This square did not exist up until the end of the Second World War. You can notice in the scheme of the Great Vilna Ghetto, that there was a densely built-up area where you stand right now.On June 24th, 1941, Nazi Germany entered Kaunas and Vilnius, and almost a week later controlled the entire territory of Lithuania. With the assistance of local Lithuanians, the first massacres began in the early days of the occupation. At the beginning of July, several discriminatory laws had been passed. They obliged Jews to wear distinguishing badges, introduced a curfew on them, and only allowed them to shop in certain stores at specific hours. Means of transport, radios, works of art and other possessions were confiscated from Jews. Exploitation of Jews also began by forcibly engaging many among them in hard physical labour. During the middle of July, mass arrests of Jews commenced. Hundreds of the detained Jews were tortured in the Lukiškės Prison, and afterwards were transported to an outer suburb of Vilnius – Paneriai – where they were shot.