1st Division (Lithuania)

1st Division Pirmoji divizija Insignia of 1st Division (Land Forces).png 150px Divisional symbol 11 April 1775–17951920–1923 1931–194028 January 2025–Present Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1775–1795)Lithuania (1920–1923; 1931–1940; 2025–Present) Ensign_of_the_Lithuanian_Land_Forces.png 25px Lithuanian Land Forces Division ~20,000 22px Multinational Corps Northeast (NATO) Kaunas Unity, Strength, Victory 11–12 April 1775 Lithuanian Wars of IndependenceSoviet Invasion of the Baltic states https://www.facebook.com/PirmojiDivizija Brigade general Aurelijus Alasauskas Lieutenant Colonel Darius Kisielius Chief of Staff Battle flag The 1st Division (lt Pirmoji divizija) is the main military unit of the Land Forces of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The division is planned to reach full operational capacity by 2030.Biržietis 2025 As of January 2025, the division consists of a command headquarters, three infantry brigades, engineering and artillery regiments, as well as a reconnaissance battalion.Biržietis 2025kariuomene.lt 2025 Units of other military branches are also used to support the division. History thumb|238x238px|On January 28, 2025, the president of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, and the chief of defence, General Raimundas Vaikšnoras, unveiled the division's emblem. The 1st Division continues the traditions of the Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army's 1st Lithuanian Division. 1775–1795 Officially, the Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army's 1st and 2nd Divisions were established on April 11–12, 1775, after the Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth approved the framework.Biržietis 2025 However, the actual formation through the transformation of the old units into a new structure began in 1777.Biržietis 2025 The divisions were equivalent to a modern military district. The first commander of the 1st Lithuanian Division was Lieutenant General Józef Judycki, the Grand Guard of Lithuania (1776–1789), the elder of Strzalków and Bohiń. Divisional commanders Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski (nominal commander, patron, colonel-in-chief); Józef Judycki Michał Grzegorz Grabowski pl 1920–1940 In 1918, after the restoration of Lithuanian statehood, the Lithuanian army and its regiments were reborn, which were combined into brigades in 1919.kariuomene.lt 2025 On 10 February 1920, the 1st Division was re-formed based on the 1st Brigade, which had fought extensively in the Lithuanian Wars of Independence, as the three infantry brigades of the Lithuanian Army were reorganised into divisions.Surgailis 2024 82 The 1st Division had three infantry regiments and three independent battalions.Kisinas 2018 World War II With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the 1st Division was mobilized to defend the borders of Lithuania and ensure the security of Vilnius and elsewhere in Lithuania.kariuomene.lt 2025 As of 1940, the 1st Infantry Division comprised headquarters, 3 infantry regiments and 2 artillery regiments.Spečiūnas Knezys Gaidys 2018 In addition, it included Military Commandant's Offices (lt Karo komendantūra) for the city of Vilnius and the districts of Biržai, Kėdainiai, Panevėžys, Raseiniai, Rokiškis, Švenčionėliai, Trakai, Ukmergė, Utena and Zarasai.Spečiūnas Knezys Gaidys 2018 Lithuanian resistance After the government's surrender to the Soviet ultimatum to Lithuania in 1940 and the subsequent Soviet occupation, the Lithuanian Army was disbanded, but the 1st Division's soldiers went on to fight for Lithuania against the occupation as partisans.kariuomene.lt 2025 21st century At the 2022 Madrid Summit, the main military tactical unit was upscaled from a brigade to a division in NATO's military