Re: USSR saved Lithuania in 1939?



"daniloff" <mdaniloff@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:i5e4s0$mio$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


"J. Anderson" <andersons6@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:Yrweo.16264$136.15352@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


"daniloff" <mdaniloff@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:i5e0cn$ak4$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The American journalist Anna Louise Strong made the following observation: "When the Red Army first entered the Vilnius 19 September 1939, the common people greeted her enthusiastically. After 6 weeks she was gone, and Vilnius was transferred to Lithuania. Immediately Smetona's government has organized one of the worst pogroms in the history of Vilnius, pursuing as "the Jews" all those who showed sympathy towards the Red Army. Around 20,000 workers in Vilnius, mostly Jews, before the massacre had left the Red Army in the USSR ..."

It's hard to tell what in the confused paragraph above is supposed to be a quote from Anna Louise Strong, but little of what she ever wrote should be taken seriously. She was a faithful communist, and her "observations" came straight from Molotov's press office. That is, until she moved on -- to Mao's China.

That's why I'm asking if those facts and points are true.

I don't know, I wasn't there. But 'pogrom' is quite a strong word for what could have happened. After all, Smetona's government welcomed the return of Vilnius. I think someone is confusing September 1939 with July 1941.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: USSR saved Lithuania in 1939?
    ... "When the Red Army first entered the Vilnius 19 September 1939, the common people greeted her enthusiastically. ... After 6 weeks she was gone, and Vilnius was transferred to Lithuania. ... Immediately Smetona's government has organized one of the worst pogroms in the history of Vilnius, pursuing as "the Jews" all those who showed sympathy towards the Red Army. ...
    (soc.culture.baltics)
  • Re: USSR saved Lithuania in 1939?
    ... > The American journalist Anna Louise Strong made the following observation: ... > Vilnius was transferred to Lithuania. ... > as "the Jews" all those who showed sympathy towards the Red Army. ... during soviet intervention in times Poland was annihilated by Nazis ...
    (soc.culture.baltics)
  • Re: USSR saved Lithuania in 1939?
    ... "When the Red Army first entered the Vilnius 19 September 1939, the common people greeted her enthusiastically. ... Immediately Smetona's government has organized one of the worst pogroms in the history of Vilnius, pursuing as "the Jews" all those who showed sympathy towards the Red Army. ...
    (soc.culture.baltics)
  • Re: USSR saved Lithuania in 1939?
    ... "When the Red Army first entered the Vilnius 19 September 1939, ... What I find fascinating is part about enthusiasm of Vilnius people ... It is very hard to imagine nazis and reda had any support ...
    (soc.culture.baltics)