Kazys Skučas

Who was Kazys Skučas?

Kazys Skučas was a Lithuanian politician and General of the Lithuanian Army. Skučas was the last Minister of the Interior of independent Lithuania. He was a target of anti-Lithuanian Soviet propaganda in the days leading to the 1940 Soviet ultimatum and occupation of Lithuania. Right after the Red Army invaded Lithuania on 15 June 1940, Skučas was directed to leave the country by the then President Smetonas but was arrested at the border several days later by the then acting Lithauian President Antanas Merkys and handed over to the Russians, transported to Moscow, and executed in 1941.