Today, May 8, the Honour Guard Company of the Lithuanian Armed Forces laid flowers at Paneriai Memorial, Antakalnis and Vilnius Vingio cemeteries, paid respects on behalf of Lithuania to the memory of the victims of the Second World War and the Holocaust and the fallen in the fight against Nazism and other totalitarian regimes, thus marking the 75th anniversary of the Victory in Europe Day.
“Preservation of unity, peace, sovereignty, and democracy, in order to ensure security to our citizens is really relevant today — Europe has yet to become a continent of peace bearing in mind the bloodshed in Ukraine, torn away territories, frozen conflicts, and attempts to take advantage of the COVID-19 situation and use history as an instrument for a revisionist agenda. For these reasons we have to unite even more closely for addressing contemporary security challenges,” Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis says and points out that we have to get a grasp on the historical traumas on states and societies and help the societal wounds to heal. “Today we pay our respects and remember all the victims of this tragic point in history because the end of World War II did not bring peace to Lithuania just like it didn’t bring peace to the other Baltic and Central European countries – only more terror and loss of life. The political aftermath of this war was really eliminated only in 1990–1993 by the restoration of Lithuania’s independence and withdrawal of the last units of the Russian army,” he underscores.
The tribute ceremony began at Paneriai Memorial by laying flowers at the monuments for the victims of Nazism, the Holocaust, for soldiers of the Lithuanian Territorial Defence Force and Polish Armia Krajowa, and civilian victims.
Soldiers of the Honour Guard Company also laid flowers at the memorials for World War II victims, Lithuanian Armed Forces soldiers fallen for the Motherland, Lithuanian Freedom Fighters (graves of January 13 and Medininkai checkpoint tragedy victims), grave of signatory of the 16 February 1949 Declaration of the Council of the Lithuanian Liberation Movement, Commander of the Lithuanian Liberation Movement Army, and head of state of Lithuania who resisted the Soviet occupation, Adolfas Ramanauskas-Vanagas, and the wayside shrine for Lithuanian soldiers who perished fighting in other countries’ armies.
Later floral tributes were laid at the Memorial for World War II victims at the German War Cemetery at Vilnius Vingio Park Soldiers Cemetery, and also at the monument for 16 February 1949 Declaration signatory, Chairman of the Council of the Lithuanian Liberation Movement Partisan General Jonas Žemaitis-Vytautas in front of the Ministry of National Defence.
Victory in Europe Day, the end of World War II brought about by united efforts of all allies that fought in the war, is celebrated on May 8, it is the day Germany signed the definitive German Instrument of Surrender in 1945.
Photo credits: Alfredas Pliadis (MoD)
