Forest Brothers, 1945: The Culmination Of The Lithuanian Partisan Movement

Nonfiction, History, Germany, European General, Military, United States
Cover of the book Forest Brothers, 1945: The Culmination Of The Lithuanian Partisan Movement by Major Vylius M. Leskys, Verdun Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Major Vylius M. Leskys ISBN: 9781786250650
Publisher: Verdun Press Publication: November 6, 2015
Imprint: Verdun Press Language: English
Author: Major Vylius M. Leskys
ISBN: 9781786250650
Publisher: Verdun Press
Publication: November 6, 2015
Imprint: Verdun Press
Language: English

Although the resistance effort maintained its strength ideologically, the Lithuanian partisan movement never recovered from the culminating point in 1945 because of a shortfall in resources, a lack of external support, and the inability of resistance leadership to adapt rapidly enough against a comprehensive Soviet assimilation campaign.

While many authors argue that the high point in the Lithuanian partisan war occurred between 1946 and 1947, the totality of evidence points towards a culmination in 1945 from which the effort never recovered. This culminating point may be attributed to a miscalculation of partisan resources on the part of their leadership as well as a lack of external support. The main reason for achieving culmination, however, rested in the inability of partisans to fight a conventional war against a massive, combined arms Soviet force. Mass deportations between three separate occupations and a wave of 60,000 escapees created a vacuum of political, military and moral leadership. Compounded with the realization that there would be no external support from the democratic West, the will of the Lithuanians was bent by the Soviet campaign. Ultimately, the numbers of partisans killed, captured or given amnesty by Soviet forces reflect an apex in military capability in 1945 that drastically diminished thereafter.

The pinnacle of partisan effort in 1945 clearly represents a culminating point that forced the Lithuanian resistance movement to shift their operations drastically. Ultimately, based on the totality of evidence, the 1945 culminating point splits the resistance into two stages: 1) 1944-1945-conventional war operations, a period of traditional offensive warfare by an organized partisan movement; and 2) 1946-1953-irregular warfare operations, a period of unremitting decline by a significantly diminished resistance, relegated to a more defensive posture and small scale offensive operations.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Although the resistance effort maintained its strength ideologically, the Lithuanian partisan movement never recovered from the culminating point in 1945 because of a shortfall in resources, a lack of external support, and the inability of resistance leadership to adapt rapidly enough against a comprehensive Soviet assimilation campaign.

While many authors argue that the high point in the Lithuanian partisan war occurred between 1946 and 1947, the totality of evidence points towards a culmination in 1945 from which the effort never recovered. This culminating point may be attributed to a miscalculation of partisan resources on the part of their leadership as well as a lack of external support. The main reason for achieving culmination, however, rested in the inability of partisans to fight a conventional war against a massive, combined arms Soviet force. Mass deportations between three separate occupations and a wave of 60,000 escapees created a vacuum of political, military and moral leadership. Compounded with the realization that there would be no external support from the democratic West, the will of the Lithuanians was bent by the Soviet campaign. Ultimately, the numbers of partisans killed, captured or given amnesty by Soviet forces reflect an apex in military capability in 1945 that drastically diminished thereafter.

The pinnacle of partisan effort in 1945 clearly represents a culminating point that forced the Lithuanian resistance movement to shift their operations drastically. Ultimately, based on the totality of evidence, the 1945 culminating point splits the resistance into two stages: 1) 1944-1945-conventional war operations, a period of traditional offensive warfare by an organized partisan movement; and 2) 1946-1953-irregular warfare operations, a period of unremitting decline by a significantly diminished resistance, relegated to a more defensive posture and small scale offensive operations.

More books from Verdun Press

Cover of the book We Dropped The A-Bomb by Major Vylius M. Leskys
Cover of the book Soviet Defensive Tactics At Kursk, July 1943 by Major Vylius M. Leskys
Cover of the book A Regiment Like No Other: The 6th Marine Regiment At Belleau Wood by Major Vylius M. Leskys
Cover of the book Airpower Employment Of The Fifth Air Force In The World War II Southwest Pacific Theater by Major Vylius M. Leskys
Cover of the book Marines In World War II - Marines In The Central Solomons [Illustrated Edition] by Major Vylius M. Leskys
Cover of the book Marines In World War II - The Defense Of Wake [Illustrated Edition] by Major Vylius M. Leskys
Cover of the book Merrill’s Marauders February - May 1944 [Illustrated Edition] by Major Vylius M. Leskys
Cover of the book Men Of Destiny: The American And Filipino Guerillas During The Japanese Occupation Of The Philippines by Major Vylius M. Leskys
Cover of the book Nery, 1914 by Major Vylius M. Leskys
Cover of the book Ordeal By Sea; The Tragedy Of The U.S.S. Indianapolis by Major Vylius M. Leskys
Cover of the book Allenby’s Final Triumph [Illustrated Edition] by Major Vylius M. Leskys
Cover of the book From the Somme to the Rhine by Major Vylius M. Leskys
Cover of the book Stalingrad And The Turning Point On The Soviet-German Front, 1941-1943 by Major Vylius M. Leskys
Cover of the book Desert Warfare: German Experiences In World War II [Illustrated Edition] by Major Vylius M. Leskys
Cover of the book Elephant Bill by Major Vylius M. Leskys
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy