Photographs from the Vitkus family archive, museums and archives. Each comes with who is in it, when it was taken and why that moment mattered in his life.
1919 · TelšiaiTelšiai gymnasium studentIn autumn 1919 he entered the fourth form of the Telšiai gymnasium directly – he had taught himself the third-form course while working as clerk of the Tirkšliai district.Vitkus family archive
15 May 1920 · TelšiaiAteitis members at the gymnasiumThe Ateitis group of the Telšiai gymnasium. Juozas Vitkus is in the top row, third from the right. That autumn he and his classmates volunteered for the War School.“Alka” Samogitian Museum
1921 · Kaunas4th class of the War SchoolFrom left: Bronius Karevičius, Pranas Lesauskis, Tadas Bartkus, Juozas Vitkus, Bronius Gedvila. The class completed the two-year course in one year.Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights
1924 · PanevėžysLieutenant J. VitkusAn officer of the 4th King Mindaugas Infantry Regiment. That year he met the teacher Genovaitė Grybauskaitė, and in November left for the Higher Military Technical Courses.Vitkus family archive
5 June 1927 · PanevėžysThe weddingThe bride and groom, Genovaitė and Juozas, are seated in the centre. The meal was modest, with only close family present.Vitkus family archive
1929–1934 · BrusselsAt the Belgian Military AcademyEngineering Department of the École Militaire. He failed the entrance exams in 1928, was admitted a year later, and in 1934 graduated second in his class – after Prince Albert of Belgium.Vitkus family archive
10 May 1931 · BelgiumThe family in BelgiumIn summer 1930 Genovaitė and their son Vytautas joined him. On the left, the Vitkus family; on the right, Vincas Žilys with his wife Emilija and their little son Vytautas.Vitkus family archive
June 1932 · BelgiumTopographic fieldworkJuozas Vitkus (left) with three Yugoslav officers during topographic fieldwork.Archive of the Royal Military Academy of Belgium
1932–1933 · DiksmuideGeodesy placementAfter his third year he did his placement in Diksmuide. J. Vitkus is on the right.Vitkus family archive
1932–1934 · BrusselsA postcard to GenovaitėAddressed to “Mme G. Vitkus, 146 avenue du Diamant” – the flat the family moved into in August 1932.Vitkus family archive
November 1935 · KaunasWith soldiers of the Pioneer BattalionMajor Juozas Vitkus is in the front row, sixth from the left. His soldiers called him “Father”: strict but fair, on marches he slept alongside them.Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights
1938 · KaunasJuozas and GenovaitėThat year he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and began teaching military engineering at the Kaunas War School. The family bought a small house in Panemunė.Vitkus family archive
Pre-warOfficial portraitIn the forest he kept to the rule of never being photographed, so there is not a single photograph of him as a partisan. This is how cadets and comrades-in-arms knew him.Vitkus family archive
24 March 1940 · TirkšliaiThe last time all togetherEaster at the family home. Seated: sister Jadvyga, mother Marijona, sister Saliomėja; standing: Juozas, brother Valis, wife Genovaitė, brother Alfonsas, brother-in-law Čijunskis, niece Jadvyga and brother Ignas.Vitkus family archive
Summer 1942 · VilniusWith his family in Vingis ParkBy day he ran the city housing department, by night the underground: he was building the “Kęstutis” organisation. The children saw their father only on Sundays.Vitkus family archive
20 October 2023 · VilniusTribute at the Church of St JohnsFound after 77 years, his remains were brought to the Church of St Johns. The next day he was buried at Antakalnis Cemetery, near A. Ramanauskas-Vanagas.Vitkus family archive
