My first Hetalia fic, featuring my favorite character, Russia! And my second favorite character, Lithuania!
This is the Hetalia version of what happened to Lithuania as a result of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, also known as the Soviet-German Pact, or the Nazi-Soviet Alliance. (For an amazing doujinshi about what happened to poor Poland, I'd recommend 1939, found on DeviantArt. http: // punpunichu . deviantart . com /art /Hetalia- 1939- 113675193 Remove spaces, etc...
Anyways, Lithuania's story!
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Subjugate (suhb-juh-geyt) verb.: to bring under complete control or subjection; conquer; master. To make submissive or subservient.
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Now and days, Lithuania read the morning paper in horror. A year earlier, Germany had moved with surprising speed through the western half of Poland, his blitzkrieg tactics serving him well, while Russia swept in from the east. Now the world watched with baited breath as Germany closed in on France. It was only going to get worse. But to be honest, Lithuania's thoughts were with Poland, although he tried not to think about how Poland was doing. Lithuania hadn't heard anything from the usually cheerful nation since the just before the invasion. And then the Polish government had collapsed, and now…
As much as he wanted to help his friend, there wasn't anything he could do. His own army wasn't strong enough by a long shot to take on either Russia or Germany, and Lithuania's boss was not going to jump to Poland's aid at the risk of the country.
Besides, Lithuania wasn't stupid. Russia had shown up at his house shortly after taking over Poland, his coat still splattered with dried blood, and demanded in his sickeningly kind way that Liet sign a 'pact of defense and mutual assistance' which would let Russia station troops in his country—'in case you ever get into trouble', Russia had said, as Liet paled and signed the document, right next to the signatures of Estonia and Lativa. If Lithuania were to attempt an attack on Russia (or Germany, for that matter), the soldiers in his country would immediately rise up and sabotage his efforts from the inside.
And Lithuania had his own problems brewing. Yesterday he had received news of Russian troop movement on the western borders coupled with fleet movement in the Baltic Sea, and there was still that business with the Russian soldiers that had apparently been kidnapped. He couldn't believe that anyone would have been stupid enough to kidnap a Russian soldier in these conditions. The initial report seemed sincere, but Russia nearly always appeared sincere on the surface and Lithuania didn't trust him. Russia made him nervous. Very nervous. He had lived under, and sometimes with, the huge nation on and off over the last century, and he was fairly certain that Russia was still bitter over his last departure…
The phone rang, sharp and shrill, snapping Lithuania out of his thoughts. He reached for the clunky phone on his desk and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Toris Lorinaitis?"
"Speaking."
"This is Major Petras Vasiliauskas. We've just received confirmation on the troop movement near the borders; there are nearly a quarter of a million Soviet troops stationed there."
Lithuania felt a chill course through him. Russia. "Thank you for informing me," he said politely.
The major muttered the appropriate response and they hung up. Lithuania gazed somberly at the phone for a few more moments. A quarter of a million troops stationed at the border, and close to twenty thousand soldiers already in the country thanks to that god forsaken mutual assistance pact… The Lithuanian army totaled only twenty-eight thousands troops.
Liet bite his lip, then picked up the phone and called Estonia.
"Hello?"
"Estonia? It's Lithuania." He coiled the phone cord around his finger out of habit.
"Ah, Lithuania." He sounded tired. "How are you?"
"Russia's on the border," he blurted, and winced. He had meant to say 'alright'.
There was a silence. "I'm blockaded. No ship can get in or out," Estonia answered.
Lithuania felt his heart sink. "He's going to…invade, isn't he?" he whispered.
"There's nothing we can do," Estonia replied simply. "Even if you, myself, and Latvia were already mobilized for war, there's no way we could stand against Russia, even together."
Liet knew this, of course, but hearing Estonia state the facts so starkly… He felt on the verge of tears.
He took a deep breath. "So, what should we do?"
"Hope for the best." The Baltic nation hesitated. "Latvia and I have decided that, if Russia tries to invade… we'll let him."
"Let him?" Lithuania repeated.
"Resisting would only get innocent people killed, and in vain. Russia would still win. So we'll minimize our losses."
At the price of our freedom, Liet thought bitterly, but he didn't voice it. Estonia was right. He sighed, and said so.
"Have strength," Estonia said, a hint of resignation in his voice, before they bid each other good day.
Liet returned the receiver to its cradle and sighed. He missed Poland…
--
A call woke him from sleep just before midnight. Bleary-eyed, he fumbled for the phone and picked it up.
"Hello?" he muttered sleepily.
