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Army of Central Lithuania

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Badge of Honor of the Central Lithuanian Army
Flag of Central Lithuania
Territory of Central Lithuania

The Army of Central Lithuania was the armed forces of the state of Central Lithuania proclaimed by General Lucjan Żeligowski on October 12, 1920.

Generał Lucjan Żeligowski (1865–1947)

With the announcement by General Lucjan Żeligowski of the establishment of Central Lithuania, the army which he commanded and which participated in the Żeligowski's Mutiny automatically became the Army of Central Lithuania. It was reincorporated into Polish Army in 1922 following the Poland's annexation of Central Lithuania.

The original composition of the troops

1st Lithuanian–Belarusian Division

  • 1st Infantry Brigade
    • Vilnius Rifles Regiment – later 85th Vilnius Rifles Regiment
    • Minsk Rifles Regiment – later 86th Infantry Regiment
  • 2nd Infantry Brigade
    • Navahrudak Rifles Regiment – later 80th Infantry Regiment
    • Hrodna Rifles Regiment – later 81st Hrodna Rifles Regiment
  • 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Field Artillery Regiment
  • Mounted Riflemen Squadron
  • 1st Sapper Company
  • mjr. Kościałkowski's "Bieniakonie" (Benekainys) Group
  • Kresy Battalion
  • 216th Field Artillery Squadron
  • Cavalry Squadron

Military operations

After the seizure of Vilnius, the Supreme Commander of the Army of Central Lithuania, General Żeligowski, ordered the troops to advance to the line: Trakai-Kraso (in Polish) (?)-Rykantai and Bendoriai-Riešė-Paraudondvariai.

Until 29 November 1920, when the Kaunas Armistice was concluded, Central Lithuania was in the state of an undeclared war with the Republic of Lithuania.

1st Central Lithuanian Army Corps

During the fighting, the Army of Central Lithuania was reorganized and on 16 October 1920, the 1st Central Lithuanian Army Corps was created. The corps commander was General Jan Rządkowski, the commander of the 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Division.

  • Command
  • Staff
    • Chief of Staff – p.o. mjr SG Władysław Powierza
    • Quartermaster– p.o. mjr SG Władysław Powierza
    • Chief of the 4th Branch (Oddziału IV) – p.o. mjr SG Władysław Powierza

1st Division (Vilnius Infantry Brigade)

  • Vilnius Rifles Regiment
  • Minsk Rifles Regiment

2nd Division (2nd Hrodna Infantry Brigade)

  • Navahrudak Rifles Regiment
  • Hrodna Rifles Regiment

3rd Division

3rd Upper Nemunas Infantry Brigade

  • 5th Volunteer Rifles Regiment
  • 6th Scouts Rifles Regiment (after the dissolution of the 3rd Brigade and 5th Volunteers Rifles Regiment, the 6th Scouts Rifles Regiment was independent)
  • 77th Infantry Regiment (two companies)

1st Artillery Brigade

  • 1st Light Artillery Regiment
  • two squadrons of the 216th Light Artillery Regiment

Cavalry Division of the Army of Central Lithuania

Reserve Brigade of the Army of Central Lithuania

Others

  • Sapper Battalion
  • Armoured Car Platoon
  • Services

Dislocation of branches of the Benekainys Operational Group

Location on 27 October 1921:

Command of 19th Infantry Division - Vilnius

  • Vilnius Rifles Regiment – Vilnius
  • Minsk Rifles Regiment – Vilnius
  • Kaunas Rifles Regiment – Vilnius
  • 19th Field Artillery Regiment – Vilnius
  • 3rd Heavy Artillery Regiment – Vilnius

Command of the 29th Infantry Division - Vilnius

  • Grodno Rifles Regiment – Vilnius
  • Lida Rifles Regiment – Benekainys [lt]
  • Navahrudak Rifles Regiment – Vilnius
  • 29th Field Artillery Regiment – Vilnius
  • 29th Heavy Artillery Squadron and III Squadron of the 3rd Heavy Artillery Regiment – Vilnius

Command of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade - Vilnius

Command of the 10th Uhlan Regiment – Lentvaris

Command of the 13th Uhlan Regiment – Vilnius

  • 1st and 3rd squadron, Machine carbine squadron, Technical squadron – Vilnius
  • 2nd squadron – Paberžė
  • 3rd squadron – Trakai
  • 4th squadron – Griciūnai [lt]

Command of the 23rd Uhlan Regiment – Maišiagala

References

  1. Łach, Wiesław B. (2014). „Bunt Żeligowskiego”. Kulisy połączenia Wileńszczyzny do Polski 1920-1922. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Bellona. p. 195. ISBN 978-83-11-13198-9.
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