Paulius Širvys

Paulius Širvys (6 September 1920 – 27 March 1979) was a Lithuanian poet.

Biography Paulius Širvys was born in Padustėlis village (now in Zarasai District Municipality), but soon moved to Degučiai village. After his parents and brother died, Širvys lived with his relatives but later was submitted to children's home. He worked as a cowherd, graduated Salos Agriculture School in 1940. He attended infantry courses in Vilnius in 1940–41. After the Second World War began, Širvys moved to Belarus where he came under arrest as a Nazi prisoner. He managed to escape to Lithuania but again was captured and transferred to East Prussia. He joined the Red Army (the 16th Rifle Division) in 1944 and later was seriously injured.