Ninth Fort facts for kids
The Ninth Fort (Lithuanian: Devintas Fortas) is a strong fortress in Kaunas, Lithuania. It is part of the Kaunas Fortress, which was built in the late 1800s. This fort has a long and sometimes sad history.
During the time when the Soviet Union controlled Lithuania, the fort was used as a prison. It was also a place where prisoners waited before being sent to harsh labor camps called Gulags. Later, when Nazi Germany took over Lithuania, the fort became a place where many people were killed. These included Jewish people, captured Soviet soldiers, and others.
Contents
The Ninth Fort: A Historic Place
A Fortress is Built
At the end of the 1800s, the city of Kaunas was made stronger with many forts and gun batteries. The building of the Ninth Fort began in 1902. It was finished just before World War I started. From 1924, the Ninth Fort was used as the main prison for Kaunas.
A Prison and Transit Point
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When the Soviet Union controlled Lithuania from 1940 to 1941, the Ninth Fort was used by the NKVD (the Soviet secret police). They kept political prisoners here. These prisoners were waiting to be sent to forced labor camps, known as Gulags.
A Dark Time: World War II
During the time when Nazi Germany controlled Lithuania, the Ninth Fort became a place of terrible mass killings. Between 45,000 and 50,000 Jewish people were brought here and murdered. Most of them were from Kaunas, especially from the Kovno Ghetto, a special area where Jewish people were forced to live. These killings were done by Nazis and some Lithuanian helpers. This event is known as the Kaunas massacre.
The Kaunas Massacre
Jewish people from countries like France, Austria, and Germany were also brought to Kaunas during this time. They were also killed at the Ninth Fort. In 1943, the Germans made special groups of Jewish prisoners. Their job was to dig up mass graves and burn the bodies.
An Escape and Aftermath
One group of 64 prisoners managed to escape from the fortress in late 1943. In 1944, as the Soviet army moved closer, the Germans closed down the ghetto. They also emptied what was then called the "Fort of Death." The remaining prisoners were sent to other camps. After World War II, the Soviets used the Ninth Fort as a prison again for a few years. From 1948 to 1958, it was used to manage farm organizations.
From Prison to Museum
In 1958, a museum was created at the Ninth Fort. By 1959, an exhibition was set up in four prison cells. It told the story of the terrible crimes committed by the Nazis in Lithuania. In 1960, people started to find, list, and study the places where mass killings happened.
Visiting the Ninth Fort Museum
The Ninth Fort museum has many old items. These items tell the story of the terrible things done by both the Soviets and the Nazis. It also shows the earlier history of Kaunas and the fort itself. Most of the information in the museum is also in English.
Remembering the Victims: The Memorial
A large memorial stands at the Ninth Fort in Kaunas, Lithuania. It was designed by a sculptor named A. Ambraziunas and was put up in 1984. The monument is 105 feet (32 meters) tall. The place where the victims were buried is a grassy field. A simple but clear memorial stone marks this spot. It is written in several languages and says: "This is the place where Nazis and their assistants killed about 45,000 Jews from Lithuania and other European countries."
See also
In Spanish: Fuerte Noveno para niños
