Commemorations of the February 16th

One of the main goals for Lithuanian DPs was Lithuania's freedom and independence retrieval. Day of Re-establishment of the State of Lithuania was extraordinary date and one of the political tools raising the question of the subdued motherland, uniting Lithuanians living in poor conditions. The leaders of most powerful countries recieved plenty of appeals from Lithuanians living in DP camps, regarding with this matter. The 16 th of February was one of the main holidays in every Lithuanian kindergarten, elementary school or gymnasium. Academic movement of scouts organized this days commemorations in the Baltic University. In the most of Lithuanian camps these commemorations were arranged with the initiative of Lithuanian Refugees community, they were attended by UNRRA leaders, Latvians and Estonians communities delegates. Along with this occasion folk art exhibitions were held, plays were staged, special concerts programms were created for folk art ensembles. The most active celebrations took place in Wurzburg, Selingstadt and Munich, while celebration in Augsburg Lithuanian colony in 1946 gathered even 2000 participants and guests. Exclusive celebration happened in Wiesbaden in 1946 – on the eve of commemoration the wife of USA president F. D. Roosevelt, Eleonor visited the Lithuanian camp.

Independent Lithuania's tradition was also continued by litterateurs in exile. In 1947 on the eve of February 16 th the first Lithuanian Writers ' Association in Exile award was presented.

	Folk art exibition in sacred to the February 16th, artist V. Dobužinskis, Würzburg lithuanian DP camp, 1946. From Svetimoj padangėj: Würzburgo lietuvių stovyklos metraštis (Foreign sky: Chronicle of Würzburg Lithuanians), 1946 National Library of Lithuania, A(LKA) 118/946
	Würzburg lithuanian DP community in the commemoration of the February 16th, 1946. In Svetimoj padangėj: Würzburgo lietuvių stovyklos metraštis (Foreign sky: Chronicle of Würzburg Lithuanians), 1946 National Library of Lithuania, A(LKA) 118/946
	Hanau Lithuanians on February 16th, 1946 Lithuanian Cultural Institute in Germany (LKI)
	February 16th celebration's in the Baltic University artistic programme, 1949 National Library of Lithuania, F52-307L
	Congratulation on February the 16th by Berne Churchill, a manager of the 155 UNRRA division, 1946 American Lithuanian Cultural Archives (ALKA)
	The celebration of the February 16th Lithuanian research and studies center (LTSC)