This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2013/nov/11/albinas-ivanauskas-obituary

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Albinas Ivanauskas obituary Albinas Ivanauskas obituary
(about 13 hours later)
My dad, Albinas Ivanauskas, who has died aged 88, was a member of the small, almost invisible Lithuanian community which settled in Britain after the second world war.My dad, Albinas Ivanauskas, who has died aged 88, was a member of the small, almost invisible Lithuanian community which settled in Britain after the second world war.
The eldest son of a farmer, born near Seta, Albinas grew up in the new, independent Lithuania, born out of the treaty of Versailles. Enrolled at the agriculture school in Vepriai, he had hopes of becoming an agronomist, but war intervened. His family narrowly avoided being arrested and sent to Siberia when the Russians invaded in 1940, and in June 1941 Albinas learned of how Jewish friends and neighbours were murdered by German Einsatz squadrons (paramilitary killing squads) and their Lithuanian collaborators.The eldest son of a farmer, born near Seta, Albinas grew up in the new, independent Lithuania, born out of the treaty of Versailles. Enrolled at the agriculture school in Vepriai, he had hopes of becoming an agronomist, but war intervened. His family narrowly avoided being arrested and sent to Siberia when the Russians invaded in 1940, and in June 1941 Albinas learned of how Jewish friends and neighbours were murdered by German Einsatz squadrons (paramilitary killing squads) and their Lithuanian collaborators.
During the war years, Albinas's family eked out a living on their smallholding in the forest, each night putting food outside on the porch for the desperate and sometimes dangerous people hiding amongst the trees. On 16 February – Lithuanian Independence day – in 1944, Albinas stood with other students on his college balcony to hear General Povilas Plechavičius's radio appeal for volunteers to join an independent Lithuanian unit. He later recalled how they all sang the national anthem and headed for the recruitment office.During the war years, Albinas's family eked out a living on their smallholding in the forest, each night putting food outside on the porch for the desperate and sometimes dangerous people hiding amongst the trees. On 16 February – Lithuanian Independence day – in 1944, Albinas stood with other students on his college balcony to hear General Povilas Plechavičius's radio appeal for volunteers to join an independent Lithuanian unit. He later recalled how they all sang the national anthem and headed for the recruitment office.
It was a short, ill-fated adventure. Plechavičius's dream of an independent unit was impossible. The Nazis eventually forced them to don German uniforms and shipped them out at gunpoint in cattle wagons to the western front. In 1945 Albinas found himself near the Dutch border unable to return home.It was a short, ill-fated adventure. Plechavičius's dream of an independent unit was impossible. The Nazis eventually forced them to don German uniforms and shipped them out at gunpoint in cattle wagons to the western front. In 1945 Albinas found himself near the Dutch border unable to return home.
After time in German displaced persons camps, like many young Balts he was granted refugee status by the British government, working firstly as a miner in the Midlands, before finally settling in London and working as a bookkeeper. In the capital he met Titia, a Dutch nurse, bought a house and went on to have a family – me and my sister Diana. After time in German displaced persons camps, like many young Balts he was granted refugee status by the British government, working firstly as a miner in the Midlands, before finally settling in London and working as a bookkeeper. In the capital he met Titia, a Dutch nurse, bought a house and went on to have a family – me and my sister, Diana.
At a time when few had even heard of Lithuania, Albinas continued to work tirelessly to promote the plight of the Baltic states and their emigre communities. One of his proudest moments came in January 1991 when the BBC asked him to translate radio reports of the Soviet repression of the independence movement. The news bulletin that night, describing Soviet tanks entering Vilnius, was based on my dad's transcriptions. Happily he lived to see a free Lithuania.At a time when few had even heard of Lithuania, Albinas continued to work tirelessly to promote the plight of the Baltic states and their emigre communities. One of his proudest moments came in January 1991 when the BBC asked him to translate radio reports of the Soviet repression of the independence movement. The news bulletin that night, describing Soviet tanks entering Vilnius, was based on my dad's transcriptions. Happily he lived to see a free Lithuania.
He is survived by Titia, Diana and me, and his five grandchildren.He is survived by Titia, Diana and me, and his five grandchildren.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.