MAY 2019. NO 5 (12).

NEWS

FIRST LIVE FIRING WITH UPGRADED PZH2000

US ARMY THAAD IS HEADED TO EASTERN EUROPE Photo credit: KotrynaPhoto Gurevičiūtė Nearly 600 Takeoffs and Pilots Seeking to Be the Best

ALMOST 3000 HOURS — THE AMOUNT OF TIME SO FAR SPENT IN THE LARGEST MEDICAL EXERCISE AIR BY LIEUTENANT ADAM KALINOWSKI, WHO WAS IN IN NATO HISTORY LEAD OF THE LAST ROTATION DEPLOYED IN DURING THE NATO AIR POLICING MISSION. DRIVEN BY THE LOVE FOR PLANES SINCE 9.000 PARTICIPANTS MARKED CHILDHOOD, POLISH DETACHMENT COMMANDER HAS BEEN LIVING NATO ANNIVERSARY HIS DREAM WHICH RECENTLY GAVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT HIS FIRST CONTRIBUTION TO THIS MISSION. HOWEVER, NUMBER OF ANTI-UAV FOR THE CHALLENGES HAD TO BE OVERCOME IN ORDER TO HAVE ALLIES’ FIGHTER JETS PATROLLING THE BALTIC SKIES, TO WHICH — IMPORTANT TO MENTION — THEY TOOK OFF EVEN 90 TIMES THROUGHOUT 2014 AFTER SPECIAL THE EVENTS IN UKRAINE TOOK PLACE.

ACTIVITIES OF IN THE WEST FIRST CHALLENGES Lithuanian , there was a need to build The Baltic airspace has been protected by an infrastructure from troops’ accommoda- NATO countries since March 29, 2004, when tion to fighter jets’ maintenance, deal with the first troops of The Belgian Air Compo- various procedures, logistics, prepare person- nent landed in Šiauliai Air Base right after nel and overcome other difficulties arising in Lithuania became a member of the Alliance. the process. The first soldiers carrying out the However, with the first collective defence mission settled in one of the territories of the measure implemented in Lithuania after the Air Base of the , estab- ratification of the treaty, many challenges had lished a military town and brought their own to be faced at the beginning of the mission. equipment and personnel. Then the fighters According to the Lieutenant Colonel Antanas were kept outdoors in rubber hangars. Matutis, Commander of the Air Base of the See page 10 Dear readers, Content With the last issue we marked the 15-years anniversary of NEWS Lithuania’s membership in NATO, therefore now we would like to pay attention to one of the first collective defence measures FIRST LIVE FIRING WITH UPGRADED PZH2000...... 3 implemented in Lithuania after the ratification of the Washing- US ARMY THAAD IS HEADED TO EASTERN ton Treaty. It goes without saying how much we are all proud to EUROPE...... 4 stand alongside the troops of NATO enhanced Forward Pres- ence Battlegroup (eFP BG) who perform their duties during a WOULD BE ’S ‘FIRST BEST peacetime collective defence mission in our land. However, we CHOICE’...... 5 shall not forget that with the first four F-16 Fighting Falcon jets of The landing in Šiauliai Air Base on MUDDLES THROUGH ANOTHER NATO March 29, 2004, safeguarding the integrity of ’ Air- SHINDIG...... 6 space began as well. The principle of collective defence is at the LARGEST MEDICAL EXERCISE IN NATO very heart of NATO’s founding treaty, which is why it remains a HISTORY...... 7 unique and enduring principle that binds its members togeth- er, committing them to protect each other and setting a spirit CYBER DEFENCE EXERCISE LOCKED of solidarity within the Alliance. There are no doubts Lithuania SHIELDS...... 7 is getting stronger every day thanks to eFP BG and NATO Air Policing mission to which all member nations contribute in 9.000 PARTICIPANTS MARKED NATO some form, be it through the use of national aerial surveillance ANNIVERSARY...... 8 systems, air traffic management, or other air THE MECHANISED INFANTRY BRIGADE IRON WOLF defence measures. EVALUATED POSITIVELY BY NATO...... 8 However, at the very beginning of new era of defence in Lithuania, the set goals were not that easy to achieve. Conse- WARSHIPS OF NATO ALLIES VISITED KLAIPĖDA...... 9 quently, many efforts had to be put in improving the NATO Air Policing mission, at that time being the first-time experi- ANTI-UAV FOR THE LITHUANIAN ence for all the Baltic States. Of course, there is nothing what a ARMED FORCES...... 9 determined nation would not be able to do, so after some time the major obstacles were overcome, providing way better con- NATO'S PRESENCE ditions for deployable contingents. With that being said, we be- NEARLY 600 TAKEOFFS AND PILOTS SEEKING lieve today is a good time to have a little bit closer look on what TO BE THE BEST...... 1, 10 is going on in Šiauliai Air Base after 15 years have passed and meeting the 50th rotation of this mission. SPECIAL Cordially, ACTIVITIES OF LITHUANIAN PARTISANS IN THE Team of the “Lithuanian Military Digest” WEST...... 16

Military Press Office of Lithuanian Armed Forces Totorių str. 25, LT-01121, ; Phone (370 5) 210 3897, GSM (370 6) 28 75851; fax (370 5) 273 5550; Kotryna Gurevičiūtė Correspondent Phone (370 5) 210 3897, GSM (370 6) 28 75851; fax (370 5) 273 5550; Email [email protected]

Publisher — Lithuanian Armed Forces. The opinion of editorial office does not necessarily coin- cide with the opinion of the authors. Pictures, manuscripts are not returned and reviewed. Cir- culation is 300 copies. Printed by the Cartography Center of Lithuanian Military, Muitinės str.4, Domeikava, LT-54359 dist. Order GL-234. Photo credit: Srg. Sp. Ieva Budzeikaitė Ieva Sp. credit: Srg. Photo

2 Lithuanian Military Digest News

First Live Firing with Upgraded PzH2000 n April 17 nearly two weeks of testing the first upgraded PzH2000 self-propelled artil- Olery systems culminated in a live fire event at General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area in Pabradė. The exercise was the first time soldiers of the Lithuanian Armed Forces General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Bat- talion live-fired the artillery systems received in the end of last year and in the beginning of this year. During testing the practising soldiers executed real firing with antipersonnel am- munition at fixe targets. The event took place during the light part of the day and the longest firing range was 12 kilometres (for comparison, the maximal firing range

of PzH2000 is over 30 kilometres). Shells Zalatoriūtė Vaiga Cpl credits: Photo of M-50 field artillery guns could destroy targets at the farthest distance of 11 kilo- metres until now. "We have followed the procedures when testing the new equipment but the condi- tions were not easy, the firing pace was in- tense but hits were accurate and the final results meet our expectations. The General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion is on the track of becoming the strongest fire- power battalion in the Lithuanian Armed Forces," Battalion Commander Col Lt Ma- rijus Jonelis said after the training. The exercise site was visited by Land Force Commander Maj Gen Valdemaras Rupšys and Commander of the Mecha- nised infantry Brigade Iron Wolf Col Min- daugas Steponavičius who familiarised with the PzH2000 self-propelled artillery system project in more detail and observed the live-firing.

The 155 mm PZH 2000 self-propelled howitzer is one of the most modern howitzers in series production worldwide. The field -ar tillery system was first produced in Germany in 1999. Currently it is used by the armed forces of Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, , Croatia, Qatar, and Lithuania. Lithu- anian soldiers have already attended a range of courses and meetings with German experts who shared their experience both in Lithu- ania and at the Artillery School in Germany. Having acquired experience in using the PzH2000 systems in Germany, Lithuanian soldiers are now transferring it to their col- leagues at home. Lithuanian Armed Forces inf.