"Dobryj vyechye, Lithuania!"
He gasped aloud, scrambling to sit upright in his bed. "R- Russia," he stuttered, fully awake now.
"Da. I have a message to deliver to you, so please listen closely," he said pleasantly. "In response to Lithuania's unlawful kidnapping of two Soviet soldiers and the country's conspiracy with the countries of Estonia and Latvia, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics issues to Lithuania this ultimatum and requests that Lithuania comply with the following: that those responsible for the decision to kidnap the Soviet soldiers be placed on trial for their illegal actions; that a government more capable of adhering to the Mutual Assistance Pact be formed; and that a sufficiently large number of Soviet troops be permitted to enter Lithuanian territory."
Lithuania's mouth was dry; he struggled to swallow. "Russia, I—"
Russia ignored him. "Your answer is required no later than ten hundred hours, June 15." He paused. "Did you get all that?"
"Yes," Lithuania said softly. Oh god. First Poland, and now— Sufficiently large number of troops? What the hell did that mean?
"Then I'll talk to you tomorrow, da?" The line went dead.
Lithuania stared at the phone for a minute longer, before hanging up and throwing off the bed sheets. He had to get to council.
--
He sat off to the side of the president and prime minister, listening quietly as the council members debated the ultimatum and, consequently, his fate. Both current and former Chief Military Advisors dutifully reported that an effective armed resistance was impossible, although President Smetona argued passionately for resistance, even if it was merely symbolic. Prime Minister Merkys and his deputy were practically pleading for acceptance, unwilling to shed the people's blood in vain. The president countered that, even without resistance, blood would be shed.
Lithuania feared he was right.
As they argued back and forth, tempers running high in the early morning hours, Lithuania thought about Poland—where he was, how he was doing. His country had been taken over by both Russia and Germany, so where was he staying? Was he under strict house arrest, unable to communicate with anyone but his captors? Or maybe he was shunted back and forth from Germany's house to Russia's house, traded like a—a piece of property. His lips twitched up into a crooked little half smile at the terrible irony, but immediately fell when he remembered his current situation.
"Why should we surrender? Poland fought against both the Soviet Union and Germany," Smetona pointed out.
"Yes, and look where that got them!" a council member retorted sharply. "The Polish nation is dissolved! Poland is gone!"
Even though he hadn't meant what it sounded like, Liet still shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He knew Poland was still alive; there were still people who considered themselves Polish, who believed themselves to be living in Poland no matter what other countries said. Poland would survive anything as long as that belief held out.
The Prime Minister glanced at Lithuania and caught his eye, leaning back in his seat; Liet scooted his chair closer to hear.
"What do you think of all this?" he asked quietly under the noise of the heated discussion. "Fight or surrender?"
The Baltic nation searched the man's eyes and saw fear and desperate hope there. "If we could, I'd fight." And he would fight; he would be on the front lines, and Russia would find him. Countries always found each other on the battlefield. "But…" he dropped his gaze to the floor, unable to meet the man's eyes for any longer, and shook his head. "We can't win. I don't want the people to die for nothing. That's not fair to them."
The minister nodded somberly. "You are a man after my own heart," he said, before turning back to the others.
No, Lithuania thought silently. I'm not a man at all.
--
By 7:00am the morning of June 15th, the meeting ended with a decision to accept all of the demands without complaint or protest—the Prime Minister and his cabinet had even resigned, to make way for the new government.
Lithuania bid farewell to the council members before turning back to the president. "Well, that's it then," he stated impassively.
The man nodded sadly. "I suppose so." He paused. "What will happen to you?"
Lithuania knew exactly to what he was referring. "I'll probably have to live at Russia's house again," he said with a forced nonchalance, inwardly cringing. He could tell that the president wasn't convinced and quickly switched topics. "What will do you?"
Smetona turned south, eyes on the horizon. "Myself and Musteikis will seek asylum to the south," he said, his voice distinctly devoid of emotion.
Asylum, in Germany? After what that country had done to Lithuania's people earlier in the war? After Germany had worked together with Russia to take over Poland? But Liet didn't say anything—staying here would probably get Smetona killed, and Lithuania knew that men feared for their lives in situations like this, and with Russia coming, rightly so.
The president turned back to Lithuania and met his eyes firmly. "This probably won't mean anything to you; I'm sure you've heard it before, but… It was an honor working with you, Lithuania. I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you, or your people."
The Baltic nation felt his eyes prick with tears and blink them back. "You helped get me out of Germany's house after the Great War. Be proud of what you accomplished. Not many people can say they returned independence to a country, can they?"
