The headstone cross (without inscription) was erected on October 18, 1990, at the site where partisan Stasys Gražinskas–Vanagas of the Krakių LLA “Kovas” Unit, V. Pabarčius’ squad, who fell in Šulaičiai village in August 1945, was buried.
According to witnesses, in part of the partisan camp, located about half a kilometer east of the main camp, a storage bunker was constructed. Other accounts suggest it was a horse bunker. After the December 15, 1944 battle, Soviet soldiers blew it up. In the southern part of the area, another bunker pit of unknown purpose has also been observed. Near the site of the first bunker, partisan Stasys Gražinskas–Vanagas (b. 1927), of Lt. Vladas Pabarčius’ squad, is buried. He had been conscripted into the Soviet army but escaped and joined the partisans in Pabarčius’ squad. He fought in the battle of Pušynė Forest on December 15, 1944, and was killed in August 1945 in combat with collaborator Jonas Montvila in Šulaičiai village.
This is the site of the Lithuanian partisan camp, battles, and deaths. A memorial stone for partisans who died between 1940–1960 was unveiled on June 24, 1989, at the site where, on December 16, 1944, fourteen partisans of the Krakių LLA “Kovas” Unit, V. Pabarčius’ squad, were killed in battle with soldiers of the NKVD 31st Border Regiment (to the west of the grave of partisan Stasys Gražinskas–Vanagas). The monument was created by Jonas Razmantas, a resident of Žibuliai village.
In 1944, in the forests of Šilainiai and Pagynėviai villages, in Pušynė (Paliepiai) and nearby woods, a large partisan detachment of about 300 men was stationed. It was led by former Lithuanian army officer Vladas Pabarčius (1916-12-19 – 1945-02-12). During the German occupation, Lt. V. Pabarčius and Lt. Kazys Bandžius, later head of staff of the Žalioji Unit, organized an LLA company in the Krakių and Grinkiškis regions. Training sessions were conducted, led by Pabarčius and other former Lithuanian army officers. One of the largest partisan units operating in Pušynė Forest was commanded by Vladas Kuročka–Dūdelė. In the main partisan camp, in the present-day 83rd forest district, there were about thirteen smaller and larger bunkers of various purposes, along with defensive fortifications. According to partisan supporter Jonas Razmantas, more than one hundred partisans stayed in these bunkers, but during the NKVD assault, many had already gone home.
On December 15, 1944, the camp was surrounded and attacked from three sides—Krakių, Josvainiai, and Ariogala—by units of the NKVD 13th Border Regiment. The first attacks were repelled in an organized manner despite heavy losses. Unexpectedly, partisans from the squads of Lt. Kazys Bandžius–Pakarklis (1909-01-15 – 1945) and Antanas Sibitis attacked the Soviet convoy standing near the burned homestead of Vladas Venslauskas and the forestry buildings. The convoy and the lined-up soldiers came under heavy fire. This Soviet unit was completely defeated by the partisans. As the enemy fell into disorder, part of Pabarčius’ unit retreated to Lenčiai Forest, while others dispersed into small groups.
On December 16, 1944, in Pušynė (Paliepiai) and Lapkalnis (Liepkalnis?) Forests, according to data collected by Ignas Meškauskas, 14 partisans of the LLA “Kovas” Unit (later Povilas Lukšys Unit), V. Pabarčius’ squad, were killed; other accounts mention 23 to 26. Among the known fallen were: Albinas Butkus of Antežeris village; Anatolijus Garolis–Ąžuolas, Žaibas (b. 1926, Kaunas); Jonas Jankauskas (b. 1918-04-02, Šulaičiai village, Krakių county, Kėdainiai district; partisan since June 1944, recognized as volunteer soldier in 2001); Aleksandras Klimanskas (b. 1920-07-16 Pašušvis village, Krakių county, later lived in Ilgižiai, Betygala county; partisan since July 1944, recognized in 2001); Aleksas Klibas (Klyba)–Linas (b. 1911, Šulaičiai village, Krakių county); Stasys Masaitis (b. 1922, Negirva village, Ariogala county); Feliksas Mykolaitis (b. 1922, Pagynėviai village, Ariogala county); Mataušas Mykolaitis (b. 1914 or 1918, Pagynėviai village); Stasys Mykolaitis (b. 1917, Pagynėviai village, Ariogala county); Vacys Mykolaitis (b. 1920, Pagynėviai village); Feliksas Ramoška (b. 1914, Dotnuva estate, Dotnuva county; lived in Ilgižiukai, Betygala county); Aleksas Stankauskas (b. 1925, Šulciava/Šuliava village, Raseiniai district); Jonas Strumskis–Trumpa, Kalnietis (b. 1925-02-16, Šilainiai village, Krakių county; student, partisan since May 1944, fought in Plinkaigalis battle, wounded in Pušynė battle, covered retreat, blew himself up with grenade; recognized as volunteer soldier in 1999); Edmundas Šimkevičius (b. 1924, Raseiniai); Antanas Štuikys (b. 1916-04-13, Šulaičiai village; recognized in 2000); Stasys Štuikys (b. 1906-04-13, Šulaičiai village; carpenter, farmer, partisan since autumn 1944; recognized in 2000); Alfredas Teršalskis (b. 1922, Začišiai village, Betygala county); Zigmas Vaitkevičius (b. 1925/26, Angiriai, Josvainiai county, Kėdainiai district; Kaunas Technical School student); Jonas Vaitkus–Ąžuolas, LLA member; Augustinas Štaras–Pukius (b. 1914, Šulaičiai village, Krakių county; seriously wounded, died 1945-01-15 in Zembiškis Forest bunker, buried in Šulaičiai cemetery); Klemensas Poška (b. 1924, Ilgižiukai, Betygala county; wounded, retreated to Zembiškis bunker, killed 1945-02-15).
The camp was betrayed by captured partisan Stasys Kačikas on December 8, 1944. According to Vytautas Steponaitis, more than 100 Soviet soldiers were killed. The enemy burned 3 farmsteads, destroyed 6 bunkers. In retaliation, NKVD soldiers deliberately shot dead teacher Ona Montvilaitė (b. 1890, Pagynėviai village). Some of the partisans’ bodies were desecrated in Krakių, later buried on the banks of the Smilga River (today the burial and memorial site of Lithuanian partisans). Others were buried in Paliepiai cemetery. In his memoirs, J. Paliūnas–Rytas wrote that partisans killed 90 Red Army soldiers. Soviet security sources, however, claimed that “26 partisans were killed in the Pušynė battle, 5 captured, and another 33 suspected locals arrested.” Some of those labeled as partisans were in fact murdered civilians.
On December 14, 2024, marking the 80th anniversary of the Pušynė battle, a sculpture by Vytautas Ulevičius was unveiled.
Address
Pušynės (Paliepių) miškas, 86–87 kvartalas
