Uozas Ambrazavichius Lithuanian literary scholar, historian, collaborator and political figure Date of Birth: 09.12.1903 Country: Lithuania

1. Education and Early Career
2. Political Activities
3. Prime Minister of the Provisional Government
4. Collaboration with the Nazis
5. Resistance Activities
6. Flight and Exile
7. Life in the United States
8. Modern Assessment
9. Awards

Juozas Ambrazevicius: Lithuanian Scholar, Collaborator, and Political Figure

Education and Early Career

Juozas Ambrazevicius was a Lithuanian scholar, historian, and political figure. He studied at the Lithuanian University in Kaunas (1922-1927) and the University of Bonn in Germany (1931-1932). Ambrazevicius returned to Lithuania and taught Lithuanian language and literature at the Kaunas gymnasium "Aušra" ("Dawn"). In 1938, he became a professor at the Faculty of Philology at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas.

Political Activities

After Lithuania's annexation by the Soviet Union in 1940, Ambrazevicius joined the underground organization LAF (Lithuanian Front of Activists) led by Kazys Škirpa. LAF aimed to restore Lithuanian independence with the assistance of Germany.

Prime Minister of the Provisional Government

Following the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, Ambrazevicius served as Prime Minister of the Provisional Government of Lithuania from June 23 to August 5, 1941. Škirpa was initially designated as Prime Minister but was under house arrest in Germany.

Collaboration with the Nazis

LAF engaged in violent ethnic cleansing targeting Jews, including the Kaunas pogrom. Ambrazevicius's government also established the first concentration camp for Jews in Lithuania on June 30, 1941.

Resistance Activities

From October 1941, Ambrazevicius became the leader of the underground resistance organization "Lithuanian Front." In November 1943, he became Chairman of the Political Commission of the Supreme Committee for the Liberation of Lithuania, effectively Vice President.

Flight and Exile

To avoid arrest by the Gestapo, Ambrazevicius obtained documents in the name of Juozas Brazaitis, which he used until his death. As Soviet troops approached, he fled to Germany and remained there after the war, representing anti-Soviet resistance forces in Lithuania from 1946-1951.

Life in the United States

In 1952, Ambrazevicius moved to the United States. He published memoirs under the pseudonym N. E. Suduvis.

Modern Assessment

Ambrazevicius's role as Prime Minister is disputed in modern Lithuanian historiography. He is not recognized as a legitimate Prime Minister and is omitted from official government lists. In 2012, he was reburied in Lithuania, drawing criticism from the Russian Foreign Ministry for glorifying a collaborator responsible for anti-Jewish violence.

Awards

In 2009, Ambrazevicius was posthumously awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Vytis.