Dirva = Field. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1915-current, 1944-11-24
The Soviets Bring Back the Terror Of l94O-4l
The Lithuanians Still Believe in the Ultimate
Realisation Of the Atlantic Charter

UAilAdIiOf LUZ MILITARY SSINlCV VI
all ablebodied men between the
ages of fifteen and sixty-five was
made public. Those incapable of
military service are used for forced
labor, mainly in the transportation
| Of ammunition and for the digging
of trenches. Similarly as under
| the German occupation, the Lith-
uanians are forced into service un-
der the pretence of voluntary en-
listment".
In accordance with the Soviet
policy that was interrupted in June,
1941, "the deportation of anti-So-
Wet elements from the Baltic Sta
tes, declared Serov, Commissar of
Security for the U.S.S.R., in his
strictly secret instructions, is a
task of great political Importance.
Echoing Screws instructions Gu
zevicius, puppet commissar of the
interior of the Lithuanian SSSR,
ordered mass deportations of his
countrymen:i former army officers,
employees of governmental depart
ments, members of all political par
ties Except Communist), progress
sive farmers and factory workers,
former communists, citizens Of for
eign countries, persons having con-
facts abroad, workers of the Red
Gross, clergymen, businessmen, res
taurant ant estate owners, ETC., etc.
The New Leader of October 7,
1914, rightly observes:
Annexation of the Baltic States
by Russia means fOrcible sOvietiZa-
ton and deportation of all who OBJ
| ject or who have criticized Stalin-
ism. This includes not only the old
ruling class but leaders of labor,
socialist, peasant and other demo
cratic organizations.
The Swiss News Agency reports
! that the Committee of the Lithu-
anian Communist party met at Viii
MUS to
restore all Soviet laws and de-
crees of the Bolshevik period from
the summer of 1910 to the summer
of 1871. In addition, all Soviet
and Party courts and institutions
will be reestablished in all parts
of Lithuania occupied by the So
Wet Army.
The Soviet economic system is
being reintroduced into Lithuania
and collective farms are being re-
established All food is requisitioned
from the farmers without any re.
gard for their present or future
needs. Ar result, widespread
famine and starvation may develop
The Soviet destruction of the
Lithuanian way of life and the
deliberate annihilation of the people
evoked action from the Lithuanian
underground, and in some instances
Lithuanian home guards inteVeneC
to protect their countrymen from
the ruthless 'liberators".
After four years of continuous
nightmare under two totalitariar
foreign occupations, the creeping
shadow of national annihilation OF
the Lithuanian race is becoming
more realistic, more dangerous
The German occupants have depor-
ted into the interior of the Reich
the flower of the country's man.
power. Previously the Soviets had
deported at least thirty-five thous-
and civilians, and they are now
mobilizing into their army men
from the age of fifteen to sixty
five and are again deporting thous-
ands of families to Siberia. How
ever, the Lithuanian spirit of re-
sistance and the will for national
independence remains strong as
ever; the Supreme Council for Ma
tional Liberation still believes in
the ultimate realization of the At
lantic Charter Notwithstanding the
present ominous situation.