Forgotten stories of escape

In 2025, we highlighted an overlooked chapter of our shared European history when authors Brian Traantoft Rasmussen and Thomas Græsbøll Svaneborg toured the Baltic states with their book Escaping Stalin.The book tells the story of thousands of refugees from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania who crossed the Baltic Sea during the Second World War and found temporary refuge in Denmark.

The tour, which formed part of Denmark’s EU Presidency, brought authors and audiences together to reflect on displacement, belonging, and historical memory. At the same time, it highlighted how cultural exchange continues to strengthen the ties between Denmark and the Baltic states.

Partners

National Museum of Lithuania Castellan’s House, Vilnius, President Valdas Adamkus Library, Kaunas Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, Riga, the Danish embassies in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.