Giedrius Petkevičius, the researcher of warfare who wrote the novel: “It is better to prepare for the day when they come” | Culture

G. Petkevičius, the author of the best-selling books “Anatomy of War”, “People of War”, “Bloody Sunflowers”, presents his fifth book “The Day THEY WILL Come”. The author’s new book, as he himself says, will allow some readers to check the possible reality of war, and may surprise others who do not think about war at all.

In the literary story of G. Petkevičius, one can recognize images of our country’s recent past – the dawn of independence and the stormy 10s. Feel the suffocating anxiety about the fighting Ukraine, get to know the Kremlin’s most secret plans, visit the bunker of the Lithuanian command and defend Vilnius and Kaunas together with the Lithuanian soldiers.

Another important detail of this book is great love. Which also requires survival in a cold bunker. To fight for love and one’s country in the cities and forests of Lithuania.

The book “The Day THEY Will Come” was published by the publishing house “Alma littera”. Journalist Laisvė Radzevičienė spoke with the author of the book.

– The book you wrote is a work of literature with certain shades of documentary, but in reality, how often do you think about day X? The day they come?

– Until 2014, such thoughts were more theoretical considerations. Today, I have identified my opportunities, abilities, specific places and tools next to them. Unfortunately, the situation is such that the literary wisdom contained in the book can enter the life of each of us.

– Indeed, I often think about what you write about in the introduction to your book: how would we behave if war suddenly broke out? Do you have your own survival plan?

– In today’s reality, few do not think about it. I often think about both the emotions that would flood THAT day and the practical steps that would need to be taken. My survival structure is quite clear: I would like to ensure the safety of my loved ones as much as possible and find my place in the country’s defense system.

– This is perhaps the first time you are taking on a literary genre, interweaving a war documentary with a love story, which, as I understand, you dedicate to your beloved woman – Nerija. What prompted this choice?

– “The Day They Come” is my fifth book, but you rightly noticed – the prose work became a bit of a test. Well, love next to such overly masculine things as weapons and descriptions of war scenes is a square test. I don’t know how other authors create romantic, sometimes strongly eroticized scenes, it was enough for me to imagine a specific person and use the layers of fantasy to some extent.

Publisher’s photo/Giedrius Petkevičius “The day THEY will come”

Every person we enter into life leaves a mark on us. Sometimes it is like a sign in the pale beach sand, sometimes it is a deep scar in the heart. The hero of the novel carries with him various experiences that have left traces inside the author.

– In some sense, this is a rather manly book, even, I would say, the basics of how to behave in an emergency situation are clearly laid out. Was that the idea?

– In my book “Anatomy of War” I tried to describe the technical scenario of the attack of the military forces of the Russian Federation on our country. I left the last chapter of War People for advice on how civilians should behave in war, but in The Day They Come I put it all together in the garb of fiction, using specific people, including politicians from several countries.

– Why did you choose 2025 as the year of action? Are we that few left?

– We hear a lot of considerations in the public, some of which can be summed up by the expression: “Let’s not consider if we will be attacked, let’s consider better – when?” I am not such a pessimist, but the hypothetical 2050 would seem too far away in the novel and not as suggestive, not as effective as 2025 is right here.

We hear many considerations in public, some of which can be summed up in the saying: “Let’s not consider if we will be attacked, let’s consider better – when?”

– When the question arises in front of your eyes and conscience – to stay or leave, what should you think about? I have no doubt that only a rare person today knows how to act, and even those who do, might change direction when the decisive hour comes…

– We have to talk about it with readers all over Lithuania, at book launch events. I almost always say the same thing – a diminutive bespectacled accountant can demonstrate miracles of courage, and vice versa – a flag-waving patriot overcome by shock, trembling in a corner or with enviable dexterity will find a flag of other colors.

It seems to me that the most important thing is an inner attitude, a decision now, in peacetime, if you will, the need to say to yourself: “The day when they come, I will be afraid, forgive me for saying this, to the point of incontinence, but I will overcome that fear, because I will have no other way out . I just won’t be able to surrender, betray or escape.”

– Although a literary work, your book is illustrated with old photographs. Where did you collect them?

– The illustrated novel is not a common phenomenon in our literature, true. The historical photographs were collected from the archives, the military photographs were kindly agreed to be shared by some of the best masters in their field – soldiers Ieva Budzeikaitė and Arnas Čemerka and journalist Vidmantas Balkūnas. I am very pleased that together we managed to select exactly the kind of shots that perfectly reflect the mood of certain parts of the novel.

