Description
Book SynopsisAn autobiographical account of the armed resistance against the Soviet Union, which took place between 1944–1956. Published in English for the first time in unabridged form, Lukša's memoir remains one of the few reliable eye-witness accounts of the "Invisible Front", as dubbed by Soviet security forces. At its zenith 28,000 guerilla fighters participated in battles and skirmishes throughout Lithuania, Lukša (partisan codename Daumantas) being one of the leaders. Forest Brothers also documents the role of women in the resistance, giving equal credit to these often silent partners. In 1948 Lukša and two comrades broke through the Iron Curtain on the Polish border. He sought training from the French intelligence and from the CIA. Lukša was flown back into the Soviet Union under the radar on the night of October 4, 1950. He managed to survive and operate eleven months until his near capture and death on the night of September 5, 1951. His account, written during 1948–1950, while he was living in hiding in Paris, describes in vivid scenes and dialogue the daily struggles of the resistance.
Table of ContentsIntroduction The Invisible Front: Lithuania’s Armed Resistance Against the Soviet Union – Laima Vincė Part I. The Decision to Stay on our Native Land, July 1944–July 1945 Part II. Choosing the Fate of a Partisan, July 1945–January 1946 Part III. On the Partisan Road, January 1946–May 1947 Part IV. Breaking Through the Iron Curtain to the West, June 1947–December 1947 Afterword A Journey into the Heart: A Post-War Love Story – Laima Vincė An Account from the Post-War Borderlands – Jonas Öhman Appendix
