Kaunas Ninth Fort: A Journey Through Dark History｜Lithuania

Discover the complex and often tragic history of Kaunas Ninth Fort Museum on a guided tour lasting approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. The experience is structured around three key historical periods that shaped the fort’s identity.

First, you will explore the late 19th–early 20th century origins of the Ninth Fort as part of the Kaunas Fortress, built by the Russian Empire for defensive purposes. Learn about its military architecture, strategic role, and how it functioned within the wider system of fortifications.

The tour then moves into the interwar period, when the fort was transformed into a prison of hard labor by the Lithuanian state. Here, you will hear about the daily life of prisoners, the conditions of confinement, and the broader context of political repression.

Finally, the most profound part of the tour focuses on the Nazi occupation and the Holocaust. The Ninth Fort became a site of mass executions, where tens of thousands of Jews from Lithuania and across Europe were murdered. Through historical accounts and authentic locations, the guide will present this period with clarity and respect.

During the tour, you will also have a rare opportunity to walk along the defensive wall—an area not accessible without a guide—offering a unique perspective on the fort’s structure and history.