MEMORIAL TO THE MINISTERS OF THE FIRST REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA, MURDERED BY THE OCCUPANT

IN MEMORIAM. THEY CREATED THE FIRST REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA

PETRAS ARAVIČIUS (1887–1942)

Physicist, graduated from the University of St. Petersburg. Minister of Interior of the 15th government of the Republic of Lithuania (until 7 April 1931). Murdered by NKVD on 25 August 1942 in Sverdlovsk region, Russia. Born on 29 June 1887, Avižieniai village, Seirijai rural district, Seinai County.

KAZIMIERAS BIZAUSKAS (1892–1941)

Signatory of the February 16th Independence Act of Lithuania, Minister of Education of the Republic of Lithuania. Murdered by NKVD at Bygasov railway station near Cherven (between Daugavpils and Polotsk) on 26 June 1941. Born on 14 February 1893 in Pavilosta, Kuldiga County, Latvia.

JULIUS ČAPLIKAS (1886–1941)

Teacher, officer of the Lithuanian Army, lieutenant general, cavalier of the Order of the Cross of Vytis, Minister of Interior of the Republic of Lithuania (6 September 1936–24 March 1936). Murdered by NKVD at Moscow Butyrka prison on 30 July 1941. Born on 20 June 1886 in Ryliškės village, Merkinė rural district, Alytus County.

VALDEMARAS VYTAUTAS ČARNECKIS (1893–1942)

Engineer, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Lithuania. Member of the Constituent Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (15 May 1920–4 November 1921), Member of the 2nd and 3rd Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (1922–1926). Diplomat, ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania in Italy from 1925 until soviet occupation. From 1939 to 1940, Director of Law and Administration Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Murdered by NKVD on 4 November 1942 in Sverdlovsk, Russia. Born on 9 January 1893 in Pajiesis village of Marijampolė County.

PRANAS DOVYDAITIS (1886–1942)

Teacher, Doctor of Philosophy, professor of Vytautas Magnus University, signatory of Lithuania’s Independence Act of 16 February, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Lithuania (12 March 1919–12 April 1919). Murdered by NKVD on 4 November 1942 in Sverdlovsk, Russia. Born on 2 December 1886 in Runkiai village, Višako Ruda rural district, Marijampolė County.

BALYS GIEDRAITIS (1890–1941)

Officer, lieutenant colonel, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Lithuania (26 June 1930–12 June 1934). Murdered by NKVD in Cherven, Belarus. Born on 13 January 1890 in Riga.

ANTANAS ENDZIULAITIS (1895–1942)

Minister of Interior of the Republic of Lithuania (4 February 1925–15 June 1926); member of the 3^rd Seimas (2 June 1926–18 April 1927). Murdered by NKVD on 10 December  1942 in Sverdlovsk, Russia. Born on 17 November 1895 in Gaisriai village, Antanava country district, Vilkaviškis County.

KAZIMIERAS JOKANTAS (1880–1942)

Teacher, headmaster of a gymnasium, Minister of Education of the Republic of Lithuania. Murded by NKVD on 25 August 1942. Born on 23 October 1880 in Valiukiškis village, Kupiškis rural district, Panevėžys County.

JONAS MASILIŪNAS (1899–1942)

Economist, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Lithuania. Murdered by NKVD on 28 December 1942.

JUOZAS PAPEČKYS (1890–1942)

Lawyer, officer, colonel, poet. Member of the State Council, cavalier of the Order of the Cross of Vytis, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Lithuania. Murdered by NKVD on 4 November 1942 in Sverdlovsk. Born on 1 January 1890 in Puskepuriai village, Šunskai rural district, Marijampolė County.

VYTAUTAS PETRULIS (1890–1941)

Minister of Finance, Trade and Industry of the Republic of Lithuania. Murdered by NKVD on 3 December 1941, in the surroundings of Ukchta, Komi Republic of Russia.  Born on 3 February 1890 in Kateliškiai village, Vabalninkas rural district, Biržai County.

AUGUSTINAS POVILAITIS (1887–1941-06-24)

Economist, director of State Security Department.

STEPONAS RUSTEIKA (1887–1941)

Lawyer, military officer, colonel, deputy mayor and later mayor of the city of Kaunas, initiator of the Criminal Police Day, celebrated from 27 October 1927, organiser of political surveillance and counterintelligence service in 1928–1933, founder and the first head of the State Security Committee of the Republic of Lithuania, Minister of Interior of the Republic of Lithuania. Murdered by NKVD on 24 June 1941 in Minsk Prison. Born on July 5 1887 in Riga.

KAZYS SKUČAS (1894–1941)

Lawyer, military officer, army general, Minister of Interior of the Republic of Lithuania. Murdered by NKVD on 30 July 1941 at Moscow Butyrka prison. Born on 15 March 1894 in Mauručiai, Veiveriai rural district.

ZIGMAS STARKUS (1892–1942)

State controller, Minister of Interior of the Republic of Lithuania. Murdered by NKVD on 25 August 1942 in Sverdlovsk, Russia. Born on 12 October 1892 in Rudamina village, Seinai County.

JONAS SUTKUS (1893–1942)

Military officer, chief of army supply, lieutenant general, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania. Murdered by NKVD on 10 December 1942 in Sverdlovsk, Russia. Born on 15 April 1893 in Žemlaukė village, Ilguva rural district, Šakiai County.

ANTANAS TAMOŠAITIS (1894–1940)

Teacher, lawyer, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania. Murdered by NKVD at Kaunas penal labour prison in November 1940.

JOKŪBAS VYGODSKIS (1857–1942)

Minister without portfolio of the Republic of Lithuania, responsible for Jewish affairs. Killed by Gestapo on 5 September 1941.