“Many witnesses still today hear with their eyes closed the sound of boiling water, the roar of danger sirens, the echo of ice blasting, and the cries for help,” says the author.
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The book “City Under Water: The Great Kaunas Flood of 1946” was published by the Science and Encyclopedias Publishing Center of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania.
Historian Gediminas Kasparavičius was interviewed by Loreta Jastramskienė about the Nemunas River, history, creativity, and significant works.
– You are the author of two books about the Nemunas. The first is “Nemunas in Lithuanian Life 1918–1990,” and the second, “City Under Water: The Great Kaunas Flood of 1946,” is dedicated to the greatest natural disaster in Lithuania in the 20th century. What was most interesting to you when writing the first and second books?
– When writing the first book, I was most curious about the relationship between humans, in this case, river workers, and the river. Also, what happened that this profession has now disappeared, and river transport gave way to other types of transport?
When writing the book about the flood, several other questions arose. First of all – what happened that such a terrible disaster occurred, claiming so many lives? After all, floods, despite their frequent recurrence, rarely caused human casualties.
Another important goal of the book was to show the place of ordinary people during a huge natural disaster, when, alongside the difficult post-war experiences, the city was struck by a terrible natural disaster. For this reason, I chose an excerpt from the biblical epic about Noah as the epigraph for the book.
Of course, it is difficult to compare this with the 1946 flood, but in both Noah’s and the people of Kaunas’ cases, it was necessary to survive a huge flood like never before. One that took away everything alive.
Both of my books can be briefly summarized and freely interpreted as: one about what rivers provided to people, what benefits they created, and the other about how rivers in spring became dangerous to people.
– “This is a story about people who were silenced and pushed to the margins of history by the cruel Soviet regime.” You write this in your latest book. How did it go, and did you manage to bring them out of the margins of history?
– “Margins of history,” I think, well reflect the situation of the flood victims during the Soviet era. Although they were known, the people of Kaunas and the surrounding area did not forget this disaster, but publicly, due to the Soviet regime, the flood in Kaunas was almost never mentioned.
I wanted to give the flood victims names, surnames, and as accurately as possible determine the number of those who died. All of this was impossible to do during the Soviet era. Also, as I mentioned, to show what the people of Kaunas experienced during the difficult post-war period.
For this, I interviewed about several dozen flood witnesses. And by researching archives and other sources, I managed to identify some of the victims, for which I am sincerely glad; such remembrance has the greatest meaning.
– Rivers are studied by hydrologists, environmentalists, geographers. Historians – less often. Still, Lithuania’s largest river, the Nemunas, received your special attention. What determined your choice of the Nemunas topic?
– I already have an answer prepared for myself and others, as I have heard this question more than once. I think my childhood experiences in Tauragė, near the Jūra River, were the impetus to be interested in rivers.
Also, my first encounter with the Nemunas left a deep impression. Once in childhood, traveling across the Nemunas, the river looked very impressive: wide, with a strong current. This remained in my memory. I also saw white ships on the Nemunas, which looked very large through a child’s eyes. That impression stayed with me as I grew up, and I constantly followed information about the Nemunas, about navigation, ships. History was also interesting. Choosing these studies, probably the Nemunas “flowed” into my research field.
– When writing the book, did you have many helpers, advisors, or did you isolate yourself from all influences and stay alone with the Nemunas flood? Perhaps you have your own writing rituals?
– When writing the book “City Under Water: The Great Kaunas Flood of 1946,” I occasionally shared discoveries with my colleagues and friends. More often, I did this at home, simply telling my wife about the post-war disaster and other events. Of course, I wrote in the evenings, the best time when it is quiet, the family goes to sleep, so I could use an hour or two productively.
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I have noticed that this is quite a productive time for me. You remain alone with your thoughts, outside the window a large resting city, which no longer distracts with its sounds.
– You grew up in Tauragė, about 40 kilometers from the Nemunas. Now you live in Kaunas, one could say, by the Nemunas. Have you ever swum or fished in the Nemunas?
– In childhood, in Tauragė, we fished and swam in the Jūra River. We also built rafts and launched small wooden boats made by ourselves. These are unforgettable memories that bring a smile. I wonder why we did that, maybe to escape from Tauragė?
Tauragė, as I knew it then, often seemed too predictable. And the Jūra River was like a path to the wide world, where you could find and discover something new beyond its bend. Now, living in Kaunas, I often go for walks by the river, sometimes I have to swim there, but I have not yet had the chance to fish.
– You were born in 1990, so you grew up in restored Independent Lithuania. What would you, as a historian, consider the most important events of the Soviet era and Independence periods?
– First, I would highlight the active post-war resistance. This struggle testified to the world that Lithuania did not fall into Soviet captivity by its own will and that part of its population actively resisted the occupation.
Also, later events that resonated worldwide: the publication of the Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania or the self-immolation of Romas Kalanta, which sparked protests here in Kaunas but also reminded the world that Lithuania lived under occupation. I will never forget how older Lithuanian emigrants in the USA emotionally told me about hearing of Kalanta’s sacrifice, and how this tragic event forced emigrants to organize and loudly raise the issue of Lithuania’s independence.
Of course, finally, the activities of Sąjūdis. I am particularly impressed by the Baltic Way. Ultimately, all this led to the restoration of Lithuania’s independence on March 11. After that, the Lithuanian nation’s courage was shown once again in defending fragile independence during the January 13, 1991 events, which I consider one of the most important moments.
I am glad I was born in independent Lithuania; my parents constantly repeated from childhood that this is a great gift. I could better appreciate it only after growing up. Therefore, in independent Lithuania, in my understanding, the most important choice was to follow the path of Western values. The withdrawal of Russian troops, joining NATO, the EU, the effort to distance from Russian influence – all this can be clearly seen now, as the war in Ukraine unfolds.
– What differences and similarities do you see between the generation that grew up during the Soviet era and yours?
– It is difficult to assess; from my layman’s perspective, the Soviet generation was more hardened, the difficult times forced them to be resourceful, simply to survive. Perhaps in some cases, people were more independent during the Soviet era.
Today’s, especially the younger generation, often lacks independence and a sense of responsibility. In general, people born well after 1990 are much freer, more peaceful, less aggressive. However, I believe both generations share one beautiful trait: patriotism. When a critical day comes, they would be able to unite and defend freedom by all possible means.
– It is an unwritten tradition, when interviewing a book author, to ask about a new book. So, are you thinking about it?
– I do not plan to in the near future, but time will tell…
– And I will ask a bit unconventionally – what would you never dare to write a book about and why?
– I think I would not write a book about cooking and travel, as there are plenty of such books, and probably there will never be a shortage of people writing about these topics.
At the Kaunas Book Fair on September 19, Saturday, at 12 p.m. in the LLA event hall (VIP hall), there will be a presentation of historian Dr. Gediminas Kasparavičius’s book “City Under Water: The Great Kaunas Flood of 1946.” The author, Dr. Dainius Elertas, Dr. Mindaugas Balkus, and Raimundas Baublys will participate. After the event, from 1 to 2 p.m., the author will interact with readers at the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania stand (J1.6).
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