 In March 1945, Soviet NKVD sent troops and "stribai" (members of destruction battalions) from Švenčionys, Švenčionėliai, Saldutiškis to destroy the Kaunas Bunker.The partisans successfully held off initial Soviet attacks, but soon their camp and bunker was surrounded.Majority of the partisans from the Kaunas Bunker managed to break through the Soviet encirclement and escape leaving only seven men behind.