The 1st Infantry Regiment (Lithuanian: 1-asis pėstininkų pulkas), later the 1st Infantry Regiment of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (Lithuanian: 1-asis pėstininkų Lietuvos Didžiojo Kunigaikščio Gedimino pulkas) was an infantryregiment that served in the Lithuanian Army during the Interwar period.
Formation
Vincas Grigaliūnas-Glovackis [lt] was made the regiment's commander on 1 November 1918.[1][2] The regiment began forming in Vilnius, although in a covert manner, because the occupying German authorities hampered the formation of the Lithuanian Army.[1] So, the regiment officially began forming only on 23 November 1918.[3][4][5] On December 7, the regiment included 31 officers and 59 soldiers.[1] In ten days, the number gradually increased to 33 officers, 3 military officials (Lithuanian: karo valdininkai), military doctor L. Janulionis and 87 soldiers.[6]
Lithuanian–Soviet War
By 11 February 1919, the regiment had 36 officers, 13 military officials, one military doctor and 678 soldiers.[7] At the time, the regiment was divided into two battalions, with the first one, led by the officer Ignas Musteikis [lt], being composed of two infantry and one machine guncompanies, while the remaining second battalion under officer Pranas Tamašauskas had just three infantry companies, that were not fully formed.[7] The 1st Infantry Regiment fought in the Battle of Alytus [lt] from 12 to 15 February, but suffered its first defeat there and had to retreat.[8] The regiment's casualties were one officer, i.e. the regimental commander, Antanas Juozapavičius, and a few soldiers killed, while 20 soldiers were captured as prisoners of war, some of whom escaped captivity.[9]
On April 25, the 1st Infantry Regiment included 57 officers, 21 military officials, and 1,640 soldiers.[10] At the end of August 1919, the regiment had 52 officers, 15 military officials, including three doctors and the military chaplainCatholic priestPranas Garmus, and 1,733 soldiers, of whom 1,316 were trained.[11]
From 30 October 1919, the regiment's patron was the Grand Duke of LithuaniaGediminas.[4][12][13] Due to the regiment's merits in combat against Bolsheviks and because it began in Vilnius, founded by Gediminas according to legend, the regiment was accorded Gediminas' name.[12]
1920
On 15 December 1920, the regiment was staffed by 46 officers, 10 military officials, one military chaplain and 2,333 soldiers.[14] However, the regiment was lacking 26 officers and 537 soldiers until completion of the establishment.[14]
Interwar
From 1923 to 1939, the regiment was located in Ukmergė.[15]