The exhibition "From Unknown to Unknown. World War II Refugees in Lithuania"

2014 is the year of the sad 75-year anniversary of the crowds of refugees flooding into Lithuania; these were civilian Polish people and the interned military who were withdrawing from Poland after the Fascist German attack on Poland on September 1, 1939. Later on, in October of the same year, German and Soviet residents exiled by the Fascist and Communist governments also arrived. 

These events were a major challenge to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania as just upon the recovery of Vilnius on October 10, 1939, a number of issues related with the newcomers had to be dealt with: safety and security, registration, accommodation, food provision, assignment of grants, provision of medical aid and assistance to orphans, education, etc. According to the data of the Red Cross of Lithuania, on December 2, 1939, 18,311 refugees were checked in, among whom 3,273 Lithuanians, 7,728 Poles and 6,860 Jews whereas in the middle of January 1940 the approximate numbers in Lithuania reached 34,939 refugees including 4,173 Lithuanians, 17,297 Poles, Byelorussians and Russians (the representatives of the three Slavonic nations were counted together) and 13,469 Jews.

The photography archive and documentation department of M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art stores a unique collection of 76 photos. In order to pay the attention of the society to the important phenomenon of the everyday life of the refugees heavily affected by the complicated international relationships, the Museum is holding the exhibition From Unknown to Unknown. World War II Refugees in Lithuania to commemorate the past events still echoing today.