Lithuanian army (1922)

Two years after the end of Lithuanian Wars of Independence (1918–1920), the Lithuanian Army consisted of 4 infantry, 1 cavalry divisions, 4 artillery regiments and a number of small independent battalions and companies.

In 1921, the year's military budget was 491 million auksiniai which was 54.75% of all states outcomes. One year later, in 1922, state outcomes for defence were 4312 million auksiniai (42.66% of the state budget).

The Army

Infantry

Infantry dislocation was impacted by changes of Lithuanian borders. Infantry regiment was the primary forces defending the country. Lithuania was surrounded by enemies. Only Latvian side was safe. Other borders required cover.

• I division (Panevėžys)
  • I Regiment (Ukmergė)
  • IV Regiment (Panevėžys, Kupiškis, Ukmergė)
  • III Regiment (Kėdainiai, Raseiniai, Seredžius 42S nuo Dub iki LV sien)
• II division (Kaunas - Šančiai suburb)
  • II Regiment (Šančiai, Jonava)
  • V Regiment (Aukštoji Panemunė, Prienai)
  • VIII Regiment (Šiauliai, Varniai)
• III division (Marijampolė)
  • VII Regiment (Demarcation line), (Tauragė, Žemaičių Naumiestis)
  • VI Regiment (Alytus)
  • IX Regiment (Marijampolė, Vilkaviškis)
• IV division (border guard)
  • I Border guard regiment
  • X Regiment
  • XI Regiment (I Border guard regiment from 1923)
  • XII regiment (II Border guard regiment from 1923)
• Other infantry formations
  • XIII Volunteers regiment (until 1922 July 1)
  • Mortar battalion
  • Training battalion (for junior commanders preparation) (Kaunas)
• Territorial units
  • Territorial brigade
    • 20 territorial commands
    • Military prison
    • Discipline battalion (later company)

Infantry organisation

Army had more than 10 regiments. In 1919 June 6 it was confirmed, that there must be 78 officers, 18 civil servants, 22 sergeant masters, 212 combat warrant officers, 107 non combat warrant officers, 1977 combat soldiers, 344 non combat soldiers, 166 horses (riding), 331 (for carts), 127 carts, 9 field kitchens, 27 heavy mgs. Every regiment consisted of:

• Commander
• HQ
• 3 Battalions
  • Battalions’ HQ
  • 3 Infantry coy
  • Mg's team (27 heavy mgs)
  • Grenadier team
• Communications team
• Training team (for warrant officers preparation)
• Commendant’s team
• Cavalry team for recognition
• Supply team
• Musicians team
• Column (IInd class)

Artillery

There was 4 regiments of mixed artillery of 3 - 4 batteries everyone for supporting every Infantry division. Batteries were 500 soldiers and more in times of Wars of Independence. So these batteries in 1922 were bigger than batteries after 10 years. There were Russian, English, Germany and French field guns and howitzers.

• I artillery regiment
  • I field battery
  • IV field battery
  • VII field battery
• II artillery regiment
  • II field battery
  • V field battery
  • I howitzer battery
• III artillery regiment
  • III field battery
  • VI field battery
  • IX field battery
  • I heavy battery
• IV artillery regiment
  • X field battery
  • XI field battery
  • II heavy battery
  • II howitzer battery

Cavalry

It was one Cavalry division after 1921 January 25 d. HQ was in Kaunas, later Anykščiai.

• I Hussar regiment
• II Uhlan regiment (Kaunas)
  • 3 Squadrons
  • Supply team
• III Dragoon Iron Wolf regiment (Anykščiai)
  • 3 Squadrons
  • 5 teams (Mg's, communications, technical, musicians, HQ's)

Armoured formations

• Armoured cars squadron. It was 1 Fiat-Izhorsky armoured car ("Žaibas", 2 mgs) captured from bolsheviks, 5 Erhart-Daimler (4 got by Entente control commission and 1 captured as war booty from Bermontians, 4 mgs).
  • I platoon
    • "Žaibas"(“Lightning”), "Aras"(“Eagle”), "Perkūnas"("Thunderer") armoured cars.
  • II platoon
    • "Šarūnas"(Name of hero), "Savanoris"("Volunteer"), "Pragaras"("Hell") armoured cars.
• Armoured trains regiment. All armoured trains were constructed in Kaunas Railway Workshop.
  • "Gediminas" armoured train (had an important role in fighting against Poland in 1920)
  • "Kęstutis" armoured train
  • "Algirdas" armoured train

12 Renault FT tanks were bought one year later in 1923.

Technical formations

• Military technical administration
  • Engineering regiment
    • 4 engineering companies (sapeur)
    • 5'th engineering coy (bridges and roads constructions)
    • Warrant officers (engineering) school 319
    • Supply team
  • Electrotechnical (communications) battalion (30 officers, 21 civil servants, 796 soldiers)
    • Telephone and telegraph coy
    • Radio coy
    • Training coy
    • workshop
  • Railways battalion
  • Automotive battalion (150 automobiles in 1921)
    • HQ coy
    • Auto coy
      • 4 platoons
    • Auto team
    • Paramedic auto
    • Fire-fighters team
  • Kaunas fortress security team
  • Field post offices
  • Central Army Workshop

Aviation

• Aviation organization:
  • 1 squadron
  • Training squadron
  • 2 squadron
  • Workshop

First plane was Sopwith "1½ Strutter". In the middle of 1921 in Lithuanian air forces had:

Training

• Military school – preparing officers.
• Higher level officer courses (from 1921) in Kaunas – 6 – 10 months long course for senior officers to prepare for working as battalions, batteries and regiments commanders and in general staff.

See also

• Lithuania
• Estonian army (1922)