Army of Central Lithuania explained
The Army of Central Lithuania was the armed forces of the state of Central Lithuania proclaimed by General Lucjan Żeligowski on October 12, 1920.With the announcement by General Lucjan Żeligowski of the establishment of Central Lithuania, the army which he commanded and which participated in the Żeligowski's Mutiny automatically became the Army of Central Lithuania. It was reincorporated into Polish Army in 1922 following the Poland's annexation of Central Lithuania.
The original composition of the troops
- 1st Infantry Brigade
- Vilnius Rifles Regiment – later 85th Vilnius Rifles Regiment
- Minsk Rifles Regiment – later 86th Infantry Regiment
- 2nd Infantry Brigade
- Navahrudak Rifles Regiment – later 80th Infantry Regiment
- Hrodna Rifles Regiment – later 81st Hrodna Rifles Regiment
- 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Field Artillery Regiment
- Mounted Riflemen Squadron
- 1st Sapper Company
- mjr. Kościałkowski's "Bieniakonie" (Benekainys) Group
- Kresy Battalion
- 216th Field Artillery Squadron
- Cavalry Squadron
Military operations
After the seizure of Vilnius, the Supreme Commander of the Army of Central Lithuania, General Żeligowski, ordered the troops to advance to the line: Trakai-Kraso (in Polish) (?)-Rykantai and Bendoriai-Riešė-Paraudondvariai.
Until 29 November 1920, when the Kaunas Armistice was concluded, Central Lithuania was in the state of an undeclared war with the Republic of Lithuania.
1st Central Lithuanian Army Corps
During the fighting, the Army of Central Lithuania was reorganized and on 16 October 1920, the 1st Central Lithuanian Army Corps was created. The corps commander was General Jan Rządkowski, the commander of the 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Division.
- Command
- Staff
- Chief of Staff – p.o. mjr SG Władysław Powierza
- Quartermaster– p.o. mjr SG Władysław Powierza
- Chief of the 4th Branch (Oddziału IV) – p.o. mjr SG Władysław Powierza
1st Division (Vilnius Infantry Brigade)
- Vilnius Rifles Regiment
- Minsk Rifles Regiment
2nd Division (2nd Hrodna Infantry Brigade)
- Navahrudak Rifles Regiment
- Hrodna Rifles Regiment
3rd Division
3rd Upper Nemunas Infantry Brigade
- 5th Volunteer Rifles Regiment
- 6th Scouts Rifles Regiment (after the dissolution of the 3rd Brigade and 5th Volunteers Rifles Regiment, the 6th Scouts Rifles Regiment was independent)
- 77th Infantry Regiment (two companies)
1st Artillery Brigade
- 1st Light Artillery Regiment
- two squadrons of the 216th Light Artillery Regiment
Others
- Sapper Battalion
- Armoured Car Platoon
- Services
Dislocation of branches of the Benekainys Operational Group
Location on 27 October 1921:[1]
- Vilnius Rifles Regiment – Vilnius
- Minsk Rifles Regiment – Vilnius
- Kaunas Rifles Regiment – Vilnius
- 19th Field Artillery Regiment – Vilnius
- 3rd Heavy Artillery Regiment – Vilnius
- Grodno Rifles Regiment – Vilnius
- Lida Rifles Regiment –
- Navahrudak Rifles Regiment – Vilnius
- 29th Field Artillery Regiment – Vilnius
- 29th Heavy Artillery Squadron and III Squadron of the 3rd Heavy Artillery Regiment – Vilnius
Command of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade - Vilnius
- 1st and 3rd squadron, Machine carbine squadron, Technical squadron – Vilnius
- 2nd squadron – Paberžė
- 3rd squadron – Trakai
- 4th squadron –
- 1st squadron –
- 2nd squadron –
- 3rd and 4th squadron – Paberžė,
- 3rd squadron – Trakai
- Machine carbine squadron –
- Technical squadron – Maišiagala
Notes and References
- Book: Łach, Wiesław B.. „Bunt Żeligowskiego”. Kulisy połączenia Wileńszczyzny do Polski 1920-1922.. Wydawnictwo Bellona. 2014. 978-83-11-13198-9. Warszawa. 195.
