The 8th Infantry Regiment (), later the 8th Infantry Regiment of the Duke of Kaunas Vaidotas () was an

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

that served in the

Lithuanian Army The Lithuanian Armed Forces () are the military of Lithuania. The Lithuanian Armed Forces consist of the Lithuanian Land Forces, the Lithuanian Naval Force and the Lithuanian Air Force. In wartime, the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service (wh ...

during the

Interwar period In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days), the end of the World War I, First World War to the beginning of the World War II, Second World War. The in ...

1919

The regiment was founded on 12 May 1919 as the Ukmergė Infantry Battalion (). From August to December 1919, the battalion fought against the

Bolshevik The Bolsheviks (russian: Большевики́, from большинство́ ''bol'shinstvó'', 'majority'),; derived from ''bol'shinstvó'' (большинство́), "majority", literally meaning "one of the majority". also known in English ...

Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, after ...

from

Salakas Salakas is a town in northeastern Lithuania with a population of 519 inhabitants according to the 2011 census. It is famous for the neo-romantic church of Lady of Sorrows. It was built in 1911. History The settlement of Salakas was first menti ...

Daugpilis Daugavpils (; russian: Двинск; ltg, Daugpiļs ; german: Dünaburg, ; pl, Dyneburg; see other names) is a state city in south-eastern Latvia, located on the banks of the Daugava River, from which the city gets its name. The parts of the c ...

. On December 10, the battalion was reorganized into the 8th Regiment.

1920

On 16 February 1920, the regiment was given the name of Vaidotas, the Duke of Kaunas. Soon thereafter, on February 21–23, the regiment quelled the Mutiny of the Kaunas garrison. Thereafter, the regiment guarded the demarcation line with Poland. In July and August 1920, two of the 8th regiment's battalions guarded the demarcation line to the south of Trakai against Red Army units during the Polish–Soviet War. From 2 to 23 September 1920, the regiment fought against the Polish Army in the

Battle of Suvalkai A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and fo ...

. Then, during Żeligowski's Mutiny, the regiment fought in the

Battle of Giedraičiai The Battle of Giedraičiai () was fought on November 17–21, 1920, between the Lithuanian Army and a part of the Polish Army led by Lucjan Żeligowski, which called itself the Army of Central Lithuania. Prelude On October 9, 1920, General Lucja ...

Klaipėda Revolt

In 1923, the regiment's soldiers partook in the Klaipėda Revolt. The company, led by Lieutenant , broke through the entire city to the

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

Commissioner's prefecture, where the company commander was killed. However, the prefecture was occupied and the French surrendered.

Interwar

In 1921, after the battles against the Poles ceased, the regiment was stationed in Šėta, and then moved to the permanent dislocation in Šiauliai. On 29 July 1929, the regiment was given the flag with the inscription of "" (May Bravery, Endurance and Love of the Fatherland lead us). The regiment was part of the 3rd Infantry Division. The regiment had two battalions, totalling about 1,100 soldiers. The regiment's commander was also the commander of the Šiauliai garrison.

Soviet occupation and disbandment

The 5th Infantry Regiment of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Kęstutis was renamed to 5th Infantry Regiment on 25 July 1940, following Lithuania's occupation by the Soviet Union. Finally, the regiment was disbanded on October 27.

Regimental commanders

* 1919 – officer * 1921 – Colonel * 1921 – Colonel * 1924 – Colonel * 1926 – Colonel * 1927 – Colonel * 1934–1940 – Colonel -Butkevičius

References

Sources

* * * {{Cite web , last=Vydrina , first=Elena , date=2008 , title=lcva fondo 521 pažyma , url=https://www.archyvai.lt/lt/fondai/kariuomene/lcva_f521.html , url-status=live , website=Lietuvos centrinis valstybės archyvas , language=lt Military units and formations established in 1919 Military units and formations disestablished in 1940 Infantry regiments of Lithuania