May 2019. No 5. 3 News

US Army THAAD is Headed to Eastern Europe Photo credits: www.flickr.com credits: Photo

o far only the Pacific region and, more has been operational since 2016. It is part of NATO’s will have op- recently, the Middle East have seen the European Phased Adaptive Approach, or erational control of THAAD during its mission. operational deployments of the U.S. EPAA, designed to defend U.S. troops and its USEUCOM was clear in its statement that Army’sS Terminal High Altitude Area Defense allies in Europe against possible ballistic mis- the updates will not add offensive capabilities (THAAD) system, but now it is headed to Ro- sile attacks. to the system and maintains that the site "pro- mania this summer, according to an April 11 The EPAA consists of an AN/TPY-2 radar in vides a defensive capability to deter future con- U.S. European Command statement. Turkey and two Aegis Ashore systems — one in flict, and to defend ourselves, and our NATO Questions have swirled for years on when, and one in . The Polish system allies, should deterrence fail." where and if THAAD would deploy to Europe, has been hit with delays due to construction THAAD is an important part of the U.S Ar- particularly as the situation on the eastern flank issues at Redzikowo military base that are un- my’s layered missile defense capabilities and is has heated up since Russia annexed Crimea in related to the system’s performance. It won’t be capable of neutralizing ballistic missile threats 2014. operational until 2020. in the terminal phase of flight. It has been de- The THAAD system, according to the The scheduled update to the Aegis Ashore ployed in Guam since 2013 and in South Korea USEUCOM statement, will deploy this sum- system in Romania is part of regular updates per- since 2017. mer "in support of NATO Ballistic Missile formed on all Aegis systems — the majority of THAAD was deployed to last month. Defense" — in other words, it is filling in for which are ship-based, according to the statement. The United Arab Emirates is the only foreign the operational Aegis Ashore missile defense The system will come from the 69th Air customer under contract, but the U.S. has also system while it undergoes a "limited period of Defense Artillery Brigade, 32nd Army Air reached a deal to sell THAAD units to Saudi scheduled maintenance and updates." and Missile Defense Command at Fort Hood, Arabia. The Aegis Ashore in Deveselu, Romania, Texas. www.defensenews.com inf.

4 Lithuanian Military Digest News

Russia Would Be Turkey’s ‘First Best Choice’ f U.S. officials were to expel Turkey from the multinational group that builds the F-35 Lightning II, Turkish defense of- Ificials said they likely would pursue Russian fighter jet technology. "We cannot afford to leave the F-35 not substituted," a senior military officer told De- fense news. He declined to comment on the replacement options, as this would require "technological, economical and political delib- erations." But a defense procurement official said "geostrategic assessment" would make Russian options emerge as the natural first replace- ment. "Russian fighter technology would be the first best choice if our American allies be-

haved in an un-allied way and questioned Tur- www.flickr.com credits: Photo key’s membership in the Joint Strike Fighter program," he said. Services Committee and Senate Foreign Rela- ing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Washington has threatened to expel Ankara tions Committee. visit to Moscow on April 8. from the multinational program if Turkey de- Earlier this month, the Pentagon an- Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut ploys the Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air nounced a freeze on deliveries and activities Çavusoglu told broadcaster NTV on Apri 10: missile system on its soil. with Turkey in relation to the F-35 program "There are F-35[s], but there are also aircraft If Turkey accepts the S-400, "no F-35s will over Ankara’s decision to buy the S-400. Tur- manufactured in Russia. If we are not able to ever reach Turkish soil. And Turkish partici- key insists the first S-400 shipments would ar- purchase [the] F-35, Turkey will buy similar pation in the F-35 program, including manu- rive in July and the first S-400 system would aircraft from other countries. And this will facturing parts, repairing and servicing the become operational in September. continue until we start producing our own fighters, will be terminated, taking Turkish A Turkish presidential source said that po- fifth-generation fighter jets." companies out of the manufacturing and sup- tential Turkish-Russian cooperation on fighter Such a move would make Turkey the only ply chain for the program," wrote a group of technology was "preliminarily discussed" be- NATO member to simultaneously use the bipartisan lawmakers from the Senate Armed tween their respective defense officials dur- S-400 and Russian fighter. "This is not a useful dispute for the alliance," asserted an Ankara-based military attache. "What we observe today could push Turkey further into Russia’s mili- tary orbit… and we don’t want that." Earlier this month, Russian CEO Andrey Boginsky visited Turkey to dis- cuss the possibility of co-production efforts. However, Russia is not the only alternative for the F-35. In 2015, Turkey’s procurement authorities released a request for information for the TF-X, the country’s indigenous fighter jet program. Sweden’s Saab was one of the bid- ders to supply know-how for the initial design phase of the program, but Ankara selected Britain’s BAE Systems for that contract. "Saab’s commitment to technology transfer was very generous, but its price was expensive at the time," a Turkish official recalled. "Saab could now revise its bid and incorporate it into the new [no F-35] situation," he said. Another option for Turkey is Airbus, a part- ner in the Eurofighter program based in the Netherlands and , the official added. www.defensenews.com inf.

May 2019. No 5. 5 News

Germany Muddles Through Another NATO Shindig

is now even lower was a significant snub to them, said Christian Mölling, a senior analyst at the German Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin. There is also a fear here by European NATO members that if Germany manages to anger President Trump enough over underspending, his rage could target the alliance as a whole. "There is fear of a spill-over effect," Mölling said. When it comes to spending and the per- ception of threats to NATO, "We are on a dif- ferent planet than all the other allies," he added. Let us remember that the ministerial and surrounding festivities for NATO’s 70th birth- day were choreographed specifically to avoid giving Trump a platform for the kind of acri- mony that permeated the last day of the Brus- sels summit last year. And that plan has largely worked.

Photo credits: www.flickr.com credits: Photo "Nothing happened, and everyone is happy about that," said Mölling when asked about the ay what you will about Germany’s de- an honest effort. Getting to the NATO-re- gathering’s lasting effect. fense spending, the ritual of U.S. lead- quired spending of 2% by 2024 would require NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg ers trashing Berlin is almost becoming such a massive influx of military spending in helped persuade Trump in to take alli- Ssomething of a unifying force within the alli- such a short amount of time that there would ance-wide spending increases to the bank as his ance. be good reason to wonder if the personal achievement, averting a catastrophic The country is far from on track when it could absorb it to good effect. implosion of the summit at the last minute. comes to reaching the military budget target There is no more hoping to fly under the -ra The Norwegian emerged as a key figure again agreed by all allies: 2% of gross domestic prod- dar with a missing half percentage point now. this time around, stoically reciting the mantra uct by 2024. As expected, U.S. Vice President Key allies in Europe had signaled that they that all members — read: Germany — would Mike Pence called Germany out for its lacklus- could defend a German exception for a 1.5% be held to their commitments while dutifully ter defense expenditures on the eve of a NATO target against the White House, but the news lauding Berlin’s ongoing alliance contributions. ministerial in Washington this week, referring from earlier this spring that Berlin’s trajectory Stoltenberg delivered a rousing speech to a draft budget projection in Berlin that before a joint session of Congress, viking would put the country at 1.3% or so by that jokes and all, that managed to revive for a time. moment the spirit of multilaterism against And as expected, German Foreign Min- the backdrop of a U.S. administration ister Heiko Mass responded in the same known for its transactional foreign policy. way that his government always does: re- Along with his criticism of Germany, subscribing to the spending commitment, Pence, too, invoked transatlantic unity. "The throwing up his hands over competing do- has been faithful to Europe mestic priorities, and pleading to widen the for generations, and we’ll keep the faith," he scope for measuring German contributions said. "The United States of America is now, to NATO beyond the defense budget alone. and will always be Europe’s greatest ally." "We intend to keep our word," Maas Germany has its own internal struggles said in Washington on Wednesday after- ahead when it comes to defining a budget noon, having just hopped off the Amtrak commitment to NATO, which all members from United Nations business in New York. reportedly reinforced in this week’s minis- For good measure, he threw in a reference terial communique. The final due date for about the intricacies of the German bud- the spending increase is still several years geting process, as if hoping that its opaque- away. Until then, there will be more alli- ness would one day give way to even a 1.5% ance events for Berlin to muddle through. spending level. If nothing else, that spectacle seems to keep That is the percentage figure almost tac- everyone at the table talking about moving itly accepted by some European alliance the alliance forward, for now. members who just want to see Berlin make www.defensenews.com inf.

