Forest Brothers

Quick Facts: Who was Forest Brothers?

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Forest Brothers

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Anti-Soviet partisan resistance fighters in the Baltic states during WWII.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The guerrilla war in the Baltic states was an insurgency waged by Baltic (Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian) partisans against the Soviet Union from 1944 to 1956. Known alternatively as the "Forest Brothers" or "Forest Sisters" (sometimes referred to as the "Brothers of the Wood" and the "Forest Friars",Estonian: metsavennad, Latvian: mežabrāļi, Lithuanian: žaliukai), these partisans fought against invading Soviet forces during their occupation of the Baltic states during and after World War II. Notable fighters included Evi Mihkelson, Kalev Arro, Pranas Končius, Juozas Lukša, Jānis Pīnups, Benediktas Mikulis, and Izabelė Vilimaitė. Similar insurgent groups resisted Soviet occupations in Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine. Soviet forces, consisting primarily of the Red Army, occupied the Baltic states in 1940, completing their occupation by 1941.

Career & Major Achievements

After a period of German occupation during World War II, the Soviets reoccupied the Baltic States from 1944 to 1945. As Soviet political repression intensified over the following years, tens of thousands of partisans from the Baltics began to use the countryside as a base for an anti-Soviet insurgency. According to some estimates, at least 50,000 partisans (10,000 in Estonia, 10,000 in Latvia, and 30,000 in Lithuania) in addition to their supporters were involved in the insurgency. The partisans continued to carry out an armed struggle until 1956, when the superiority of the Soviet security forces, largely in the form of secret agents which infiltrated the partisan groups, caused the Baltic population to change tactics and resort to civil resistance for the next three decades, culminating in the Singing Revolution from 1987 to 1991. The term Forest Brothers first came into use in the Baltic region in the 1905 Russian Revolution.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Varying sources refer to the forest brothers of this era either as peasants revolting or as schoolteachers seeking refuge in the forest. The term Forest Brothers was used and known only in occupied Estonia and Latvia. In Lithuania partisans were called žaliukai (Green People), miškiniai (Forest People) or just partizanai (partisans). Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania gained their independence in 1918 after the collapse of the Russian Empire. The ideals of nationalism and self-determination had taken hold with many people as a result of the independence of Estonia and Latvia for the first time since the 13th century.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1905: 1905 Milestone — The term Forest Brothers first came into use in the Baltic region in the 1905 Russian Revolution.
2. 1918: 1918 Milestone — Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania gained their independence in 1918 after the collapse of the Russian Empire.
3. 1940: 1940 Milestone — Soviet forces, consisting primarily of the Red Army, occupied the Baltic states in 1940, completing their occupation by 1941.
4. 1944: 1944 Milestone — The guerrilla war in the Baltic states was an insurgency waged by Baltic (Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian) partisans against the Soviet Union from 1944 to 1956.
5. 1956: 1956 Milestone — The partisans continued to carry out an armed struggle until 1956, when the superiority of the Soviet security forces, largely in the form of secret agents which infiltrated the partisan groups, caused the Baltic population to change tactics and resort to civil resistance for the next three decades, culminating in the Singing Revolution from 1987 to 1991.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Forest Brothers

True or False: “The Forest Brothers were exclusively composed of former members of the Waffen-SS units.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While some fighters had connections to German military formations, the resistance included many local partisans and civilians who joined the anti-Soviet insurgency.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Forest Brothers