What happened here
After several moves, from 27 September 1945 the headquarters was set up by the Skroblus stream near Rudnelė (Mažoji Rudnia). On 15 December, after Vanagas’s attack on Merkinė, the staff returned to Ėglis’s winter bunker. Kazimieraitis had Christmas Eve supper with the Krušas family and saw in the New Year with the Kraunelis family – little Elytė sat on his knee all evening.
On 12 January 1946 the bunker was attacked: Ėglis (Jonas Kraunelis) was killed, Naras and Karklas were arrested, and the staff diary was seized. Kazimieraitis was with Vanagas at the time. He took the news sitting for a long time leaning on the table – it was a month before he got over the loss.
“Such is God’s will. All that remains is to pray for the fallen and set to work with even more energy.”
As recalled by Vanagas, after 12 January 1946
What you will see
- An information board stands by the former headquarters.
- Every year on 13 January the Vitkus family and friends march to the headquarters.
How to walk there
Every year in mid-January the Vitkus family and friends walk the Kazimieraitis march to the headquarters. On 14 January 2023 the march began in Marcinkonys: about 7 km west along a forest road, then south-west towards the Skroblus. It is about 10 km to the headquarters (5.8 km as the crow flies); the full loop back is 19.9 km, about 4.5 hours of walking.
Vanagas’s hideout at Tigras’s farmstead, “Laisvės varpas”.
04 · 1945 04 04KabeliaiThe gathering after which he began to lead the partisans of Dzūkija.
06 · 1945 08 02NedzingėMeeting with A. Ramanauskas-Vanagas.
Sources (in Lithuanian): V. Vitkus, “Pulkininkas Kazimieraitis”, 2nd ed., Kaunas, 2017, pp. 60–65, 82–84, 167–171, 226–257; R. Kinderienė, “Genutė”. The map is schematic; we will confirm exact coordinates and routes with the museum.