6 Lithuanian Military Digest News

Largest Medical Exercise in NATO History emergencies, medical command and control procedures, continuation of medical assis- tance, mobility and international cooperation in supporting joint military operations. Over 20 different international medical support units were deployed at Cincu Train- ing Area in Romania during the exercise: pri- mary level healthcare, including stabilisation of condition, triage and evacuation (forward) (or Role 1), secondary level healthcare, including damage control — (forward) surgery, diagnos- tics, tactical evacuation (or Role 2), and sec- ondary-tertiary level healthcare, including tac- tical evacuation (Role 3). During the exercise the training medics rehearsed giving medical aid, interacting with foreign colleagues, hone evacuation, medical logistics, and command and control procedures. In total, over 1000 medical incidents were

Photo credit: Sgt Spc Ieva Budzeikaitė Ieva credit: Sgt Spc Photo planned to be rehearsed at the exercise. An- other characteristic of the exercise is interac- ilitary medics with the Lithu- medical equipment and devices, and recovery tion with civilian healthcare institutions of anian Armed Forces MD Jonas vehicles. Romania. An alleged civilian emergency was Basanavičius Military Medical Ser- "This is the first time our medical personnel rehearsed with numerous injured in Bucharest Mvice took part in international medical NATO is fully deploying their support units during an and participation of military medical capabili- exercise Vigorous Warrior 2019 in the period exercise abroad and will participate indepen- ties. Lithuanian military medics were planned of March 30-April 14. Nearly 60 military med- dently in medical support provision phases. to take part in that phase. ics of career and reserve service deepened their Working together allows military medics from knowledge at the exercise held in Romania. different countries to show each other they are EXERCISE VIGOROUS WARRIOR The exercise held in Romania this year was professionals and share the same values, and Every two years the exercise is organised by the largest exercise for training military medics are ready to ensure medical support to a joint the NATO Centre of Excellence for Military in the history of the Alliance with participants force," Lieutenant Colonel Inga Jancevičienė, Medicine (NATO MILMED COE) in Buda- from 38 NATO allies and partners. The Mili- commander of a medical support group, said. pest, . The exercise is growing every tary Medical Service of the Lithuanian Armed The objective of the exercise was to train time: it was held in Hungary and included Forces send medical support units of different and assess NATO and partner nations’ interop- participants from 5 countries in 2011, in 2017 specialties to the exercise every time, this year erability at medical support level during mili- it took place in Germany and included partici- Lithuanian military medics took part with their tary operations. The exercise also highlights pants from 26 countries. designated equipment — containers, tents, cooperation with civilian institutions during Lithuanian Armed Forces inf. Cyber Defence Exercise Locked Shields he active phase of one of the larg- also backed up the Lithuanian team with ex- est and most complex international pertise this year. live-fire cyber defence exercises In total, 23 Blue Teams were training in the LockedT Shields 2019 has come to end. Over exercise to protect and ensure continuous op- a thousand cyber security experts from 30 eration of nearly 4 thousand virtualised systems NATO allies and partners, including teams while experiencing over 2.5 thousand cyber-at- from NATO and EU agencies, practiced de- tacks launched on them by the Red Teams. fending complex networks and systems of vi- Locked Shields 2019 is organised by CCD- tal services. COE in cooperation with the Estonian De- (MoD) Tamošiūnas Lukas credit: Sgt Spc Photo Lithuania was represented at the exercise by fence Forces, the Finnish , the is a unique opportunity for national cyber a joint team of as many as 42 specialists from United States European Command, National experts to practise protection of national IT managers of critical infrastructure and commu- Security Research Institute of the Republic of systems and critical infrastructure under the nications operators and the Lithuanian Armed Korea, TalTech, and industry partners. One of intense pressure of a severe cyberattack. Forces. Colleagues from the U.S. and Georgia the largest cyber defence exercises in the world Lithuanian MoD inf.

May 2019. No 5. 7 News

9.000 Participants Marked NATO Anniversary and demonstrating unity of allies while G&G Sindikatas band made sure the mood was right. A static display of military equipment and weaponry brought to Lithuania by our allies was presented: the 36 tone Boxer wheeled in- fantry fighting vehicle, Fenek armoured recon- naissance vehicle, Germany’s Leopard 2 tank, Marder infantry fighting vehicle, and other equipment brought by the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group. At the event the Lithuanian Special Opera- tions Forces presented a static display of their weaponry and vehicles for the first time. Also, participants of the event were able to see mili- tary aircraft of the Lithuanian Air Force, F-16 of the ’s rotation of the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Bal- tic States, weaponry, equipment and military

Photo credit: Sgt Spc I. Budzeikaitė credit: Sgt Spc Photo vehicles used by Lithuanian and NATO allies’ soldiers, and to ask questions about the Con- n April 6 a running event on a mili- ago several hours before Lithuania became a tinuous Mandatory Initial Military Service. tary runway at the Lithuanian Air member of NATO, ready to protect our air- Charity was collected at Runway Run 2019 Force Base — Runway Run 2019 space from the very first seconds of our mem- for the Injured Service Members Association Oattracted over 9.000 participants to surmount bership. For 15 years already the mission has that assists Lithuanian Armed Forces soldiers the 3.000 meter-distance and marked the 70th been not only a guarantee of our security but overcome trauma and injuries and their ef- NATO anniversary. also a real and tangible example of a collective fects and to reintegrate. The donations will be Participants were congratulated by Minis- defence commitment," he said. transferred to the charity fund of the Associa- ter of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis More than a hundred and a half of soldiers tion used for paying for rehabilitation, medi- who noted the symbolism of the venue: "This from NATO allies deployed in Lithuania ran caments, and other necessities for injured sol- is exactly the place that the F-16 fighter aircraft alongside residents and guests of Šiauliai in diers. of the Royal Belgian Air Force landed 15 years the event marking the NATO anniversary Lithuanian Armed Forces inf.

The Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf Evaluated Positively by NATO he staff of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade (MIB) Iron Wolf of the Lith- uanian Armed Forces has passed the NATOT combat readiness test. That is what stat- ed in the official assessment documents signed by representatives of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Defence Staff and NATO’s Allied Land Command in Germany after five months of training and three weeks of testing as inter- national Exercise Allied Spirt X is drawing to a close. It is the first evaluation of the staff of the MIB Iron Wolf conducted according to the NATO Combat Readiness Evaluation System (CREVAL) procedures. Armed credit: Forces Lithuanian Photo The "Wolves" have proved their ability to to look into complex tactical situations that means that soldiers of the MIB Iron Wolf are plan, command and control a brigade made might develop when military actions are car- able to solve tactical issues on time and prop- up of Lithuanian and NATO allies’ units. The ried out. Performance of the Brigade’s staff erly, as well as to coordinate their actions with testing included simulations of various types was closely followed by an international as- representatives of international organisations of operations, control of decision-making sessment group. and civilian authorities. processes. The training soldiers were required The official Combat Ready assessment Lithuanian Armed Forces inf.