plans.kam.lt 2025 In May 2023, the Lithuanian State Defence Council approved the future formation of a division.kam.lt 2025 In order to establish a Lithuanian Infantry Division with a tank battalion, on 11 July 2024 the Seimas approved changes to the basic structure of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, which entered into force on 18 July 2024. Structure right|thumb|320px|Lithuanian Land Forces organization 2025 (click to enlarge) thumb|320px|1st Division Brigade "Žemaitija" and other divisional troops during Allied Spirit 2025 exercise The 1st Division was re-established on 28 January 2025 in Rukla.Biržietis 2025 and received the brigades Iron Wolf, Žemaitija and Aukštaitija, as well as supporting units.Biržietis 2025kariuomene.lt 2025 The division will be fully operational by 2030. As of 2026 the division consists of the following units:Lietuvos kariuomenės Pirmoji divizija https://kariuomene.lt/sausumos-pajegos/padaliniai/i-oji-divizija/26317 Lithuanian Armed Forces 9 February 2025https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKeCW6DTADk Tiesiogiai: KAM ministrės Šakalienės ir Lietuvos kariuomenės vado gen. Vaikšnoro komentarai 2025-03-14 Delfi Video 2025-03-14 YouTube 28x28px 1st Division, in Rukla Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in Rukla Signals Company Reconnaissance Company Logistics Company Rocket Artillery BatterySausumos pajėgų kariai dalyvavo tarptautiniame HIMARS įgulų rengime Estijoje Lietuvos kariuomenė https://kariuomene.lt/kas-mes-esame/naujienos/sausumos-pajegu-kariai-dalyvavo-tarptautiniame-himars-igulu-rengime-estijoje/26136 2025-01-28 Sausumos pajėgų kariai dalyvavo tarptautiniame HIMARS įgulų rengime Estijoje Lietuvos kariuomenė lt 22x22px Artillery Regiment (Lithuania) Artillery Regiment lt Artilerijos pulkas (Pirmoji divizija), in RuklaLithuania Rekvizitai lt Lietuvos kariuomenės Pirmosios divizijos Artilerijos pulkas BI branch - Public institutions, Jonava distr. http://rekvizitai.vz.lt/en/company/lietuvos_kariuomenes_pirmosios_divizijos_artilerijos_pulkas/ 2026-08-19 Rekvizitai.lt Lithuania en (Initial Command Element)Lithuania Rekvizitai lt Lietuvos kariuomenės Pirmosios divizijos Artilerijos pulko vadovybė BI branch - Public institutions, Jonava distr. http://rekvizitai.vz.lt/en/company/lietuvos_kariuomenes_pirmosios_divizijos_artilerijos_pulko_vadovybe/ 2026-08-19 Rekvizitai.lt Lithuania en 23x23px Colonel Juozas Vitkus Engineer Regiment (Lithuania) Engineer Regiment lt Pulkininko Juozo Vitkaus inžinerijos pulkas, in KaunasPulkininko Juozo Vitkaus inžinerijos batalionas https://kariuomene.lt/sausumos-pajegos/padaliniai/pulkininko-juozo-vitkaus-inzinerijos-batalionas/22916 1 July 2026 Lithuanian Armed Forces 23x23px Brigade "Iron Wolf", in RuklaMechanized Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf" » Units http://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/kariuomenes_struktura/sausumos_pajegos/padaliniai/mpbgv/padaliniai_161.html 2 May 2020 Lithuanian Army Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in Rukla Reconnaissance Company, in Rukla Anti-tank Company, in Rukla Signals Company, in Rukla Tank Battalion, in Rukla (Initial Command Element)Pėstininkų brigados „Geležinis Vilkas“ Tankų batalione prasidėjo tankų įgulų rengimas. https://www.facebook.com/PBgelezinisvilkas/posts/pfbid0smoJQUmWePgp8E5KVeonFB7pDmZw2HMrhsST3RQvvHRfeFJESWLQvC6RYjNBhdegl 2026-08-19 www.facebook.com lt King Mindaugas Hussar Battalion, in Panevėžys Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion, in Alytus Grand Duke Algirdas Infantry Battalion, in Rukla Duke Vaidotas Infantry Battalion, in Rokantiškės General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion, in Rukla Lieutenant general Jokūbas Jasinskis Logistics battalion, in RuklaMedia Fresh Generolo leitenanto