THE EFFECT OF SEVEN YEARS OF BOLSHEVIK OCCUPATION ON LITHUANIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00415R013600170015-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 15, 2002
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: December 15, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

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SECURITY INFORMATION
INFORMATION REPORT REPORT NO.
? CD NO.
COUNTRY USSR (Lithuanian SSR)
SUBJECT The Effect of Seven Years of Bolshevik
Occupation on Lithuania:.
FOR Cr!IPP, P 5 y~;;;(:'~' R ASO ~
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rxIEAS-
DATE DISTR.
NO., OF PAGES
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
25X1A
15 Dec? 1952
4 25X1A
.Introduction. DO NOT CIRCULATE
The following essay represents an appreciation of the process of B?l?
shevization of Lithuania during the period of Soviet occupation since
1945. This appreciation is by the Lithuanian patriots who live under
the Soviet.regime, witness from day to day its ever deepening penetra-
tion, and try with all their might at least to delay the deadly progress
of subjugation of the country and of the nation. The efforts of the
patriots to arrest or to delay the process of Sovietization may not
be spectacular, but they do what they can to preserve the national
consciousness of their compatriots in order that it should be able to
assert itself with all its power when the time comes. They believe
that the days of Free Lithuania are not so far distant and only this
belief helps them to maintain their ranks in an otherwise hopeless
struggle.
1. Seven years have now passed since Lithuania was re-occupied by the
Russians d this is sufficient a period of time to allow for the draw-
ing of certain conclusions regarding the Bolshevik overlordship 'of the
country.
2. The aim.of this essay will be to outline the substance of Bolshevik
dictatorship by identifying its objects and its methods as directed
against the national conscience of the Lithuanian nation and against
the desires of the people to be truly independent. In other words,
against those ideals for which the best sons and daughters of the
nation fought and died.
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Concurrently, another object of this analysis will be to depict the
danger whichthreatens the Lithuanian nation in the event of a protracted
Bolshevik occupation.
Planned Coordination of the Use ofmPropaganda, and Use of Force.
4. The substance of Bolshevik dictatorship in Lithuania manifests itself
in the concrete form of a planned coordination of the use of Communist
propaganda and the use of force o This combination embraces the broad
spheres of the population9 particularly the poor9 the farm laborers
and the town proletariat9 drawing them into the Communist Party, and
to the administrative and State apparatus. By the use of force
(arrests and deportations), the Bolsheviks. isolate the most active
elements of the Lithuanian nation9 i .e., the intellectuals who are
faithful to their national traditions9 and the wealthier farmers.
By means of propaganda and the granting of concessions (monetary
rewards, decorations, various privileges), they recruit servants
faithful to them from among the peasants and factory workers.
5. Being sufficiently realistic and consistent. and having an acute appre-
ciation of the psychology of the masses9 the Bolsheviks have latterly
begun to make less use of the methods of force and have primarily
concentrated their interests on the so-called "economically organiza-
tional and culturally educational" spheres. This means9 in essence9
an intensive indoctrination of the broad masses of the population with
Communist ideas and philosophy. Figuratively speaking, this is nothing
other than the moral poisoning of the nation.
Artificial "Differentiations and Moral Poisonipg$?
6. At the present time such tactics create artificial "differentiations"
among the Lithuanian people. Up to the present, every genuine Th thu?
anian has known that the people of his land are members of a nation
whose supreme object has been the achievement of state and national
independence. Now9 however9 one section of the nation is artificially
antagonized toward the other. The well-known formula of Bolshevik
1class ntagonismm is perfected9 thus trampling under foot the old
principles of Christian morality. Carrying favor with the basest in-
stincts of the poorer-class massess9 the Bolsheviks deceive them and
then effect a division of national unity which, in its turn, can lead
only to the destruction of the Lithuanian nation. Notwithstanding the
healthy instinct of our folk,which obstinately resists the intrusion
of such "Communist morale 9 one, nevertheless, sees more and more
frequently how this "moral poison" systematically infiltrates into the
minds of the uneducated peasants and,more particularly, into the minds
of the town workers.
7. The Bolsheviks spare neither effort nor money to make more effective
any means which assists them to carry out the policy of 'differentia-
tion"o. Radio, literature, schools, newspapers, lectures, etc., all
serve toward the achievement of this purpose.
$.: As far as national "differentiation" is concerned, the position of the
Lithuanian nation is as follows the most active and purposeful, ele-
ment of our nation (at present constituting only a minority) is re-
pressed or artificially isolated by the exclusion of true patriots
from leading positions. The most numerous element of the populations
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intimidated by the repressive methods of the Bolsheviks, either remains
inert or andeavonii: to fall into line. Finally, although again only in
a minority, is that element which comprises the faithful servants of
the Bolsheviks, which is drawn from the poorer classes and which comes
more and more within the sphere of Bolshevik influence,
9,. A similar political result or consequence is to be seen in another
I'differentiatiouna" among the Lithuaniansfl to wit, in the family circle.
