Petras Ciunis
Encyclopedia
Petras Ciunis was a Lithuanian army
officer, educator.
Teachers' Seminary (a subsidiary of Tartu University at the time). In February 1919, he volunteered for the 1st infantry regiment of the Lithuanian Army. In June of the same year he started education in the Lithuanian Military Academy in Kaunas
. Upon graduation he was assigned to the 1st infantry regiment as company chief. In July 1925, he graduated from the high courses for officers and became logistics and later drill company chief in the 1st infantry regiment in Ukmergė
. In 1926 he became a captain. In 1933 he was transferred to the Lithuanian Riflemen Union, and in 1935 to Trakai
military district.
As the Soviet Union
occupied Lithuania in 1940, Ciunis was chief of the 2nd company of the 2nd infantry regiment. The only opportunity to prevent Soviets form deporting
the whole Ciunis family to Siberia was to donate most of the family estates to the state and join the Soviet military. In September 1940, he was assigned to the 259th riflemen regiment, 1st battalion, 2nd company of the Red Army
(RA). In December of the same year he was assigned to the 184th riflemen division, 619th artillery regiment, and became chief of the chemical warfare
company.
In June 1941, Ciunis became chief specialist of the 179th riflemen division for chemical warfare. As Operation Barbarossa
started, German Army Groups North
and Centre
invaded the Lithuanian territory. This gave an opportunity for the brief anti-Soviet June Uprising. Reportedly, Ciunis did not directly participated in the uprising, but helped by sabotaging the RA.
As the events of war progressed, Ciunis found himself retreating to the depth of Russia with the remains of the RA 29th riflemen regiment. In August 1941, he was sent to the Soviet officers' academy „Bыстрел“ in Solnechnogorsk
. Afterward he became a professor at the 2nd war academy in Omsk
. As the 'Lithuanian' division
was formed, Ciunis was assigned to it as chief chemical warfare specialist.
In 1946, Ciunis was assigned to Vilnius University
as the chief lecturer in military faculty. In 1950 he retired from military service as a lieutenant colonel. From October 1950 to 1964, he headed the Vilnius regional library (now the Vilnius County Adomas Mickevičius Public Library).
Ciunis died in 1979 and is buried in Antakalnis Cemetery
in Vilnius.
Military of Lithuania
The Lithuanian Armed Forces consist of ~14,500 active personnel . Conscription was ended in September 2008.Lithuania's defence system is based on the concept of "total and unconditional defence" mandated by Lithuania's national Security Strategy...
officer, educator.
Biography
In 1918, Ciunis graduated from VoronezhVoronezh
Voronezh is a city in southwestern Russia, the administrative center of Voronezh Oblast. It is located on both sides of the Voronezh River, away from where it flows into the Don. It is an operating center of the Southeastern Railway , as well as the center of the Don Highway...
Teachers' Seminary (a subsidiary of Tartu University at the time). In February 1919, he volunteered for the 1st infantry regiment of the Lithuanian Army. In June of the same year he started education in the Lithuanian Military Academy in Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
. Upon graduation he was assigned to the 1st infantry regiment as company chief. In July 1925, he graduated from the high courses for officers and became logistics and later drill company chief in the 1st infantry regiment in Ukmergė
Ukmerge
-Early history:Ukmergė was first mentioned as a settlement in 1333. It was essentially a wooden fortress that stood on a hill, near the confluence of the Vilkmergė River and the Šventoji River. Ukmergė was attacked by the Teutonic Knights and the Livonian Order in 1333, 1365, 1378, 1386, and even...
. In 1926 he became a captain. In 1933 he was transferred to the Lithuanian Riflemen Union, and in 1935 to Trakai
Trakai
Trakai is a historic city and lake resort in Lithuania. It lies 28 km west of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Because of its proximity to Vilnius, Trakai is a popular tourist destination. Trakai is the administrative centre of Trakai district municipality. The town covers 11.52 km2 of...
military district.
