1st Hussar Regiment (Lithuania)

Hussar Regiment of the Lithuanian Army (1919–1940) right|thumb|260x260px|Hussars outside, enjoying the weather (1923–1924) The 1st Hussar Regiment of the Lithuanian Grand Hetman Duke Jonušas Radvila (lt 1-asis husarų Lietuvos Didžiojo Etmono Jonušo Radvilos pulkas), also known as the 1st Cavalry Regiment (lt 1-asis raitelių pulkas no) was a hussar regiment that served in the Lithuanian Army during the Interwar period.Vaičenonis 2018 Official titles 1st Lithuanian Mounted Regiment (lt 1-asis lietuvių raitelių pulkas no) (1919-05-12–1919-10-24)Vydrina 2009 1st Mounted Regiment (lt 1-asis raitelių pulkas no) (1919-10-25–1921-07-09)Vydrina 2009 1st Cavalry Regiment (lt 1-asis kavalerijos pulkas no) (1921-07-10–1922-03-31)Vydrina 2009 1st Hussar Regiment (lt 1-asis gusarų pulkas no) (1922-04-01–1927-09-24)Vydrina 2009 1st Hussar Regiment of the Grand Lithuanian Hetman Duke Jonušas Radvila (lt 1-asis gusarų Didžiojo Lietuvos etmono kunigaikščio Jonušo Radvilos pulkas no) (1927-09-25–1939-10-06)Vydrina 2009 1st Hussar Regiment of the Duke Jonušas Radvila (lt 1-asis husarų kunigaikščio Jonušo Radvilos pulkas no) (1939-10-07–1940-07-24)Vydrina 2009 1st Hussar Regiment (lt 1-asis husarų pulkas no) (1940-07-25–1940-10-27)Vydrina 2009 Formation In the autumn of 1918, the first Lithuanian military units, including cavalry squadrons, began to be formed for the struggle for Lithuania's independence. The 1st Hussar Squadron was established in Kaunas on 9 January 1919.Vaičenonis 2018 Officer J. Kasiulis was as the 1st Squadron's commander. On 4 February 1919, the formation of the 2nd Hussar Squadron began.Vaičenonis 2018 Officer Aleksandras Laikūnas was appointed as its commander. On April 1, a gendarme squad of 40 selected soldiers was formed from both squadrons to maintain order in Kaunas' garrison.Vaičenonis 2018 In early 1919, a 20-strong Hussar group was guarding the French Military Mission in Kaunas.Vaičenonis 2018 Lithuanian Wars of Independence In 1919–1920, the 1st Cavalry Regiment fought against the Red Army, Bermontians and units of the Polish Army.Vaičenonis 2018 The first battles with the Bolsheviks showed that the Lithuanian army required more cavalry. So, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Silvestras Žukauskas issued an order on 12 May 1919 that all mounted units be formed into the 1st Lithuanian Mounted Regiment (lt 1-asis lietuvių raitelių pulkas). Major G. E. Hoeger of the Swedish Armed Forces was made its commander. Since July 1, the regiment was taken over by Officer Pranas Jackevičius lt, who also started forming the 3rd Squadron. On 10 November 1919, the regiment was named the 1st Mounted Regiment (lt 1-asis raitelių pulkas).Vaičenonis 2018 As the situation on the fronts deteriorated, a 4th Squadron (commander J. Kalino, an officer of Lithuanian Tartar origin) was formed. Five hussars of this regiment died during combat in 1919–1923.Vaičenonis 2018 Six officers and 48 soldiers of the regiment were awarded the Order of the Cross of Vytis for excellence in combat.Vaičenonis 2018 Interwar On 1 August 1921, it was renamed as the 1st Cavalry Regiment (lt 1-asis kavalerijos pulkas).Vaičenonis 2018 On 1 April 1922, the regiment was renamed as 1st Hussar Regiment.Vaičenonis 2018 On 25 September 1927, the regiment's feastday, the regiment was renamed to 1st Hussar Regiment of the Lithuanian Grand Hetman Duke Jonušas Radvila (lt 1-asis gusarų Didžiojo Lietuvos etmono kunigaikščio Jonušo Radvilos pulkas) and the regiment was presented with a flag with the motto "lt Nugalėsim ar mirsim" (We will defeat [the enemy] or we will die).Vaičenonis 2018 The regiment was given the privilege of the monogram JR with a ducal crown, which were written on the epaulettes of the soldiers' uniforms.Vaičenonis 2018 In September 1939, the regiment had the following squadrons: four regular, one each for heavy machine guns, training, economy.Vaičenonis 2018 In addition, there were the anti-aircraft and anti-tank gun groups, and an armored squad.Vaičenonis 2018 In peacetime, the regiment was stationed in the Žaliakalnis barracks in Kaunas.Arklio muziejus 2019 Lietuvos kavalerijai - 100 https://arkliomuziejus.lt/lietuvos-kavalerijai-100/ 2022-07-03 arkliomuziejus.lt lt Soviet occupation and disbandment After the USSR occupied Lithuania, on 25 July 1940 it was renamed the 1st Hussar Regiment.Vaičenonis 2018 The regiment was disbanded on 30 August 1940.Vaičenonis 2018 Regimental commanders 1919 – Major G. E. Hoegeris 1919 – Colonel Pranas Jackevičius lt Colonel Jonas Litvinas Major T. Engmanas Officer Šileris 1920-1929 – Povilas Plechavičius General Staff Lieutenant colonel J. Bačkus 1935-1939 – General Staff Colonel Aloyzas Valušis lt 1939-1940 – General Staff Colonel Izidorius Kraunaitis lt 1940 – Colonel Kazimieras Gudelis lt Uniforms In 1931, the hussars were the first in the Lithuanian army to have used Jonušas Radvila's monogram "JR" with a ducal crown as a distinctive sign on their epaulettes. The "JR" was in massive white metal letters. The soldiers' hats were red. The uniform was grey-green, the collars were triangular and white with Columns of Gediminas. The cuffs and sleeve cuffs were white, the trousers - red, in a hussar fashion, with white cuffs, boots had rosettes at the boot's top. References Sources Vydrina Elena 2009 lcva fondo 524 pažyma https://www.archyvai.lt/lt/fondai/kariuomene/lcva_f524.html Lietuvos centrinis valstybės archyvas lt 2018 Husarų pulkas Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/husaru-pulkas/ Vaičenonis Jonas lt Category:Military units and formations established in 1919 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1940 Category:Cavalry regiments of Lithuania