Okupacijų ir laisvės kovų muziejus
The Okupacijų ir laisvės kovų muziejus (Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights) in the former KGB building in Vilnius tells the story of the Soviet occupation, the partisan war, deportations and the KGB internal prison.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Okupacijų ir laisvės kovų muziejus was founded on 14 October 1992 in the former KGB building in Vilnius. From the second half of 1940 until August 1991, Soviet repressive institutions – the NKVD, NKGB-MGB and KGB – worked in this building. The basement held an internal prison where Lithuanian residents suspected by the occupying authorities were held from autumn 1940 until 1987. Until 2018 the museum was called the Museum of Genocide Victims; on 19 April 2018 it was renamed the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights. In 1997 the founder's rights were taken over by the Lietuvos gyventojų genocido ir rezistencijos tyrimo centras (Genocide and Resistance Research Centre).
On the first floor, in the former office of the deputy head of the KGB internal prison, the exhibitions show Sovietisation in 1940–1941, the partisan war of 1944–1953 and “Nelygi kova” (Unequal Struggle), on the suppression of armed resistance. The second floor tells of Lithuanians imprisoned in the gulag in 1944–1956, of deportations and of KGB activity in 1954–1991. In the basement, part of the internal prison and interrogation isolation cells has survived, as well as the former execution room, which now houses an exhibition. The museum's collections hold more than 145,000 exhibits.
The museum's branches are the memorial complex in the Tuskulėnų rimties parkas (Tuskulėnai Peace Park) and the Druskininkai Museum of Resistance and Deportation. On 23 September 2018 Pope Francis visited the museum.
Key themes
- The former KGB building and the internal prison in the basement
- Shooting chamber – the former execution room
- Exhibition on the partisan war of 1944–1953
- Exhibitions on the imprisonment of Lithuanians in the gulag and on deportations
- More than 145,000 exhibits
Permanent exhibitions
- KGB vidaus kalėjimas ir šaudymo kamera – The surviving internal prison and interrogation cells in the basement, and the former execution room, with its exhibition.
- Partizaninis karas 1944–1953 metais – The exhibition presents the territorial structure of partisan units, their military organisation, the aims and everyday life of the freedom fighters.
- Lietuvos gyventojai gulage: 1944–1956 metais – The second-floor exhibition on the imprisonment of Lithuanians in the gulag; deportations and KGB activity are also presented.
- Founded
- 1992
- Operated by
- Lietuvos gyventojų genocido ir rezistencijos tyrimo centras
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3students, pensioners and persons with disabilities |
| Seniors | €3 |
| Visitors with disabilities | €3 |
| Students & apprentices | €3 |
Free admission: Free admission on 12 and 13 January, 16 February, 11 March, 18 May, 14 and 15 June, 23 August, and 23 and 28 September.
Admission is free with a “Vilnius Pass” card.
Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
The museum is in central Vilnius, on Gedimino prospektas, in the former KGB building (entrance from Aukų gatvė).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Audio guide | yes (EN) |
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