SUMMARY

[Note to reader: this Country page primarily contains brief information about state-based violence during the period 1946–1974, and to some extent 1975–1988. For more detailed information on organized violence after 1989, please consult the specific Conflict and Dyad pages available on the left-hand side of this page. These pages contain more detailed information regarding all three categories of organized violence in this country from 1989 and onwards (when applicable), as well as detailed information about state-based violence 1975–1988. The left-hand side menu also contains links to Actor pages for all groups involved in organized violence since 1989 in this country, as well as actors involved in state-based violence 1975–1988.]

Lithuania declared itself independent in 1918 at the end of the First World War. About three decades later it was occupied by the Soviet Union and shortly thereafter taken over by Nazi Germany. In 1944, it was incorporated into the Soviet Union. Lithuania remained under Soviet rule until 1990 when it proclaimed its renewed independence. The weakened government of the Soviet Union refrained from militarily bringing the country back under its control. A year later, the Soviet Union fell apart and Lithuania’s independence was recognized internationally.

There was an intrastate armed conflict between Lithuanian armed groups and the Soviet government from 1946 to 1948. The short period of independence between the world wars had entrenched a strong sense of national identity among the Lithuanians. The repressive regime installed by the Soviet Union in 1940 had deeply alienated large parts of the population. Against this background, widespread resistance against the re-established Soviet rule formed in the Lithuanian forests. Since 1946, the armed struggle of these so-called “Forest Brothers” was coordinated by the United Democratic Resistance Movement (BDPS). The Forest Brothers conducted primarily surprise raids by small groups against the Soviet forces. Facing the overwhelming military superiority of the Soviet forces and decreasing popular support, the movement gradually lost its impetus. The conflict became inactive in 1949.

Lithuania sent troops to Afghanistan to support the United States of America in the fight against al-Qaida in 2002 and to back the Afghan government against the Taleban in 2006. Lithuania also militarily supported the Iraqi government in the intrastate conflict that started 2004.

Lithuania has no recorded conflicts as a sovereign state in UCDP data. The Soviet Union (Lithuania) conflict is viewed as an intrastate conflict within the Soviet Union.