What happened here
In September 1940 the Soviets abolished the War School, and J. Vitkus was transferred to Vilnius (he lived at Antakalnio g. 12b-1). In June 1941, when war broke out, he and Colonel Karolis Dabulevičius left the troop train and returned to Vilnius. In August he became head of the city council’s housing and real estate department; in December the family moved into a flat at Kudirkos g. 4-2.
In 1942 he became a member and leader of the Vilnius staff of the Lithuanian Front’s military organisation “Kęstutis”. From November 1942 to spring 1944 he taught at the LLA underground war school. On 30 November 1943 he held talks with A. Krzyżanowski, commander of the Vilnius district of the Polish Home Army (Armia Krajowa).
On All Souls’ Day 1943, in a Vilnius cemetery, he told his wife that he had a premonition: his family would never have a grave of his.
“…we all work in good spirits, because we work for a better, brighter future for Vilnius and Lithuania.”
Letter to his mother, Mother’s Day 1942
What you will see
- A memorial plaque at Pamėnkalnio g. 24, the former “Kęstutis” headquarters, unveiled on 3 July 1993.
- A street in Lazdynai bears his name. Since 2023 his grave has been at Antakalnis Cemetery (see place 12).
Buried with state honours, near Vanagas.
02 · 1920–1948Kaunas, PanemunėThe War School, the engineering battalion and the family home in Panemunė.
04 · 1945 04 04KabeliaiThe gathering after which he began to lead the partisans of Dzūkija.
Sources (in Lithuanian): V. Vitkus, “Pulkininkas Kazimieraitis”, 2nd ed., Kaunas, 2017, pp. 40–46, 151–154, 180; list of memorial sites, p. 272. Virtual exhibition “J. Vitkus-Kazimieraitis” (virtualios-parodos.lt). The map is schematic; we will confirm exact coordinates and routes with the museum.