Lithuanian Army Kaunas 1940 - KLUVIK ARCHIVES

The Provisional Government announced formation of the TDA Tautinio Darbo Apsaugos in Kaunas on June 28, 1941. TDA wore a white armband with black letters TDA on their sleeves. Andrius Butkūnas became the first battalion commander. Two companies of TDA were assigned to duties related to mass murders of Jews: one was to guard and execute Jews at the Seventh Fort in Kaunas and another was assigned to Einsatzkommando. On August 7, when TDA had 703 members, Lechthaler ordered the battalion to be reorganized into two battalions of auxiliary police or Hilfspolizei. During August three more battalions of PPT were formed. In October these five battalions were renamed to security battalions, the Lithuanian Security Police, also referred to as Saugumas. In December, the five battalions were reorganized again: the 1st battalion became 13th, 2nd – 12th, and 3rd – 11th battalions of Lithuanian Self-Defence Units.