The liberation of Vilnius in 1944 was a significant event during World War II in the region. Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, had been under German occupation since 1941. The advance of Soviet forces in the summer of 1944 led to the progressive liberation of territories occupied by the Germans in Eastern Europe.
In July 1944, the Red Army launched Operation Bagration, a massive offensive aimed at pushing back German forces in Belarus and Lithuania. Vilnius was a key strategic objective due to its geographic location.
On July 13, 1944, Soviet troops began the offensive to retake Vilnius. After several days of fierce fighting, German forces were forced to withdraw from the city. July 13 is now commemorated as the day of the liberation of Vilnius.
However, it's important to note that the liberation of Vilnius by the Soviets was followed by a period of Soviet occupation, which lasted until the end of the war and beyond, marking the beginning of a long period of Soviet dominance over Lithuania.