8 Lithuanian Military Digest News

Warships of NATO Allies Visited Klaipėda n April 5-8 warships of our NATO allies visited Klaipėda Seaport ahead of taking part in historic ordnance Odisposal exercise in the Baltic Sea DEUSQUA- DEX 19-1/BALTEX on April 8-10. Warship from 8 countries moored at Klaipėda Seaport for a three-day visit: mine countermeasures ships FGS Weilheim (Ger- many), FGS Bad Rappenau (Germany), LVA Talivaldis (), HNoMS Rauma (Nor- way), ORP Bukowo (Poland), and command and supply ships FGS Rhein (Germany), FGS Donau (Germany) and LVA Virsaitis (Latvia). Ship commanders met with the Mayor of Klaipėda and leadership of the Lithuanian Navy. A preparation conference was held in Maksimovicz credit: Giedrė Photo Klaipėda ahead of the historical explosive ord- 8-10, it took place in the territorial waters and which involves a big number of warships from nance disposal operation DEUSQUADEX exclusive economic zone of Latvia. The part of NATO allies and partners. This year Open 19-1/BALTEX. the operation in Lithuania’s territorial waters Spirit 2019 will take place in Lithuania in May. The historical ordnance disposal operation was conducted by the foreign warships and The most recent Open Spirit was held in Lithu- led by the German Navy, DEUSQUADEX Lithuania’s LNS Skalvis mine countermeasures ania’s territorial waters and exclusive economic 19-1/BALTEX, was held in the territorial wa- vessel. zone in 2016, as a result, the area of 54 nautical ters and exclusive economic zone of Lithuania Traditionally, every three years Lithuania miles was swept of 15 naval mines, 3 torpedoes for the first time. Before the ships arrive in hosts NATO-led international historical explo- and 3 shipwrecks. Lithuania to take part in the operation on April sive ordnance disposal operation Open Spirit Lithuanian Armed Forces inf.

Anti-UAV for the Lithuanian Armed Forces In the second half of April the United States Government for the Ministry of National Defence and Lithuanian Armed Forces. Lithuania the United States Government has already bought from the U.S. anti- signed a sales contract for buying aircraft missiles, Javelin anti-tank sys- protective equipment (anti-drone) tems, communication systems and am- against unmanned aerial vehicles for munition. In its turn, the United States the Lithuanian Armed Forces. has invested considerably in military "We are developing new capabili- training areas and other infrastructure ties of the Lithuanian Armed Forces in Lithuania, finances studies of Lithu- by procuring equipment for protec- anian soldiers and specialists at U.S. tion against UAVs from our strategic military schools, etc., under security partner U.S.," Vice Minister of Na- assistance programs in Lithuania. tional Defence Giedrimas Jeglinskas Earlier this year the Ministry of said after signing the contract. National Defence and the U.S. Depart-

The total worth of the contract is credit: www.flickr.com Photo ment of Defence agreed to a five-year approx. USD 1.3 million not includ- bilateral defence cooperation plan. It ing VAT. It will be financed by the U.S. Depart- tories. The anti-drone equipment is effective outlines the priority areas for the next five years ment of State security assistance program in against standard commercial use or modified as follows: joint exercise and training, enhance- full. It has been agreed in the contract that the unmanned aerial vehicles. The equipment cuts ment of the deterrence measures in the Baltic anti-drone equipment will be delivered to units off the communication between the drone and region, participation in multinational opera- of the Lithuanian Armed Forces by the middle its operator thus disabling its control, also, it tions, development of regional cyber capabili- of 2020. can block navigation system signals. ties, and more. The document was signed to The Lithuanian Armed Forces will use the At the moment the Ministry of National seal the continuity of activities and appropriate anti-AEV equipment to solve the issue of more Defence is in negotiations on procuring 200 financing of long-term projects. and more drones flown over forbidden terri- JLTV armoured all-terrain vehicles from the Lithuanian Armed Forces inf.

May 2019. No 5. 9 NATO's presence

Nearly 600 Takeoffs and Pilots Seeking to Be the Best Photo credits: Kotryna credits: Photo Gurevičiūtė

From page 1 aprons, centre for operations and new and Malbork in Poland. Therefore, in The military container town and the work building for the troops of NATO Air Policing the summer of 2014, the Baltic airspace was positions created in containers were replaced mission were built. Also, fighter arresting gear protected by as many as 16 fighters. by an administrative building with work posi- systems were established, a variety of devices As Lt Col A. Matutis told, usually NATO tions and a full infrastructure opened in the which improve the orientation of the landing fighters take off for the trainings on a daily -ba spring of 2013. In order to improve the living planes were built, and various techniques to sis, only the tasks that pilots perform in the air conditions of troops carrying out the NATO serve the aerodrome were purchased," listed Lt are different. Meanwhile, the number of real Air Policing mission, an agreement was signed Col A. Matutis. takeoffs varies and depends on the activity between the three Baltic States regarding the of other countries in the region. "Sometimes service package, defining the services and con- ALMOST 600 TAKEOFFS aircrafts fly once a month, sometimes several ditions to be provided by Lithuania as host Until 2014, the airspace of the three Baltic times a week," he said. During the entire mis- country. According to Lt Col A. Matutis, such States was guarded by one NATO country and sion’s period, NATO fighter jets have been an agreement greatly facilitated and specified four fighters, but in the aftermath of the crisis diving the Baltic skies nearly 600 times so far. the work guidelines. Besides, as the Com- in Ukraine, NATO quickly made a decision to After asking how has the frequency of the mis- mander emphasized, it is important to mention increase the number of fighters. Then the US sion fighters’ takeoffs changed, giving the first the Lithuania’s contribution to the NATO Air F-15 fighters deployed in Šiauliai were support- decade and the events in Ukraine when the Policing mission in this region. "Since the be- ed by six additional fighters, and after the con- contingent of the Air Policing mission was ex- ginning of the mission the main and alternative tingents changed, two countries and 8 fighters panded, Commander claimed that significant runways as well as the taxiways were upgraded, were deployed instead of one country and the changes were implemented: "In 2004, we had special hangars were installed for the mission’s usual four fighters. Also, one country and 4 only 5 ‘Alpha Scramble’, while in 2014 NATO fighters, the fuel base, transport and fighter fighters were deployed to each base: Amari in fighters took off 90 times. By monitoring statis-

10 Lithuanian Military Digest NATO's presence

Lt Col A. Matutis: "Currently, the Baltic airspace remains active and the number of flights is much higher than at the beginning of the mission." tics, the increased activity of neighbours could be seen in 2011. Then NATO fighters were -fly ing 4 times more often than in 2010, and since then the number of takeoffs has steadily in- creased. Currently, the Baltic airspace remains active and the number of flights is much higher than at the beginning of the mission.”

FIRST MISSION OF THIS KIND (MoD) credit: Alfredas Pliadis Photo One of the most active participants of the Lt Col A. Matutis: "In the summer of 2014, the Baltic airspace was protected by as many as 16 fighters." NATO Air Policing mission in the Baltic States is Poland, with the last four months being the 8th time the Polish Air Force deployed rota- Lieutenant Colonel Adam Kalinowski as one spare parts of the jets are stored in Poland thus tion in Lithuania. Our neighbour’s first con- of the benefits of these aircrafts indicates the it becomes strenuous to bring them to Šiauliai tribution to this mission began almost in the impressive endurance on which depends how as quickly as possible and have the jets fixed to very beginning – in 2005 with MiG-29 Fulcum many minutes pilots are going to stay airborne support the mission. fighter aircrafts, but since 2017 they have been during the intercepts. However, to maintain the Roughly about 70% of the Polish personnel crossing the sky with F-16 Fighting Falcon jets ready for the takeoffs and landings Com- took part in the Baltic Air Policing mission two fighter jets from 31st Poznań-Krzesiny Tacti- mander describes as the most challenging part. years ago. “Those people are doing the job that cal Air Base, four of them were patrolling the According to him, it is not that easy to have all they were taught in our country. Some of them airspace over the Baltic countries during the the necessary equipment in storage since the carried out other exercises or missions in differ- last rotation. Polish detachment Commander place is quite small. Consequently, most of the ent regions over the whole block, for example,

