2nd Uhlan Regiment (Lithuania)
| 2nd Uhlan Regiment of the Lithuanian Grand Duchess Birutė | |
|---|---|
| 2-asis ulonų Didžiosios Lietuvos Kunigaikštienės Birutės pulkas | |
Lithuanian Army | |
| Type | Cavalry, later Uhlan |
| Garrison/HQ | Kaunas & Vilkaviškis (1920-1926)[1] Alytus (1926-1940)[1] |
| Patron | Lithuanian Grand Duchess Birutė |
The 2nd Uhlan Regiment (Lithuanian: 2-asis ulonų pulkas), from 1928 known as the 2nd Uhlan Regiment of the Lithuanian Grand Duchess Birutė (Lithuanian: 2-asis ulonų Didžiosios Lietuvos Kunigaikštienės Birutės pulkas) was founded on 30 October 1920.[2][1][3] Its first commander was Colonel Pranas Jackevičius.[3] The regiment had four cavalry, one machine gun and one technical squadrons.[1] The regiment was disbanded on 26 October 1940.[4]
Names
From its formation to 3 February 1922, the regiment was known as the 2nd Cavalrymen Regiment (Lithuanian: 2-asis raitelių pulkas).
Formation in 1920
The regiment's first order was given on November 16.[3] On November 17, the 2nd squadron began to be formed.[3] The 1st, 3rd and 4th were formed in December.[3]
1921
By 1 January 1921, the regiment had 534 officers and soldiers.[3] On April 24, the regiment left for Utena.[3] There, on April 30, it took over from the 5th Infantry Regiment the guarding of the Foch Line at the sector from Giedraičiai to the Latvian border.[1][3] Besides small skirmishes with the Poles, Polish soldiers in civilian disguise attacked the local field guard at Lokajus and stole 4 horses and 3 carbines on July 18.[3] On October 22, the regiment was transferred to Kaunas.[3]
Interwar
Then on 2 November 1922, the regiment moved to Vilkaviškis.[3] Thereafter, to Alytus on 30 March 1926.[3] On 30 September 1928, the regiment was named 2nd Uhlan Regiment of the Lithuanian Grand Duchess Birutė and received the flag, with the inscription "Garbingi bočių žygiai tebūna mums gyvenimo rodyklė" (translated to "May the honorable marches of our ancestors be an example for us to follow for life").[1][3] In 1939, the regiment was among those units of the Lithuanian Army which entered Vilnius.[1] The Uhlan regiment was disbanded by the occupying Soviet Union.[1]
Regimental commanders
The regiment was commanded by:
- Colonel Pranas Jackevičius[1]
- Colonel Aleksandras Plechavičius[1]
- Colonel Antanas Rėklaitis[1]
- Colonel Kazys Labutis[1]
- Colonel Izidorius Kraunaitis[1]
- Colonel Povilas Žilys[1]
- Colonel Kazys Gudelis[1]
References
Sources
- Steponaitis (1933). "Antras ulonų D. L K. Birutės pulkas". In Vaclovas Biržiška (ed.). Lietuviškoji enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Vol. I: A - Atskalūnas. Kaunas: Spaudos Fondas. pp. 784–785.
- Vydrina, Elena (2009). "lcva fondo 525 pažyma". www.archyvai.lt (in Lithuanian).
- Ruzgas, V., ed. (1932). Visa Lietuva (in Lithuanian). Kaunas: Spaudos Fondas.
- MELC (2022). "Ulonų pulkas". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Science and Encyclopaedia Publishing Centre.