaičiai (Radviliškis District Municipality). Eight partisans represented all the partisan units. During the first meeting, the name of the organization was approved—the Union of Lithuanian Freedom Fighters and the leadership was formed unanimously. Žemaitis-Vytautas became the Chairman of the Presidium of the Union's Council (posthumously he was awarded the rank of Brigade General), Šibaila-Merainis was appointed the Head of the Union's public affairs, and Liesys-Naktis was named the Head of the Union's Public Relations Department. The resolutions mentioned in the minutes of the meetings foresaw the organizational structure of the movement and leadership, the tactics of activities, relations within the organization and with local people. Union's political program was presented by its author Šibaila-Merainis. The program, which consisted of 12 articles, stressed that the ultimate goal of the fight was the restoration of the Lithuanian Parliamentary Republic of 1920–1926.
On the occasion of the anniversary of the February 16 independence of Lithuania, the Council signed the political declaration. It stated that the Council of the Union of Lithuanian Freedom Fighters was the highest political body of the nation. Together with other documents passed at the meeting, the Declaration provided the legal and political basis for the Lithuanian armed resistance, ensured a new format of freedom fighting, and legitimized the Union as an organized armed resistance to the Soviet occupation and its council as the sole legitimate authority in the territory of the occupied country.[1] The participants also adopted the motto of the movement: “Atiduok Tėvynei, ką privalai” [Give the Homeland What You Must Give!].
It was the only general meeting of the leaders. As the situation in the country had worsened, the number of supporters of the resistance movement had diminished. It became increasingly difficult to get in touch not only with the area headquarters but also groups of partisans in the vicinity. More and more partisans were killed or arrested.[2]
Signatories of the declaration
Four of the eight signatories were teachers, two were students, one was an officer, and one was an accountant.
First Deputy Chairman of the Presidium Commander of the Southern Lithuania Region
March 6, 1918
November 29, 1957
Shot dead in the KGB prison in Vilnius
Juozas Šibaila
Merainis
Teacher
Second Deputy Chairman of the Presidium Commander of the Didžioji Kova Military District
March 18, 1905
February 11, 1953
Killed in Dovydai forest, Ramygala Volost
Leonas Grigonis
Užpalis
Teacher
Third Deputy Chairman of the Presidium Commander of the Prisikėlimas Military District
December 14, 1905
July 22, 1950
Killed in Daugėliškės forest, Ariogala Volost
Aleksandras Grybinas
Faustas
Teacher
Commander of the Tauras Military District
September 20, 1920
September 28, 1949
Killed in Šunkariai forest, Šakiai County
Vytautas Gužas
Kardas
Accountant
Commander of the West Lithuania Region
January 2, 1920
June 11, 1949
Killed in the village of Smaidriai, Tauragė County
Bronius Liesys
Naktis
Student
Chief of the Prisikėlimas Military District
April 16, 1922
August 13, 1949
Killed in Užpelkiai forest, Radviliškis District
Petras Bartkus
Žadgaila
Student
Secretary of the Presidium
May 30, 1925
August 13, 1949
Killed in Užpelkiai forest, Radviliškis District
Legacy
The declaration signed in Minaičiai is recognized as a legal act of Lithuania. On January 12, 1999, Seimas (parliament of Lithuania) passed a decree stating that the Union of Lithuanian Freedom Fighters united military units and social groups, was led by unanimous leadership, engaged in resistance using military means, and fought for the liberation of Lithuania. It was recognized that the Council of the Union, which signed the Declaration of 1944, exercised functions of the highest political and military structure and was the only legitimate authority in the territory of the occupied country.
On the basis of the February 16 Declaration, Seimas passed a resolution on March 12, 2009 affirming that from February 16, 1949 until his death on May 30, 1953, Jonas Žemaitis-Vytautas was “the head of state of Lithuania fighting against the occupation, who actually performed the duties of the President of the Republic of Lithuania.”[3] On November 20, 2018, Seimas passed a resolution declaring that after the death of Žemaitis-Vytautas, Adolfas Ramanauskas-Vanagas became the President of the fighting Lithuania.[4]
On November 22, 2010 a monument by sculptor Jonas Jagėla dedicated to the declaration and its signatories was unveiled in the village of Minaičiai. In 2012, the bunker was restored at the Minaičiai-Pėtrėčiai homestead and the exposition “Atiduok Tėvynei, ką privalai” was installed.[5] In May 2019, the partisan bunker was reproduced at the Center for Civil Education and an exhibition dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Declaration, “19490216: Apsisprendimo šifras” [19490216: The Code of Self-Determination] was opened.
Every year on February 16, a commemoration in the village of Minaičiai takes place.
On February 14, 2020, one more original copy of the Declaration was found, while looking through recently received new documents of Lithuanian freedom fighters.[6]
Literature
Auksutė Ramanauskaitė-Skokauskienė. Laisvės deklaracija ir jos signatarai – Kaunas: Naujasis lankas, 2009. – 56 p.: iliustr. – ISBN978-9955-03-535-0
^Kasparas, Kęstutis. (1999). Lietuvos karas : antroji Sovietų Sąjungos agresija : pasipriešinimas : ofenzyvinės gynybos tarpsnis 1944 m. vasara - 1946 m. pavasaris : monografija. Lietuvos politinių kalinių ir tremtinių sąjunga. ISBN9986-577-28-4. OCLC78525149.