Operation Osen
Operation Osen (Russian: Операция «Осень», Lithuanian: Operacija „Ruduo“) – mass deportation, carried out by the Soviet authorities in the territory of Lithuanian SSR in the autumn of 1951. During the operation, 5139 families (20,357 people) were transported to remote regions of the USSR.
Preparations
Occupational government, striving to finish the forced collectivisation in Lithuanian SSR, in 1951 initiated preparations for mass deportation of peasants, who were not willing to join newly established kolkhozes. On September 5, 1951, the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union issued a decree "On the deportation of kulaks and their families from Lithuanian territory". The decree was signed by the Premier of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin and Administrator of Affairs of the Council of Ministers Mikhail Pomaznev. It was agreed by the decree "to eternally transfer 4000 anti-kolkhoz kulaks and their families to Krasnoyarsk Krai and Tomsk Oblast". Meeting and briefing of Ministry of State Security (MGB) of Lithuanian SSR was held on September 6. Lists of the deportees were to be prepared by the local administration and the committees of the Party. The lists were prepared by MGB before September 28. The lists presented 4,215 families (14,950 people) as kulaks, of which, however, more than half had already joined the kolkhozes. Primary and auxiliary lists were compiled, listing 4007 and 998 peasants with their families, accordingly. The lists were approved by the Council of Ministers of Lithuanian SSR. Secretary of the Communist Party of Lithuania Antanas Sniečkus signed the decree "On the deportation of kulaks and their families from Lithuanian territory": "to deport 4000 anti-kolkhoz kulaks and their families outside the Lithuanian SSR". MGB was appointed to carry out the deportations, secretaries of local committees, Daniil Shupikov, Eduardas Ozarskis, Kazimieras Liaudis and Motiejus Šumauskas, were to organise the propaganda campaign.[1][2]
Deportations
The deportation in the autumn of 1951 was carried in several separate events:
| Date | Families deported | People deported | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 20-21, 1951 | 814 | 2987 | Irkutsk Oblast | mainly relatives, supporters and messengers of partisans |
| October 2-3, 1951 | 4018 | 15537 | Tomsk Oblast ir Krasnoyarsk Krai | including 5,278 children, 39 of which died during the transfer |
| November 30, 1951 | <100 | Altai Krai, Biysky District | mostly peasants |
Operation was lead by the Minister of State Security of the Lithuanian SSR Piotras Kapralovas and MGB deputee Jakovas Jedunovas. 3,818 MGB officers, 11,270 MGB internal army soldiers, soldiers of destruction battalions, militias and 8,000 activists of the Party were involved in the operation. Deporters were organised into more than 3000 operational units, consisting of MGB operative, two persons from destruction battalions, two MGB soldiers and activists. A single unit was responsible for the deportation of 1-3 families: waking up the family (the deportations were carried at night), listing the deportees and checking their data, supervising and bringing to railway stations, where the deportees were to be transferred under the responsibility of train heads. Party activists stayed in the households to register left property, which was to come under the possession of the kolkhoz.[1][2]