May 2019. No 5. 11 NATO's presence

Lt Col A. Kalinowski: "Over the time it became easier for us due to the endurance of our jets which is slightly higher than the MiG-29." conducting an operation in Kuwait. However, joined the Baltic Air Policing mission for the cluding the Americans, were training together although the tasks of Baltic Air Policing mis- very first time so they have never experienced and the Russian planes interfered by flying sion are slightly different than in soldiers’ pre- before to fly airborne getting in touch in a close into their exercises over the Baltic Sea. "Since vious experience, they are learning new things distance with the Russian planes." 2014 the presence of the Russian planes was every day here. Let’s say a car breaks down away Lt Col A. Kalinowski said that once the more significant during our exercises than it from the city or the jet is forced to land over Ukraine’s events took place in 2014, Poles saw was previously. So, in terms of how the secu- Riga or other airport, they have to drive over the higher presence of the hostile planes flying rity situation looks like today when the time is there, find a way how to quickly fix the prob- over the neighbouring countries and above the passing and the changes are being made, I can lem and bring the jet back to Šiauliai as fast as Baltic Sea doing the exercises. He explained say that Russian planes are also getting better, possible. This is how the pilots and the person- that during the same time NATO countries, in- they equip them with new devices and are im- nel constantly improve the skills which benefit proving their pilots’ abilities to operate those their military career. Besides, it allows Polish aircrafts. Besides, Russians are flying different Air Force to be more deployable than it used paths above the Baltic Sea therefore our job is to be before 2007," said Lt Col A. Kalinowski to follow them and prevent from entering the for whom to be appointed as the leader for this Lt Col A. Kalinowski: national airspace of the Baltic States as well as kind of mission was also a first-time experience. "Russian planes are also Poland’s," stressed Lt Col A. Kalinowski. As he said, the previous colleague who was the getting better, they equip detachment Commander two years ago shared DARED TO FOLLOW THE DREAM with him general ideas on how to lead the Air them with new devices and are As already mentioned before, the Baltic Air Force during the mission: "It was challenging, improving their pilots’ abilities Policing mission was the first time when Lt Col but I learned something new as a detachment to operate those aircrafts. A. Kalinowski was appointed to take the lead Commander working with around 140 people. as a detachment Commander on a combat mis- Also, over the time it became easier for us due Besides, Russians are flying sion in a peace-time environment. However, to the endurance of our jets which is slightly different paths above the he certainly came to Lithuania having differ- higher than the MiG-29. In addition, most Baltic Sea." ent experience. In 2012, he took part in three- of the pilots I have here under my command months-long Red Flag exercise in Alaska, for

12 Lithuanian Military Digest NATO's presence

two and a half months staying in Elmendorf he was surely smiling when talked about the Air Force Base and flying over there as one of Lt Col A. Kalinowski: F16 training and his third flight with the in- the pilots. A couple times Lt Col A. Kalinowski "Every pilot loves to fly. structor pilot. He remembers when he touched was also taking part in NATO Tiger Meet ex- the sky for the first time, he took his first para- ercises, tactical leadership programme exercise, The most interesting and chute jump out off the plane. "Even now, I have training in based school and conducted exciting part for him is the free goose bumps all over my skin just by remem- a couple of exchange deployments will. It is a free dimensional bering that moment. Whenever you ask a pilot over the countries in Europe, for example, be- how does it feel to jump off the plane you will ing a detachment Commander in Greece. environment, where nobody always get one answer: it is not normal to leave Undoubtedly, just like for any other pilot, tells you what to do with your the plane that is working properly and can the one and only motivation to pursue a mili- plane." land you on the ground," Commander laughs, tary career and not in any branch, but exactly "Right after I jumped out I saw the plane mov- in the Air Force, was planes. Back in those days, ing away and suddenly, after a couple seconds, I the future Lieutenant Colonel did not even was hanging on a parachute and looking down consider any other options for himself. "When a town in northwestern Poland. Finally, another being 100 meters above the ground. I remem- I was a young boy I have been dreaming about opportunity appeared for Lt Col A. Kalinowski: ber myself thinking ‘Ok, I am alive, thus I am flying jets and one day becoming a fighter pilot. to become a fighter pilot of F16. In addition, he going to survive’". At the beginning, I was leaded by my parents got the chance to go overseas — for one year and After asking what is the thing that fascinates to become a person that they wanted me to be, eight months to conduct training in the United about the planes so much, the Commander but at the age of 13–14 I started questioning States, later coming back to his 31st tactical base talked about freedom: "Every pilot loves to fly. myself what I actually want to do in the future. in Poznań, Poland. "During my military career The most interesting and exciting part for him Being 15 years old I decided that this is not my main goal is to stay with the planes and fly is the free will. It is a free dimensional environ- going to be the way I will live my life. I started fighter jets for as long as possible. If back at the ment, where nobody tells you what to do with thinking about something that would suit my time I had not been able to fly F16 or other fight- your plane. Of course, pilots have to comply dreams better. It was the time for me to decide er jet I would consider the only other option — with the regulations, tactics, and they must fly if I will make it happen to achieve my dreams to quit the military," smiled the pilot, who spent their jets as best as they can. If the achievement and finally become the person I have always almost 3000 hours in the air," However, due to is at 100% of the initial purpose, you can see a wanted to be. Therefore, I took a chance," Com- the fact that all the pilots have age limits and the smile on every pilot’s face and the satisfaction mander shared his memories. time is passing, I guess that in the future I will be that he fulfilled his goals. And if there is one After some time, Lt Col A. Kalinowski joined facing different challenges such as doing more person standing up after one day of flying and the Polish Air Force Academy located in Deb- paper work than flying planes." the detachment or the mission Commander lin, eastern Poland. There he had a chance to do says that today he is the best one, it means the some parachute jumping and fly gliders. After TO BE THE BEST biggest award for the pilot." finishing this school, he was able to challenge Lt Col A. Kalinowski was not able to re- himself flying one of the jets over the Malbork, member his very first takeoff and landing, but Kotryna Gurevičiūtė

May 2019. No 5. 13 The discount is applicable only upon presentation of a service National Defence System employees card. (soldiers, civil servants and employees Conditions and applicable discounts may change. working under an employment contract) There are additional conditions. * Expositions are free of charge to the Lithuanian Military Academy Soldiers of the Permanent Mandatory (LMA)** cadets, Permanent Mandatory Initial Military Service (PMIMS) Initial Military Service soldiers serving in the LMA, and soldiers from the Headquar- ters Battalion (GHB). Coordinate with the regional Conscription and recruiting service de- Members of the Lithuanian partment.*** Riflemen’s Union Due to a match of the football club "Atlantas" coordinate with the Grand Duke**** Dragoon Battalion's S5 division of the Motorized Infantry Bri- Lithuanian soldiers gade "Samogitia". Due to a match of the basketball club "Neptūnas" coordinate with the National Defence Volunteer Force’s S5 division of the Samogitia district 3rd team. Due to a match of the football club "Sūduva" coordinate with the Lithu- Soldiers of the National Defence Volun- anian Grand Duke General Support Logistics Battalion’s S5 division. teer Forces ***** The discount is applicable to persons who serve or have served in the Lithuanian Armed Forces, also to those who are in the prepared personnel NATO soldiers reserve of the Lithuanian Armed Forces (for the entire study period both for the first and second cycle studies). The discount is applicable on February 16, March 11, July 6, and Negotiation issues November****** 23.

