Lithuanian Territorial Defense Force

Lithuanian Territorial Defense Force
Vietinė Rinktinė
Active	March 1, 1944 – May 15, 1944
Country	Lithuania
Role	Infantry
Size	~20,000
Colors	Yellow, Green, Red
Engagements	Battle of Murowana Oszmianka Battle of Graużyszki
Commanders
First and only commander	Povilas Plechavičius

The Lithuanian Territorial Defense Force (abbreviated LTDF; Lithuanian: Lietuvos vietinė rinktinė, LVR)^[a] was a short-lived Lithuanian volunteer military unit created with the active involvement of the anti-Nazi Lithuanian resistance during the German occupation of Lithuania during World War II.^[1] The LTDF was disbanded one and a half months after its creation by its commander Povilas Plechavičius when Nazi Germany's occupational authorities threatened the unit's independence. During the subsequent repressions, the German occupiers sent 52 officers to the Salaspils concentration camp, executed 86 LTDF members in Paneriai and deported 1,089 to Stutthof and Oldenburg concentration camps.^[2] While some were later forced into Nazi service, all except four of the force's fourteen battalions successfully escaped Nazi persecution. Those who escaped later contributed to the Forest Brothers' armed anti-Soviet resistance.

The LTDF aimed to fight the quickly approaching Red Army, the Soviet and Polish insurgents and thus ensure security in General District of Lithuania within Reichskommissariat Ostland. LTDF was autonomous, staffed by Lithuanian officers, and commanded by the Lithuanian General Povilas Plechavičius. The German Zivilverwaltung agreed not to transfer Lithuanian youth to forced labour in Germany while the LTDF was active.^[2]

The Soldiers' Union of the Lithuanian Territorial Defense Force (Lithuanian: Lietuvos vietinės rinktinės karių sąjunga), a veterans' organization, was founded in 1997.^[3]