As the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
occupied Lithuania in 1940, Ciunis was chief of the 2nd company of the 2nd infantry regiment. The only opportunity to prevent Soviets form deporting
Population transfer in the Soviet Union
Population transfer in the Soviet Union may be classified into the following broad categories: deportations of "anti-Soviet" categories of population, often classified as "enemies of workers," deportations of entire nationalities, labor force transfer, and organized migrations in opposite...
the whole Ciunis family to Siberia was to donate most of the family estates to the state and join the Soviet military. In September 1940, he was assigned to the 259th riflemen regiment, 1st battalion, 2nd company of the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
(RA). In December of the same year he was assigned to the 184th riflemen division, 619th artillery regiment, and became chief of the chemical warfare
Chemical warfare
Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together make up NBC, the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical...
company.
In June 1941, Ciunis became chief specialist of the 179th riflemen division for chemical warfare. As Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
started, German Army Groups North
Army Group North
Army Group North was a German strategic echelon formation commanding a grouping of Field Armies subordinated to the OKH during World War II. The army group coordinated the operations of attached separate army corps, reserve formations, rear services and logistics.- Formation :The Army Group North...
and Centre
Army Group Centre
Army Group Centre was the name of two distinct German strategic army groups that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II. The first Army Group Centre was created on 22 June 1941, as one of three German Army formations assigned to the invasion of the Soviet Union...
invaded the Lithuanian territory. This gave an opportunity for the brief anti-Soviet June Uprising. Reportedly, Ciunis did not directly participated in the uprising, but helped by sabotaging the RA.
As the events of war progressed, Ciunis found himself retreating to the depth of Russia with the remains of the RA 29th riflemen regiment. In August 1941, he was sent to the Soviet officers' academy „Bыстрел“ in Solnechnogorsk
Solnechnogorsk
Solnechnogorsk is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, the administrative center of Solnechnogorsky District. It is situated on the Moscow-Saint Petersburg Highway and the Moscow-Saint Petersburg Railway, on the coast of Senezh Lake, north-west from Moscow. Population: Originally, there was a village...
. Afterward he became a professor at the 2nd war academy in Omsk
Omsk
-History:The wooden fort of Omsk was erected in 1716 to protect the expanding Russian frontier along the Ishim and the Irtysh rivers against the Kyrgyz nomads of the Steppes...
. As the 'Lithuanian' division
16th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)
The 16th Rifle Division , was a formation in the Red Army created during the Second World War. The division was formed twice, and was given the title 'Lithuanian' during its second formation. It was originally established at Novgorod in October 1939. It was wiped out at Mga in 1941...
was formed, Ciunis was assigned to it as chief chemical warfare specialist.
In 1946, Ciunis was assigned to Vilnius University
Vilnius University
Vilnius University is the oldest university in the Baltic states and one of the oldest in Eastern Europe. It is also the largest university in Lithuania....
as the chief lecturer in military faculty. In 1950 he retired from military service as a lieutenant colonel. From October 1950 to 1964, he headed the Vilnius regional library (now the Vilnius County Adomas Mickevičius Public Library).
Ciunis died in 1979 and is buried in Antakalnis Cemetery
Antakalnis Cemetery
Antakalnis Cemetery , sometimes referred as Antakalnis Military Cemetery, is the cemetery in the Antakalnis district of Vilnius in Lithuania. It was established in 1809....
in Vilnius.
Decorations
- 1928 – Lithuanian Independence Medal, Volunteer Medal
- 1929 – Lithuanian Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke GediminasOrder of the Lithuanian Grand Duke GediminasThe Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas is the Lithuanian Presidential Award which was re-instituted to honour the citizens of Lithuania for outstanding performance in civil and public offices. Foreign nationals may also be awarded this Order. The Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke...
, Officer's cross - 1939 – Lithuanian Rifleman's star
- 1944 – Soviet Order of the Red StarOrder of the Red StarEstablished on 6 April 1930, the Order of the Red Star was an order of the Soviet Union, given to Red Army and Soviet Navy personnel for "exceptional service in the cause of the defense of the Soviet Union in both war and peace". It was established by Resolution of the Presidium of the CEC of the...
- 1945 – Soviet Medal For the Victory Over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945