The exhibition will run from August 22, 2025, to February 1, 2026.

The exhibition “In the shoes of Lithuanian partisans…” presents the story of one of the largest and most significant movements for freedom during the post-war period in Europe. Between 1944 and 1953, an organised Lithuanian military resistance to the Soviet occupation spread throughout the entire country, bringing together people of different occupations and ages who believed in restoring the country’s independence. 

The photo installations presented in the exhibition were created using authentic photos from the years 1948–1949 of the Kaunas Ninth Fort Museum collections. Taken by an unknown author in Ramygala municipality, the photographs capture the faces, expressions and daily challenges of partisans surviving in the forest. In the archived pictures, members of the Vytis District, Briedis Battalion, Aras Squad and soldiers from other squads are captured. 

The narrative follows partisan’s journey – from his decision to rise in resistance to the final moments of fighting, when the highest price for Lithuania’s freedom was paid. Each space of the exhibition evokes a distinct experience – from community and endurance to betrayal and conscience, culminating in a footprint, imprinted both on the forest path and in the collective memory of the Lithuanians. 

The interactive installations were created by Rūta Rimšelienė, exploring the shoe as a silent but significant tool of guerrilla warfare. The objects reveal the hidden functions of the shoes – transmitting the information, concealing footprints and serving as tools of tactical manoeuvre. The shoes became peaceful weapons that saved lives, acted in silence and were vital in survival and resistance. 

It is a path to freedom 
Today, it belongs to us

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Read more about Mykolas Šemežys, the commander of Vytis District, and his family in the article The story of a Lithuanian partisan family: the Šemežiai

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Project team 

Author of the project 
Rūta Rimšelienė  

Project was implemented by 
Gedimina Šalkauskaitė-Statulevičienė, production of artworks, technical solutions 
Marius Zavadskis, sculpting and technical solutions 
Evaldas Olberkis, leather design and technical solutions 
Vytautas Gendvilas, the representative of the LASS (Lithuanian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired) and a consultant 
Aistė Tarabildienė, design 
Juozas Šalkauskas, voice and voice-over 
Remigijus Sabulis, audio and video technician and technical solutions 
Aleksandras Nesvat, preparation of QR codes and IT solutions 
Jonas Tarabilda, audio narration 

Kaunas Ninth Fort Museum team 
Eglė Pietarytė, exhibition curator 
Renata Vinckevičiūtė-Kazlauskienė, design and exhibition visual communication 
Henrika Kryževičienė, exhibition communication 
Karolina Vilkelienė, visual content creation for communication 
Rita Vištartienė, exhibition marketing 
Ingrida Turskienė, consultant for the exhibition’s photography collection 
Vytautas Jurkus, historical content consultant 
Greta Ščeliokaitė, written content consultant 
Martynas Kosas, Stasys Jovaiša, Mindaugas Dusevičius, Vytautas Pupkus – technical decisions 
Jolita Večkienė, Lithuanian language editor 
Saulė Jankeliūnaitė, English translator 

The project is funded by 
Lithuanian Council for Culture and Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania

Organisers 
Charity and Support Foundation “Be kaltės” and Kaunas Ninth Fort Museum

Sponsors and partners 
Lithuanian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired 
Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania
“Šūvio akademija” 
“Lukiškės Prison 2.0”

Information partners
“OWEXX”
Outdoor LED Screen Network “2go”
Lithuanian daily newspaper “Kauno diena”
Magazine “Prie kavos”