Jokūbo Jasinskio Logistikos batalionas Lietuvos kariuomenė https://www.kariuomene.lt/brigada-gelezinis-vilkas/padaliniai/generolo-leitenanto-jokubo-jasinskio-logistikos-batalionas/22935 2026-08-19 Generolo leitenanto Jokūbo Jasinskio Logistikos batalionas Lietuvos kariuomenė lt 23x23px Brigade "Žemaitija", in KlaipėdaMotorized Infantry Brigade "Samogitia" » Units http://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/kariuomenes_struktura/sausumos_pajegos/padaliniai/motorizuotoji_pestininku_brigada_zemaitija.html 2 May 2020 Lithuanian Army Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in KlaipėdaBrigada „Žemaitija“ - Štabas ir priskirti padaliniai https://www.kariuomene.lt/brigada-zemaitija/padaliniai/stabas-ir-priskirti-padaliniai/22977 31 January 2025 Lithuanian Armed Forces Reconnaissance Company Anti-tank Company, in Klaipėda Signals Company Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Battalion, in Klaipėda Grand Duke Kęstutis Infantry Battalion, in Tauragė Prince Margiris Infantry Battalion, in Šiauliai Brigadier General Motiejus Pečiulionis lt Artillery Battalion, in Pajūris Logistics Battalion, in KairiaiVenckūnas Vilmantas Įkurtas „Žemaitijos“ brigados Logistikos batalionas, pilna pajėgumą turėtų pasiekti iki 2029-ųjų https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/lietuva/ikurtas-zemaitijos-brigados-logistikos-batalionas-pilna-pajeguma-turetu-pasiekti-iki-2029-uju-56-2617530 2026-08-19 15min.lt lt 23x23px Brigade "Aukštaitija", in Pajuostis (Initial Command Element)Redakcija J. P. 2026-02-18 Naujas karinis vienetas Panevėžyje: brigados „Aukštaitija“ štabui – pastatas, kuriame laikinai veikia „Sodra“ https://jp.lt/naujas-karinis-vienetas-panevezyje-brigados-aukstaitija-stabui-pastatas-kuriame-laikinai-veikia-sodra/ 2026-08-19 Kad ir kur bebūtum – naujienos visada su Tavimi! lt-LT Commanders Division commanders Brigadier General Aurelijus Alasauskas (2025 — ) References Sources Biržietis Dominykas 2025-01-28 Rukloje inauguruota Pirmąja pavadinta Lietuvos kariuomenės divizija https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/2471203/rukloje-vyks-lietuvos-kariuomenes-pirmosios-divizijos-atkurimo-ceremonija Baltic News Service lt kam.lt 2025-01-28 Lithuania re-establishes the 1st Division of the Lithuanian Armed Forces https://kam.lt/en/lithuania-re-established-the-1st-division-of-the-lithuanian-armed-forces/ LR Krašto apsaugos ministerija kariuomene.lt 2025 Lietuvos kariuomenės Pirmoji divizija https://kariuomene.lt/sausumos-pajegos/padaliniai/i-oji-divizija/26317 Lietuvos kariuomenė lt Surgailis Gintautas https://www.lka.lt/uploads/chr_katalogas_92-95/2024-surgailis-istorija.pdf Lietuvos kariuomenės istorija Generolo Jono Žemaičio Lietuvos Karo Akademija 2024 978-609-8277-55-5 I (Part 1) Vilnius lt Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia Kisinas Eugenijus Simonas 2018 Divizija https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/divizija/ Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia lt Spečiūnas Vytautas Knezys Stasys Gaidys Arvydas 2018 Lietuvos ginkluotosios pajėgos 1918–1940 https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/lietuvos-ginkluotosios-pajegos-1918-1940/ Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia lt External links https://kariuomene.lt/sausumos-pajegos/padaliniai/i-divizija/26317 Category:Lithuanian Land Force Category:Divisions of Lithuania Category:Military units and formations established in 1775 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1795 Category:Military units and formations established in 1920 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1923 Category:Military units and formations established in 1931 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1940 Category:Military units and formations established in 2025