The massacre of 24-25 June 1941 in the forest near Rainiai (Telšiai district) was one of the most tragic events in Lithuania during the Soviet occupation. On that night, Soviet soldiers, assisted by local collaborators, brutally and mercilessly murdered 76 (73 in the woods near Rainiai and 3 in the woods near Džiuginėnai) political prisoners of the Telšiai Prison, whose only “crime” was the desire for freedom and love of their homeland. The murdered were young enlightened people of the region, gymnasts, teachers, civil servants, policemen, farmers, workers, a lawyer. Most of the martyrs of Rainiai are buried in a common grave in the Old Cemetery in Telšiai.
After Lithuania regained its freedom in 1991 nearby Rainiai forest on a small hill was built the magnificent Chapel and Memorial by architect A. Žebrauskas, painter A. Kmieliauskas, stained-glass artist A. Dovydėnas, and sculptor R. Midvikis.
Photogrammetry reconstruction in RealityCapture from 540 images. © Saulius Zaura www.dronepartner.lt 2023
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