Freeeeeedom!
By 1988, Lithuania was breaking out of the shackles imposed upon it by the Soviet Union and reclaiming its sense of identity.
What do we mean by that?
We mean the Lithuanian language was reinstated as the official language, replacing Russian.
We mean the historical flags of the tricolour and Vytis coat of arms were flown once again.
We mean mass demonstrations were taking place under the Sąjūdis reform movement, with hundreds of thousands of people marching to demand acknowledgement of the occupation.
1988 was a year of hope and awakening, even with continued rule from Moscow.
Embers of hope, Vilnius
Catholicism, which had been subdued greatly under the Soviets was awakening, with hymns and sacred music returning to public life.
Singing itself became a form of non-violent protest, with people sometimes standing together for hours to assert their cultural identity without using force.
In 1989, approximately 2 million people from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia formed a human chain over 600km long to protest 50 years since the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact had carved up Eastern Europe and handed the Baltics to Soviet control without their consent.
By February of 1990, Lithuania held its first democratic elections for the Supreme Council, with Sąjūdis-backed candidates winning. (February is an important month as on February 16th 1918, Lithuania declared its independence after 123 years of Tsarist Russian imperial rule).
On March 11, 1990, Lithuania became the first Soviet Republic to declare full independence.
Mikhail Gorbachev refused to recognise this independence, and Moscow imposed an economic blockade by April 1990 to cut off fuel and raw materials. Even in the face of these shortages, Lithuania remained committed to independence.
On January 13th 1991, the Soviet Union then sent troops including tanks and paratroopers into Vilnius to seize key institutions and media such as the TV tower and radio headquarters. Lithuanians resisted, forming human shields, singing songs and lighting bonfires. Unfortunately, 13 people were killed (1 later from injuries) under gunfire and the rolling tanks of the Soviets.
The unintended consequences of this was a surge of global sympathy for Lithuania, and a strengthened resolve of it’s people. By late 1991, this independence was recognised internationally.
The following year, 1992, Lithuania symbolically beat the Unified Team (former Soviet republics) at the Olympic basketball games to take Bronze in their donated Grateful Dead attire (American Rock Band).