Lithuanian Liberty Army
| Lithuanian Liberty Army | |
|---|---|
| Lietuvos laisvės armija (LLA) | |
Brassard used by the LLA's Vanagai sector | |
| Active | 13 December 1941 – 17 April 1946 |
| Allegiance | Lithuania |
| Size | c. 10,000 (summer 1944) |
| Commanders | |
| Founder and first commander | Kazys Veverskis |
The Lithuanian Liberty Army (sometimes also named as Lithuanian Freedom Army) (Lithuanian: Lietuvos laisvės armija or LLA) was a Lithuanian underground military organization established by Kazys Veverskis (codename Senis), a Vilnius University Law Faculty student, on December 13, 1941. Its goal were to re-establish independent Lithuania via political and military means.
It was part of the anti-Nazi resistance during the German occupation of Lithuania during World War II as it opposed German policies, but did not begin armed resistance. The armed struggle began in mid-1944 when Red Army reached the Lithuanian borders after the Minsk offensive.
The LLA became the first wave of the Lithuanian partisans, armed anti-Soviet guerrilla fighters. It attempted to become the central command of the armed struggle. However, the organization was liquidated by the Soviet security forces (NKVD and KGB) by April 1946. The organization's remnants were absorbed by other partisans. The guerrilla war continued until 1953.