A brief smile ghosted over Smetona's face before the heaviness of the situation crushed it. "No, I suppose they can't," he murmured. "Good luck," he said louder, nodding slightly.
"And to you," Lithuania returned, watching the man go.
As soon as the president was out of sight, his shoulders slumped. Casting one last glance over the council building, he turned and started home.
He had to call Russia with their answer.
--
Lithuania dismissed the guards at his home and told them to go to their families, then went inside and put the kettle on. With a glance at the clock—nearly 8:30—he went to his office and placed his call.
"Zdravstvujtye?"
"Laba diena, Russia. It's Lithuania. I have the council's answer to your ultimatum," he said, trying to keep his voice even.
"Ah, good! What did you decide?"
Lithuania thought of the shots fired at border stations earlier in the morning, and how Russian soldiers were harassing Lithuanians, hoping to provoke a reaction. I'm doing the right thing. Russia will invade either way; he's just looking for an excuse. "We accept your terms unconditionally," he said quietly, unable to keep the defeat from his voice. It still hurt. Losing his independence would always hurt.
"I'm so glad you agreed with me!" Russia exclaimed happily. "I was worried that you would try to do something foolish, like Poland, but I knew you were smarter than that."
Lithuania's grip tightened at the mention of Poland, but he didn't respond. Just looking for an excuse…
Russia didn't seem bothered by the silence, continuing. "Wait for me then, da? I'll be over in a few hours. See you soon, Lithuania!"
The Baltic nation hung up the phone and went to the kitchen, where the kettle whistled angrily. He poured himself a cup of tea and sat down to wait, trying to compose himself and gather the fragments of his courage.
He would need it.
--
The Russian troops crossed the borders soon after the announcement and were met with no resistance. Lithuania was grateful; he had been concerned that someone would disobey orders and attack, but thankfully the soldiers seemed to understand that any resistance would lead to a blood bath. The foreign soldiers quickly occupied Vilinus, the capital, and four other major cities, and Lithuania listened to the radio news only because he couldn't bear the idea of not knowing what was happening.
His thoughts drifted once again to Poland, but were quickly overshadowed by questions of what would happen to him. He tried to reassure himself. He had lived under Russia before. He knew the huge nation's moods, knew what was dangerous to do or say, knew how to avoid the worst of it. He would be okay. He would endure. He had always endured.
The loud pounding on the door startled Lithuania so badly he almost dumped tea down his uniform. Setting the cup carefully on the table, he rose and went to the door. Before opening it, he paused, unwilling. He didn't want to do this. He didn't want to go back to Russia, not again. But he knew that the perpetually tipsy country would break down the door and haul him away by force if need be—he had done it before. Lithuania noticed his hand, resting on the doorknob. Argh, he hadn't even seen Russia yet and he was already shaking!
"Privet~!" Russia call as he waylaid the door again. Fearing the wood would splinter, Liet took a deep breath, then opened the door to face him.
"Toris!" Russia greeted him with a smile, using his human name for the benefit of the soldiers behind him.
"Bragniski," Lithuania nodded politely, hoping the use of Russia's last name would signal his unhappiness with the situation.
Either Russia didn't catch the suggestion (which Liet doubted) or he ignored it. "Are you ready to go?" he asked in Russian, also presumably for the soldiers' benefit.
"Yes. I packed my things already." He could do this. He had done it before; he could do it again.
Russia raised his arm and casually backhanded the Lithuania so hard the smaller country fell to the floor. Uncomprehending, Lithuania blinked up at the larger nation.
The huge nation just smiled. "You speak Russian now, da?" he said pleasantly. Behind him, one of the soldiers unsuccessfully stifled snickered.
Lithuania felt a shiver of fear. He had a horrible feeling that this time, living with Russia was going to be different.
---
Russia pretty much tried to erase of Lithuania's culture while it was under Soviet control. You learned Russian in school and used with anything official or public. Lithuanian culture was suppressed, history rewritten to make Russia and Lithuania look like BBFs for life, religion outlawed, etc. And hundreds of thousands of Lithuanians ended up in the Gulaug camps. Joy.
America: How bad could living under Russia really be?
Lithuania: Let me put it this way- I'm totally f***ed.
Vocab time!
Russian:
Dobryj vyechye- Good evening
Zdravstvujtye- Hello (formal, but not incredibly formal)
Privet- Hey! (incredibly informal, a greeting used between friends/close acquaintances)
Lithuanian:
Laba diena- Good evening (formal, but not incredibly formal)
Please R&R!