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May 2019. No 5. 15 Special

Activities of Lithuanian Partisans in the West

IN THE TIME OF WAR AFTER WAR, ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS OF LITHUANIAN PARTISANS WAS TO PASS ON THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ATROCITIES OF THE SOVIET OCCUPATION TO THE WEST AND TO RECEIVE SUPPORT OF DEMOCRATIC WORLD IN THE FIGHT AGAINST BOLSHEVISM. WITH THIS PUBLICATION WE WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE GOALS AND ACTIVITIES OF LITHUANIAN PARTISANS IN THE WEST UNTIL THE FALL OF 1950, WHEN JUOZAS LUKŠA RETURNED TO THE HOMELAND TO CONTINUE TO RESIST THE SOVIET OCCUPANTS.

uozas Lukša-Skirmantas and Kazimie- unpurposefully, and became very confused activity. In the long run, J. Deksnys was most ras Pyplys-Audronis, who successfully in foreign intelligence networks. At the same tied with British intelligence. It is difficult to Jcrossed the border of the time, this former anti-Nazi and anti-Soviet un- answer how much such practical cooperation (USSR) and Poland at the end of 1947, derground member had ties with American, could actually help anti-Soviet resistance in reached Sweden in early February 1948, British, and Swedish intelligence, but he did Lithuania. Undoubtedly, J. Deksnys himself where they found themselves in care of Jonas not believe that he is blindly serving foreign believed more or less that contacts with intel- Deksnys-Alfonsas Hektoras, participant of special services. Later, arrested by the Soviet ligence would help the anti-Soviet resistance, anti-Nazi and anti-Soviet resistance. It was he security, he claimed that he was not "impera- and that it would ensure at least a little bit of who helped these fighters come from Poland tively bounded by any of the intelligence." Ac- missing material support for the resistance to Sweden using his contacts. cording to him, national tasks were the prima- movement. Although for the sake of justice During this period, J. Deksnys acted in ways ry goal, and intelligence was a tool for receiving it should be said that foreign intelligence was that he alone could understand, sometimes foreign support, and not for himself, but for his mostly interested in military intelligence in-

16 Lithuanian Military Digest Special

formation from the USSR, not the idea of tance. <...> By using it, the Supreme Committee coming representatives to get a little bit different Lithuanian anti-Soviet resistance. for the Liberation of Lithuania (VLIK, lith.) necessary material support for the homeland — * * * prepared a comprehensive memorandum on money, press means, weapons and ammunition, Partisans brought many documentary the genocide matter, which was multiplied and also to get means not only for staying in touch, materials about the situation in Lithuania distributed to all UN members. This memoran- but for restoring the communication." to the West and tried to spread this informa- dum was the first one to get the attention I need," J. Deksnys opposed the Supreme Lib- tion abroad. In total J. Lukša and K. Pyplys J. Lukša wrote later. But the reactions of for- eration Committee of Lithuania (VLIK) had 47 different documents, but there was eign countries, which would have increased (established in the years of Nazi occupation little information about the military power to specific support, were not received, al- in 1943, composed of representatives of vari- of the USSR that was of interest to them. though J. Lukša did his best to distribute the ous parties and residing in West Germany J. Lukša and K. Pyplys provided data only on material brought from Lithuania. Through during the aforementioned period) seeking the Liusberg (now Linksmakalnis in the priests Feliksas Kapočius, Stasys Yla and to lead political fight for Lithuanian indepen- district) aerodrome. J. Deksnys handed over Antanas Šidlauskas, the "Lithuanian Roman dence abroad. this document to Swedish intelligence offi- Catholics' letter to the Holy Father" was J. Deksnys-Alfonsas Hektoras was more cer. Representatives of the resistance to the handed over to Vatican. tend to cooperate with his environment and Soviet occupation brought most knowledge It was difficult to make a difference when Lithuanian diplomats who also sought po- about the situation of Lithuanian partisans working abroad without the support of local litical leadership in Lithuanian emigration. and Soviet repression against the Lithuanian authorities. This was seen by J. Lukša, who J. Deksnys tried to create the Foreign Delega- nation. Participants of the armed fight be- went to the West: "The accomplishment of the tion of the Supreme Committee of the Resto- lieved that this would draw the attention of tasks received by the representatives arriving ration of Lithuania (VLAK, lith.), ir order to foreign governments. "Documentary material in 1948 was linked to many obstacles. Foreign eliminate the influence of VLIK. Of course, (lists of repressed people, photos of killed Lithuanian organizations, without the support the latter could not agree. His delegation freedom fighters, etc.)was of great impor- of the West, were incapable of helping the in- spread information about the situation in

Fragment of Juozas Lukša’s photo album. At the top left is Kazimieras Pyplys.

May 2019. No 5. 17 Special

Lithuania, spread the idea of passive resistance, The path of J. Lukša was different. Through ligence officers did not do anything more ef- and strengthened the so-called principle of the Jonas Pajaujis (close to him in political views) ficiently, so ties between VLIK and American country's primate (i.e. the main fight for inde- who then lived in Sweden, the relationship of intelligence (which also started looking for pendence takes place in Lithuania, not abroad). J. Lukša and people of VLIK were established. contacts) emerged and intensified in 1949. The Alfonsas Hektoras presented himself as a Lithu- After arriving to West Germany, J. Lukša Committee agreed to cooperate with the Cen- anian resistance's representative abroad. quickly got along with Committee members. tral Intelligence Agency (CIA), believing that it After understanding some of J. Deksnys' Probably the consensus was determined by the could help Lithuanian resistance and to spread actions as the isolation of incoming partisans common political views, as well as the fact that its own ideas abroad. In the spring of 1950, from Lithuanian, J. Lukša left Sweden, and VLIK Chairman Prelate Mykolas Krupavičius J. Lukša went to study at the Intelligence School K. Pyplys stayed in this country. Unfortunately, was the pastor of Veiveriai (parish of J. Lukša's in Kaufboiren, near Munich. The paratroopers there is not much data on his activity in Swe- homeland) and other reasons. J. Lukša became who were trained there learned how to use ci- den until his return to occupied Lithuania with a defender of VLIK positions, so the people of pher, use various weapons, blasting, jumping amphibious assault in the spring of 1949. It is the Committee also were happy about the con- with parachutes, etc. He also used to get news known that K. Pyplys was preparing for fur- tacts with the partisan from Lithuania. Through from his instructors about life in USSR and oc- ther resistance activity in Lithuania: he learned VLIK members the contacts with French in- cupied Lithuania. At the Intelligence School, to use the cipher, work with walkie talkie, telligence emerged. A fighter from Lithuania J. Lukša named himself Sten-Stasys for con- appealed to the Lithuanian freedom fighters on began studying at the Intelligence School in spiracy reasons and met with future comrades- the radio. Paris. But time has shown that French intel- in-arms Benediktas Trumpys and Klemensas

Juozas Lukša (in the center) with the leadership of VLIK. In the first row (kneeling) from the left: Stasys Balčiūnas, Juozas Brazaitis and Jonas Pajaujis. In the center — Juozas Lukša. In the second row (standing) from the left: Stasys Daunys, Vytautas Vaitiekūnas, Julijonas Būtėnas, Stasys Yla and Leonas Prapuolenis. Photographed in 1948 in West Germany.

18 Lithuanian Military Digest Special

Juozas Lukša and Nijolė Bražėnaitė-Lukšienė in the mountains of the Tübingen area in West CIA's files (recently unclassified) about Germany a few days after the wedding. Photographed in July 1950. cooperation with Juozas Lukša-Skrajūnas.

