Part 9/15:
This crisis was compounded by the arrival of German reinforcements, notably the Besskirde ski corps, trained specifically for mountain warfare. On March 28, German forces launched a renewed offensive in Lithuania, capturing Tolağ on March 29—a pivotal moment marked by a cavalry clash where Russian forces triumphed over German troops.
Rising Hatred and the Plight of Jewish Communities
The eastern territories also saw tragic echoes of earlier anti-Semitic violence. As German forces advanced into Lithuanian regions, false accusations of Jewish assistance to German troops led to outbreaks of looting and violence against Jewish communities. Reports indicate nearly 500,000 Jewish refugees were forced to flee, driven by widespread hatred and suspicion fueled by wartime paranoia.