Adolfas Urbšas
Adolfas Urbšas | |
---|---|
Born | Kaunas War School Higher Officers' Courses | 7 August 1900
Adolfas Urbšas (18 August 1900 – 19 May 1973) was an officer in the
Educated at the
Biography
In the Lithuanian Army
Urbšas was mobilized into the
After graduating from the courses for officers of the
In the Red Army
When
On 6 June 1941, just before the
16th Rifle Division
The 16th Rifle Division was deployed in February 1943 at Alekseyevka, 50 km (31 mi) southeast of Oryol. It suffered significant losses and within the first month lost 1,169 dead and 3,275 injured out of total strength of 10,000.[3] In April 1943, Urbšas was once again assigned to the 16th Rifle Division – this time as its chief of staff.[1] After recovering and receiving reinforcements, the 16th Rifle Division (as part of the 48th Army) participated in the Battle of Kursk in July–August 1943. It once again suffered significant losses, at least 742 dead and 2,414 injured out of total strength of 7,500.[4]
In September 1943, the 16th Rifle Division was redeployed to the
In July 1944, the 16th Rifle Division entered the territory of Lithuania. It did not participate in battles with the Germans and by early August gathered in Šiauliai. The division received reinforcements of conscripted Lithuanians and successfully withstood the German Šiauliai offensive.[4] On 8 September 1944, Urbšas was given the command of the 16th Rifle Division.[2] He was promoted to major general in November.[1] Under his command, the division participated in the Soviet advance towards Klaipėda. During these fights, about 1,350 men of the division were killed. In mid-November 1944, the division was assigned to the Courland Pocket where it fought until the end of the war. About 3,580 men died in Courland.[4]
In January 1945, the division was briefly deployed in Lithuania where it participated in the final
Just as Germany was surrendering, Urbšas was removed from his command of the 16th Rifle division on 8 May 1945.[1]
Post-war and retirement
In January 1946, Urbšas was returned to teach tactics at the
Urbšas died on 19 May 1973 in Kaunas and was buried at the Petrašiūnai Cemetery.[1]
Awards
Urbšas's awards included:
- Order of Vytautas the Great (1930; 5th degree)[7]
- Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (1937; 3rd degree)[7]
- Independence Medal (Lithuania)[1]
- Order of the Red Star (15 July 1943)[8]
- Order of the Patriotic War (29 July 1944; 1st degree)[8]
- Order of the Red Banner (26 October 1944)[8]
References
- ^ ISBN 978-609-8277-17-3.
- ^ a b "Urbshas, Adolfas Ionovich, Major-General". Generals of the Soviet Union. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
- ISSN 1392-6489.
- ^ ISSN 1392-6489.
- ISSN 1392-4095.
- ^ Dykovienė, Asta (6 November 2022). "Garbės piliečio titulas – ne vien tik generolams" (in Lithuanian). Kauno diena. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ a b Zabielskas, Vytautas (15 September 2022) [2018]. "Adolfas Urbšas". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos centras. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ a b c "Урбшас Адольфас Ионович" (in Russian). NashaPobeda.lv. Retrieved 19 January 2023.