Each of the situations described in the book of that time is my own experience.

– How many of your personal memories from the 1990s are in the book?

– Practically – everything (smiling). Technically speaking, every one of the situations described in the book at that time is my own experience. Not necessarily directly and identically as in the book, but very close and closely – definitely so.

– Some of the stories in the book can be thought to be fictional, but this is exactly how everything happened at the dawn of Independence and in its first years. From whom did you borrow the stories about Kaunas bandits? Why did they appear in the book?

– The last decade of the last century in Kaunas – my late teenage years. Back then, I could probably list the main characters of the shadowy world of the city by their nicknames, and when I worked as a psychologist in a prison, I got to know some of the criminals much more closely. Write about the 10s the young man from Kaunas, without mentioning the darker side of the life of that period, no, the picture of the hero would not be fully revealed.

– Our generation, born in the 1970s, has held rifles in our hands – we had to study military training at school and university. We can at least imagine what should be done with that rifle, but not everyone can. And what about the younger generations, born after Independence, who were already resigned to the fact that there will not and cannot be a war?

The curse of the modern generation is to see the world caricatured. A world where something cannot be excessively bad just because it is simply “wrong”.

– It may sound a bit strange, but the curse of the modern generation is to see the world painted to the point of a caricature. A world where something cannot be excessively bad just because it is simply “wrong”. I will not try to judge whether this attitude was formed by the desire of the older generation to protect their offspring from evil, or simply “good times gave birth to weak people”. However, we are saved by the fact that we have a considerable portion of immunity to that infantile imagination that the world must be good and fair. Immunity has been shaped by our geographic location and historical experiences with our neighbors.

– Reading the chapters about Moscow, you imagine that this is exactly how everything should be. What does it mean that we Lithuanians understand Russian psychology? But do we really understand? Do we at least have an inkling of what plans they are making?

– I am fully convinced that the average Lithuanian resident who is interested in foreign policy understands Russians better than the same resident of Western Europe or the United States. On the other hand, it is quite clear that this is not a guarantee of our security. Sometimes it seems that this is already our part – to explain to the “old” West and to convince them that evil lurks to the East of us.

– You even describe the plan of attack in the book. Where did you get your theoretical knowledge from and why did you describe this particular plan?

– I have been interested in warfare since I was young, I gained practical knowledge while serving as a volunteer, and now I study theory, communicate with military personnel, visit military units and write review articles for my followers and the Lithuanian media. Once upon a time, the words “War is my life” hung on the walls of my teenage room, next to posters of music groups. Youthful irresponsibility and maximalism ended, and the desire to learn the secrets of the art of war remained.

I am fully convinced that the average resident of Lithuania, who is interested in foreign policy, understands Russians better than the same resident of Western Europe or the United States.

The book describes the enemy’s attack plan based on the historical, military capabilities of weapons, armies, and certain types of weapons. It is important to me that military personnel who pick up this or my other books cannot make extremely critical tactical or strategic comments.

– “Kissing only rings, President, believe me, they will feel the power of a Russian soldier.” For me, this is probably the scariest and most stuck sentence in the book. What must we do to avoid feeling that power?

– Similar expressions in the book did not appear by chance. Russians love sonorous, decisive, symbolic phrases. A classic of military propaganda and hysteria – using the power of words to consolidate one’s own audience and scare strangers. If we understand this phenomenon, we can also understand the antidote – our own military muscle and a group of friends by our side. Preferably with armored vehicles.

I suggest you beware, prepare and surprise and frighten the enemy if the day THEY come dawns on our land.

– Were there moments while writing when you were surprised by what you had written? Or were you scared?

– Let’s look at the daily news reports or summaries from the Ukrainian fronts – hardly anything can surprise more than the scenarios that life writes. I suggest you beware, prepare and surprise and frighten the enemy if the day THEY come dawns on our land.

– The book ends as if another story had begun. Are you thinking about a sequel?

– Maybe we should keep the intrigue?… That’s all – the second part of the book is in my head, and whether it will be published will depend on the sales success of “The Day THEY COME”. I can already see that the book has been a success in libraries, and there is interest in it in the public sphere. So, albeit timidly, I promise – there will be a sequel.