3rd Infantry Regiment of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas
3rd Infantry Regiment of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas (Lithuanian: Trečiasis pėstininkų Lietuvos Didžiojo Kunigaikščio Vytauto pulkas) was a Lithuanian Army infantry regiment that saw combat in the Lithuanian Wars of Independence. It existed from 1919 to 1926 and from 1935 to 1940.
| 3rd Infantry Regiment of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas | |
|---|---|
| Active | 4 May 1919–1 October 1926 1935–26 October 1940 |
| Country | Lithuania |
| Branch | Lithuanian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | 1,400 men (November 1919) |
| Part of | 1st Division |
| Garrison/HQ | HQ at Kėdainiai, Infantry in Raseiniai and Seredžius |
| Engagements | Lithuanian Wars of Independence
|
Formation
The regiment began forming on 1919 May 4 in Raseiniai under the guidance of the commander of the 1st Brigade Pranas Liatukas on the basis of the Battalion of Šauliai.
Lithuanian Wars of independence
Lithuanian-Soviet War
Since August, the regiment fought against Bolsheviks near Daugpilis.
On 1920 February 26, the regiment was given the name of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas.
Interwar
On 1926 October 1, the regiment was disbanded, but it was reformed in 1935. The regiment's HQ was in Kėdainiai, and the regiments garrisoned Raseiniai and Seredžius.[1]
Soviet Occupation
When USSR occupied Lithuania, the 3rd regiment was disbanded, this time most of it was formed into the 256th Rifle Regiment of the Red Army.
Commanders
- 1919 officer Pranas Liatukas
- 1919 officer Ignas Musteikis
- 1920 Major Jonas Gricius
- 1922–1924 Major Aleksandras Jakaitis
- 1925–1926 Colonel Vincas Šaudzis
- 1935–1939 Staff colonel Viktoras Giedrys
- 1939–1940 Colonel Petras Genys
References
- Liekis, Algimantas (2002). Lietuvių karyba ir ginkluotė (iki 1940 m.) : monografija. Vilnius: Academia Scientiarum Lithuaniae. p. 543.