The younger generation, attracted by a variety of Communist bait
(sport, education, excursions to Moscow and Leningrad, freedom to
choose various professions previously difficult to enter), finds that
its interests conflict with the interests of the older generation which
defends the true national and religious Lithuanian traditions, The
youths,whom the Bolsheviks tempt by a variety ofd means,not infre-
quently succumb to the temptation, join the Communist Youth, break
contacts with the old religious traditions, and in this way in course
of time become, if not potential Communists, then at least supporters
of the Regime, It is self-evident that the majority of such young-
sters emanate from the poorer classes, f or whom the Bolsheviks create
conditions for education and for successful entry into social-political
life. Former wealthy .families, naturally, do not enjoy these privi-
leges,
Td Mat .o s of tie Remnants o the Bour Bois Capitalist Ideas.
lOu. The Premier of the puppet Lithuanian Government, Mecys Gedvila, at
the 11th Plenum of the Lithuanian Communist Party had summarized the
principle- of this policy in the following wordss The speedy liqui-
dation of the remnants of the bourgeois capitalist order lingering in
the minds of the people",,
151,, The Bolshevik dictatorship has, thus, at the present time transferred
its main weight from the methods of force to a comprehensively organized
and tolerably regularized permanence of Bolshevik propaganda, At the
same time it mercilessly destroys the old religious and national tr
ditions of Lithuania?
12, For this purpose all means are used, beginning from naked propaganda
and taking in all aspects of life up to and including the use of
economic pressure and agricultural reforms within the country,
1.3. Adhering to the principle of their own dictatorial regime, he who is
not with us is against u& and viewing with deep mistrust all those
who are indifferent in their political views, the Bolsheviks force
everyone to dance to the Communist tune and in this way they endeavor
to achieve the psychological breakdown, of the masses, to their own
advantage. Up to now,, they have not been successful in this on a mass
scale- it is, however, quite clear that in the course of time they may
well achieve results favorable to them, The poorer classes particu-
larly (and they constitute the overwhelming majority in Lithuania at
present)., succumb easily to Bolshevik temptations,which manifest them-
selves not only in the form of propaganda and empty words but quite
often represent concrete material. gains,
14,. If a swineherd, milkmaid, or stablehand can obtain the very highest
Government award, "Order of Lenin4" and the .~ old "Hero of Labor" star,
which bring .financial, awards and other benefits (free journeys on
railways and uses, reserved seats in cinemas and theaters, various
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advantages in obtaining entry to educational establishments or the
Civil Service, release from taxes,, etc,)9 then this must clearly have
a great effect upon the attitude of the common man. When a swineherd
Is put on the same level as a general (all socialist Heroes of Labor
and Heroes of the Soviet Union are treated on a level with high mili-
tary officers of at least major-general rank during official receptions
and celebrations), it follows that he becomesa subservient and faithful
tool in the hands of the Bolsheviks, In Lithuania there are already
a few dozen of these "caw and pig generals" e not counting Heroes of
the Soviet Union, Add to this the 'Stalin Prize Laureates (this-is a
cunning ideological trap for intellectuals and technically qualified
work personnel ,, various excursions to Moscow,, Leningrad,, and to the
90iillionaire'9 kolkhozy,, and other propaganda' tricks,, and it can then
be seen how cleverly the Bolsheviks operate,, how imperceptibly they
worm their way into the souls of the common,, uneducated people'and
force them to work for their benefit,.
15. These and similar examples have their effect upon others who nurture
the thought that even if one cannot become a "!pig general" then,, at
the very least,, a financial prize is not beyond reach, It is really
painful,, infuriating,,, and at the same time laughable when one sees
how,, with the help of this barefaced demagogy,, the Bolsheviks apply
their dictatorship,
And the tureI
16. Against this machine, which is guarded by the gigantic and almighty
'Cheki.ste,,tt the Lithuanian nation can put forward only passive resisa-
tance9 underground activity,, and the partisan movement,, the latter
of which is being ever more and more squeezed in the iron vice of the
MGB,_ If these conditions continue for a further lengthy period?the
Lithuanian nation may9 in the event of a world armed conflict coming
at a distant dates be already so far !!differentiated!! that civil war
and fratricide would be the result, The Lithuanian nation,, having
been left to its own fate,, without any support from the free world,,
could not be expected to escape the ugly consequences of being treated
with systematic and carefully planned. Communist poison,,. The Lithuan-
ian nation,, having done the maximum possible under the circumstances
in its fight against the oc+rupanta,, would be able to say in the words
of Horace- !!Foci quod potui faciant meliore potentes".
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