Lithuanian Freedom Fighters' Tactics Resisting the Soviet Occupation 1944-1953.

摘要

Although the end of World War II enabled devastated countries to rebuild and enjoy a time of peace, another bloody war had just started in Lithuania. Lithuanian Freedom Fighters (LFFs) fought for almost a decade (1944-1953) against the Soviets who occupied their country after World War II. The LFFs' active resistance against Soviet forces is one of the great examples of 20th Century guerrilla warfare. However, there is still a lack of detailed analysis on the tactical factors that enabled the LFF to resist superior Soviet forces for such a long period. Therefore, this research focuses on the following primary question: What tactics used by the LFFs enabled them to oppose greatly superior Soviet forces for almost a decade. After examining LFF tactics, the research shifts focus to the secondary question: What factors resulted in the eventual defeat of LFF resistance. The author utilizes the elements of combat power to measure the effectiveness of LFF tactics during the three phases of the LFF movement. As asymmetric warfare is likely to continue playing an important role in future conflicts, members of the military profession may find it useful to familiarize themselves with this resistance movement. A thorough analysis of the tactics the LFFs used to counter the superior Soviet forces, which were a combination of regular and irregular warfare tactics, should assist military professionals in further deepening their understanding of asymmetric warfare phenomena.