Širvys. They were all studying there for al- Letters are published as a separate book "Let- for the West began to spread among the Lith- most three months. ters to Beloveds" — there were two of them: uanian partisans. The Commanders of Tau- While living abroad, J. Lukša wrote a J. Lukša's wife Nijolė and the other one — ras Military District (MD) who sent them book about Lithuanian Freedom Fighters Lithuania. were feeling that they had representatives "Partisans behind the Iron Curtain", based * * * abroad. During the Congress of Lithuanian on the brought material and his memories. It It should be noted that there were efforts partisans' commanders which took place in was published in 1950 in the United States by Lithuanian emigrants to coordinate po- Mėnaičiai, Radviliškis district in February (USA). J. Lukša also cooperated with for- sitions on the need for common resistance. 1949, the issue of relations with the West was eign Lithuanian press, where he published For example, in 1948, the Baden Baden pro- also discussed. This was reported by Adolfas several articles about War After War Lithua- tocol was signed, which states that VLIK Ramanauskas-Vanagas, the Commander of nia. He wrote his book under the nickname "performs the functions of the state power Dainava MD and Aleksandras Grybinas- Daumantas, although he did not use it any of Lithuania", in other words, directs resis- Faustas, the Commander of Tauras MD more elsewhere in the underground. The tance abroad. This document was signed (he knew the most about the expulsion of book was released several times in the West, not only by J. Lukša, but also by J. Deksnys, J. Lukša and K. Pyplys to the West). They later in Lithuania. J. Lukša became the most which suggests that he sometimes behaved said that on the basis of the letters they think famous partisan among exiled unpurposefully. The subsequent conflicts that there are emigration centres abroad, and his book became almost like a textbook testify that this consensus did not solve the and J. Lukša-Skrajūnas has intentions to about partisan fights in Lithuania. disagreements. return, but the circumstances do not al- While living abroad, J. Lukša married Then, in 1948–1949, two teams began low. During the Congress, it was decided Nijolė Bražėnaitė in 1950, but due to Juozas' to prepare for Lithuania: one led by J. Lukša to stay in touch with foreign countries, to in- determination to return to fight Lithuania, and supported by CIA, and another under form about the underground and economic, they lived together for a very short time. the leadership of J. Deksnys and supported political and military situation of the USSR. The letters they wrote to each other reflect by British intelligence. Both of them became Relations with the West were entrusted to not only the relations between the two, but competitors, and in some cases, they could Vanagas. It was also planned to collect certain also J. Lukša's commitments to resist and even be called opponents. However, from information for abroad. At the same time, other moments of life when the future did the perspective of time, it would be the best it was found that data collection was con- not seem optimistic. Preparing to return to to call them rivals pursuing one goal, but in ducted unsatisfactory, there was no organiza- Lithuania, he wrote in a letter dated August different ways. tional work, so it was decided to strengthen 1950: "And if the fate would like to destroy me the work of intelligence units, to appoint physically, then you, Niliuk, make me to exist JOURNEY OF J. KRIKŠČIŪNAS- people to collect data and to instruct them. somewhere happy by creating a happy life for RIMVYDAS Instructions for collecting intelligence mate- yourself again. It is not impossible for me to turn In the long run, various news and unveri- rial (often based on the so-called instruction into the dust of our homeland's bloody ground." fied rumours about the companions who left of the Supreme Armed Forces Staff (VGPŠ,

May 2019. No 5. 19 Special

of Dainava MD, who was sent to the West, al- ready had border crossing experience, but this time the partisan was followed by failure. He got into Poland with other fighters but there, as compared to the first break in 1947, the situ- ation had deteriorated. This was also noticed by J. Lukša: "In early 1948, the situation in Po- land was greatly exacerbated <...> the conclusion was made to not use Poland as the communica- tion base anymore." The pro-soviet Polish gov- ernment controlled the situation much more strongly. However, J. Kikščiūnas-Rimvydas still managed to find reliable contacts among local Lithuanians. The most trusted contacts were Teklė Pauliukonytė and Veronika Judickaitė. But Rimvydas did not manage to transfer the brought materials to the West. The documents he sent to the French Embassy in Warsaw had disappeared (actually, one of the agents de- stroyed them due to suspicion of possible ar- rest). French intelligence invited J. Krikščiūnas to Warsaw, but he did not go there because he suspected deception. In April 1949, he was still able to send a letter to J. Lukša (he received a letter in May) announcing the disappear- ance of the brought material. In a reply letter, J. Lukša suggested to prepare reports on the situation in the country based on memories. J. Lukša himself claimed that he received sev- eral Rimvydas' reports on deportations, 1948 elections and partisan songs. He also men- tioned that he tried (through intermediar- ies asked for the help of Americans) to bring J. Krikščiūnas-Rimvydas from Poland to the West, but he failed. J. Lukša wrote about it: "After a couple months of hard work, certain au- thorities of N state (France) refused to put further Jurgis Krikščiūnas-Rimvydas. efforts to help us to bring <...> Believing that then the arrival of J. Rimvydas is necessary, I tried to help him with the assistance of another force (Americans). I managed to find new contacts lith.), prepared in 1947) reached many MD's. ment was monitored in 1948. In September of who reported that only a few days ago, December In 1949, and order was issued in Samogitia that year, it was written:"Make every effort to 15, 1949, Rimvydas and his friend were tracked MD, ordering to take pictures of squads and create intelligence and tracking points of the Baltic down ant both were killed." divisions, with weapons, during classes and Sea coast, as it is a matter of urgency and neces- In the same year, the partisans who ended up breaks, to collect letters of deported people. sity to gather as much knowledge as possible of in Poland were killed or arrested. On Decem- The material had to be sent to headquarters of the armed forces' situation, changes or additions ber 15, 1949 the Polish security forces discov- the area and later abroad. In the same year, the in the sea and coastal protection units". But there ered a bunker near the village of Šlynakiemis Commander of Vytautas MD stated that "data were no possibilities to transfer the collected (near Punsk), where J. Krikščiūnas-Rimvydas must be collected secretly and as accurately as pos- information abroad. (who was still on treatment after the injury) sible", even though military information was In the spring of 1949, after returning to and Vytautas Prabulis-Žaibas were killed dur- collected earlier, especially in Western Lithu- South Lithuania from the Congress of Lithu- ing the shooting between Lithuanian parti- ania. Such statements are confirmed by the ania's partisan commanders, A. Ramanauskas- sans and Polish security forces. The partisans documents of the partisans of the United MD Vanagas spreaded the news among the parti- who sent them did not know what exactly of Kęstutis. For example, from the correspon- sans and led to transfer them abroad. In April happened to their representatives. Before dence of units of the United MD of Kęstutis, 1949, Jurgis Krikščiūnas-Rimvydas, Head of the death, A. Ramanauskas-Vanagas stated in it can be understood that that the train move- Communications and Intelligence Division a letter to the Chairman of the Presidium of

20 Lithuanian Military Digest Special

the Council of the Lithuanian Freedom Fight fighters. Then Juozas Gegužis-Diemedis, Pranas Raukas-Postas and Jonas Vitkaus- Movement (LLKS, lith.) Jonas Žemaitis- the Commander of Dainava MD, Bronius kas-, partisans of Kudirka MD of Vytautas: "Rimvydas does not respond." Šalaševičius-Žilvitis, the Commander of Kęstutis MD, who were planning to go to The deaths of partisans in Poland were Šarūnas team as well as 4 more partisans Sweden. It is unclear whether they did do followed by other repressions. According to died, also Medelis, the Commander of on their own initiative or with the approval historian Bronius Manauskas, on December Juozapavičius MD was arrested, and after of the leaders. Both were sentenced to death 15-30, 1949, 10 persons involved in under- recruiting him the fake headquarters of the for partisan activities, the sentence was con- ground activities were arrested, also 39 per- MD was created and it was used as a cover ducted on 28 March 1951. sons were arrested who crossed the border when killing partisans. In 1952 the actual J. Lukša was not missed from the sight of to Poland in 1945-1946. 19 families (80 per- headquarters of Dainava MD stopped oper- partisan leaders. On October 1949, J. Lukša sons) were exiled from Suwalki region to the ating. was promoted to the rank of Captain, was other regions of Poland, and 8 agents were Some partisans took their own initiative appointed the Head of the Political Depart- recruited. and began traveling to the West. In 1949 ment of the LLKS Public Section. J. Lukša * * * Juozas Jucys-Margis, Jonauskas- was considered an official representative of Sometimes the efforts to establish con- Pagirys, Vladas Freigofas-Audrūnas and LLKS abroad. tacts with foreign partisans ended with their Algirdas Freigofas-Sūnus, the partisans of own deaths. In 1951 the USSR State Secu- the Samogitian MD Sword team were deter- SOVIET SECURITY‘S ACTIVITIES rity Ministry (MGB) staged that Lithuanian mined to travel to the West. After crossing The archival documents show that Soviet partisan, former comrade of J. Krikščiūnas- the Kaliningrad region, they broke through security was not an observer of events, but Rimvydas, severely injured during shooting the border of Poland. But in this country, made active steps to disorganize partisan in 1949, arrested, little healed, broken and they were arrested, handed over to the USSR relations with the West. Its staff claimed: recruited by the MGB under the nickname and in 1950 sentenced to spend 25 years in "Foreign nationalist centres, led by Ameri- "Bronius", is returning to Lithuania with GULAG, except J. Jucys-Margis, because he can and English intelligence, illegally send Polish partisans, but actually they were the managed to escape and return to his com- VLIK emissaries to Lithuania for connection agents of MGB. On September 27, 1951 rades in Lithuanian forests. On December with Lithuanian underground and the con- in Bestraigiškės forest, they met with local 1, 1949 the Soviet border guards detained ducting of intelligence work." It was thought that foreign Lithuanian organizations tried to strengthen the armed fight and to intensify the intelli- Juozas Lukša with manuscript of memoirs "Partisans behind the Iron Curtain". Photographed in 1948 in Paris. gence work. Such statements later were established in So- viet propaganda literature. How much accurate they are is another question. At that time, MGB did not have any specific data on the partisan relations abroad. Security officials assumed that the LLKS had contacts with the West through Tauras MD, but had no data on di- rect LLKS ties. Also, for some time members of Soviet Se- cret Service (former Soviet KGB agents) did not know about the journey of J. Lukša ir K. Pyplys, but in Septem- ber, 1948, Estonian SSR MGB arrested radiomen who were sent from Swe- den and recognized J. Lukša and K. Pyplys according the photographs. According to their data, J. Lukša had to return to Lithuania in Sep- tember 1948 and K. Pyplys in November 1948. The fact

