The Soviet deportations from Lithuania, carried out between 1941 and 1952, were part of a broader strategy of population displacement in the Soviet Union, aimed at suppressing resistance and integrating occupied territories. These mass deportations primarily targeted anti-Soviet elements, including political activists, partisans, clergy, and wealthier citizens—labeled as "kulaks"—as well as their families. It is estimated that 130,000 Lithuanians were deported, with about 70% being women and children. These deportees were transported to remote parts of the Soviet Union, particularly Siberia and the Irkutsk region, to work in forced labor camps under harsh conditions. The deportations also included Polish families living in Lithuania, further destabilizing the social fabric.
The deportation process was brutal and secretive. Soviet authorities typically carried out operations at night, forcibly removing individuals from their homes, separating families, and packing them into overcrowded cattle trains. The journey to Siberia or other exile locations could take weeks, often leading to deaths from starvation, cold, and disease. Upon arrival, deportees faced extreme poverty, harsh labor conditions, and inadequate housing, with many working in timber industries or collective farms. Around 28,000 deportees are believed to have died due to these harsh conditions.
Two of the largest operations were Operation Spring (1948) and Operation Priboi (1949). The goal of these mass deportations was not only to stifle resistance but also to enforce the Soviet policy of collectivization. Many deportees were linked to the partisan movement, while others were targeted to weaken Lithuanian resistance to Soviet agricultural reforms. These operations were also part of a larger Soviet plan to restructure the demographics and ensure loyalty within the Baltic republics.
The deportations created long-lasting scars. Even after Stalin's death in 1953, the release of deportees was slow, with some not returning to Lithuania until the early 1960s. Those who did return found their property confiscated and faced discrimination, limiting their reintegration into society.
The experience of deportations became central to Lithuania’s memory of Soviet oppression. Today, Lithuania observes Mourning and Hope Day on June 14 to commemorate the victims. Monuments and museums, such as the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights in Vilnius, serve as reminders of this dark chapter.