Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, Former KGB headquarters in Vilnius, Lithuania
The Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights occupies a former KGB prison and interrogation center that now houses exhibits of documents, photographs, and personal items from Lithuania's fight against Soviet rule between 1940 and 1991. The building's structure reflects its dual purpose as both a museum and a memorial to those who suffered within its walls.
The building served as a KGB detention and interrogation site during Soviet occupation, functioning as a tool of oppression against the Lithuanian population. Following Lithuania's independence in 1991, it was transformed into a museum to preserve the memory of those persecuted there.
The museum displays personal belongings and photographs that reveal how Lithuanians resisted Soviet rule through underground movements and daily acts of defiance. These objects show the stories of ordinary people who refused to accept occupation.
The site sits in central Vilnius and is accessible on foot or by local transport, with ample parking nearby for those driving. Plan for at least two hours to walk through the exhibits and explore the basement sections at a comfortable pace.
Visitors can view objects discovered in mass graves beneath the building through a glass floor in the basement, offering a direct glimpse into the physical evidence of crimes committed during occupation. This preserved space makes the suffering tangible and grounded in real material remains.
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