May 2019. No 5. 21 Special

is that this did not happen, and there is lack of infiltrate agency to those centres and foreign the dark". In the underground, agents had a few data on the actual return plans. Later J. Deks- intelligence, and renew the spread of passive nicknames which they used when introducing nys who was arrested by the MGB, claimed resistance. The alleged "BDPS Presidium" themselves in Lithuania and abroad, for ex- during the interrogation that in the second half consisted of an agency or persons who were ample, "Dramblys", "Ruginis", "Ąžuolas", "Mai- of 1948 the Americans had planned to move manipulated by the security without know- ronis". The MGB agency file was called "Les" J. Lukša and K. Pyplys to Lithuania, but Wash- ing it themselves (the term "in the dark", rus. (Forest, eng.). ington did not give permission because a dip- втемную was used in documents). MGB This fictitious formation failed to influence lomatic scandal would have occurred in case of checked agents who were included in work: the partisans because they did not trust the failure. He claimed that he received these news "Vytautas" ("Kardas" in underground, former new organization, and also identified some from Swedish intelligence. After receiving data secretary of the Party of Nationalists), "Mind- underground members as security agents. In from Moscow, Lithuanian SSR MGB ordered augas" ("Žemaitis" in underground, former 1948, the leaders of the Dainava MD and sub- to find possibly returned freedom fighters, and Lieutenant Colonel of the Lithuanian Armed divisions (including A. Ramanauskas-Vanagas, security units were constantly preparing to "ac- Forces), "Liūtas" (priest, "Kęstutis" in under- Sergijus Staniškis-Litas and others) met with cept" foreign paratroopers. ground), "Liepsna" ("Arūnas", "Gintautas", several representatives of the "BDPS Presid- MGB continued the tradition of creating- "Aukštatis" in underground, former Lieuten- ium", but suspected them to be provocative fake "underground" organizations. Instead ant of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, who be- because they were unable to answer certain of the underground Presidium of the United longed to the underground in 1944, but left it). specific questions. With reasonable suspicions, Democratic Resistance Movement (BDPS) All the listed agents were linked "in the dark" partisan commanders did not come to other which was liquidated in 1947–1948, security (not knowing about each other who let to meetings. Having already gained underground officers created one of their own. In addition control and to check them), detailed legends work experience and already knowing a little to its other goals, MGB, when creating its and lines of behave were prepared, and "BDPS bit about the Soviet security's ways of work- "BDPS Presidium", tried to take over channels Presidium" activities against agents were even ing, partisan commanders were not naive and of communication with emigration centres, created. Also, some other persons assisted "in did not believe in the legend about the alleged

Fragment of Juozas Lukša’s photo album. Juozas Lukša (on the right) and Jonas Kupstas-Ursus, his colleague and companion from the intelligence school. Photographed in April 1949 in Paris.

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Juozas Lukša’s foreign passport.

city-based organization. "BDPS Presidium" movement avoided the influence of another "Liepsna", who, after returning to Lithuania, in its letter toVanagas even expressed dis- destructive activity of alleged underground or- showed documents describing the landing satisfaction with the establishments of the ganization, and we cannot say the same about of J. Lukša-Skirmantas with airborne troops LLKS, since only the "Presidium" man- some foreign Lithuanians and British intelli- to Lithuania. But such an agent's decryption ages resistance not only in the country, but gence, who took the bait of members of Soviet did not affect those emigrants who trusted also abroad, and after the establishment of Secret Service. the supposed undergrounder, because they LLKS, "the "Presidium" was almost forcibly After failing to influence partisans, MGB did not trust the VLIK even more as political removed from its legitimate functions" and started a game with foreign intelligence and opponent in emigration. disagrees with that. But the partisans did not part of Lithuanian emigration: "BDPS Pre- Through this agent members of Soviet take this into account and continued to dis- sidium" were given a role of disinformer. Secret Service used to spread the idea about close MGB plans. In 1950, the agent "Liepsna" was sent to not perspective partisan movement, whose Partisans learned even more about the the West with the aim to compromise the participants only kill people and provokes fictitious "BDPS Presidium" when, in 1949, LLKS and its tactics abroad, to strengthen repressions of the Soviet government with they arrested this "organization's" communi- the contradictions between VLIK (accord- their actions. Also, members of partisan cator (actually MGB secret colleague) and ing to security, supporting active tactics) and leadership were characterized as splitters of extracted data on the alleged underground. Lithuanian Resistance Unity (LRS, lith.) unity of resistance. For example, the agent The alleged underground's members (in fact, (supporting passive tactics). "Liepsna" went "Liepsna", who went abroad, wrote: "BDPS Soviet security agents) were inaccessible to to the West using communication channels Presidium does not support the tactics of the partisans, but the fighters began an assess- created in Poland by real undergrounders. Cpt Žemaitis (Jonas Žemaitis-Vytautas — ment of their activities. On September 7, 1950 The mentioned agent left his mark in a Chairman of the Presidium of the LLKS in Tauras MD, according to the order of the fight against partisan movement, therefore, Council) and will not do so, because it leads Commander of South Lithuania (Nemunas), after arriving abroad, he stayed undercover. to the destruction of our compatriots and court-martial behind their backs examined "Liepsna", when visiting the West, met with partisan forces." the files of "Ruginis", "Dramblys", "Ąžuolas", Lithuanian emigrants (members of Lithua- The actions of file "Les" were continued "Audrūnas" (members of "BDPS Presidium — nian Parliament, Lithuanian diplomats) and and the facts shows that British intelligence MGB agents), who were accused for provoca- British intelligence representatives. During and some of the leaders of Lithuanian emi- tions against LLKS. A. Ramanauskas-Vanagas his meetings, he spread his information and gration believed in the game imposed by the reported these MGB provocations to the par- passed on the collected knowledge to secu- MGB. tisan areas. After seeing that the agency did not rity. However, VLIK did not trust the "rep- And J. Lukša and K. Pyplys continued make it to infiltrate itself among of partisans, resentative" from Lithuania — the former preparing to return to Lithuania. MGB had to admit: although they managed partisan J. Lukša, who then was abroad, af- to restore ties with "some of the leaders of ter getting acquainted with the letters of the Dr. Darius Juodis, Dalius Žygelis bandits' MD's and their liquidation was being undergrounder Arūnas (agent "Liepsna"), prepared, "many mistakes" were made, and the did not doubt that he was a provocateur, be- partisans did not recognize BDPS and created cause his data did not match with the data of Photo Credits: Garliava Juozas Lukša Gymnasium and Foundations of their centre: LLKS. This is how the partisan J. Lukša. However, he was rewarded by the the Occupation and Freedom Fights Museum, CIA archives

May 2019. No 5. 23 Photo credit: Alfredas Pliadis (MoD) credit: Alfredas Pliadis Photo

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