Silvestras Žukauskas
Encyclopedia
Silvestras Žukauskas was a general in the Russian army
, and later in his native Lithuania
, after it regained its independence in 1918.
in Marijampolė
, Žukauskas studied at the military academy in Vilnius
. In 1881, he enlisted in a cavalry unit of the Russian Empire
. In 1898 he married German Jozephine Hasdorf and converted to Lutheranism
, because this helped him pursuing his career. Žukauskas participated in the Russo-Japanese War
and advanced through the ranks. In 1912 he was promoted to Colonel
. He held a command in World War I
, and for the defense of Šiauliai
, was awarded the golden sabre. In 1916 he attained the rank of Major-General.
. On May 7, 1919 he was appointed the Supreme Commander of the Lithuanian army (serving until September 24), at the time also acting as Chief of the General Staff. Under Žukauskas' direct command the Kurkliai–Panevėžys operation was planned. During its implementation, Ukmergė
and Panevėžys
were liberated from Bolshevik control. After this operation Žukauskas established the military Order
Už tėvynę (For the Homeland), later renamed the Vytis cross on February 3, 1920 and the Order of the Cross of Vytis
on September 1, 1930. At first it was awarded as a ribbon, without a medal.
On May 26 – June 6, 1919 the Lithuanian offensive continued during the planned Kupiškis–Utena operation, and the towns of Biržai
, Nemunėlio Radviliškis, Utena
were liberated. The Red Army
retreated from Kupiškis
in order to avoid encirclement. The offensive continued as Obeliai
was captured. The Lithuanian army halted when it reached the Daugava River, and then joined the Lithuanian army's main forces and took on the Bermontians who were invading northern Lithuania.
On February 23, 1920 he was again named Supreme Commander of the Lithuanian army until June 14, 1920. When the war with Poland
erupted on October 8, 1920, he again became Supreme Commander of the Lithuanian army until the end of hostilities. He resigned on May 29, 1921.
Following the end of hostilities Žukauskas returned to civilian life and began working as a nominal executive of the American-Lithuanian Company. This enterprise initiated a power plant near Šiauliai, began a bus transportation line, and built gas stations and maintenance garages.
Upon being recalled into military service, Žukauskas served once again as the Supreme Commander of the Lithuanian Army between June 5, 1923 and January 25, 1928.
Silvestras Žukauskas died in 1937, and is buried in Kaunas' Lutheran cemetery.
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, and later in his native Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, after it regained its independence in 1918.
Biography
After graduating from the secondary schoolGymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Marijampolė
Marijampole
Marijampolė is an industrial city and the capital of the Marijampolė County in the south of Lithuania, bordering Poland and Russian Kaliningrad oblast, and Lake Vištytis. The population of Marijampolė is 48,700...
, Žukauskas studied at the military academy in Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
. In 1881, he enlisted in a cavalry unit of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
. In 1898 he married German Jozephine Hasdorf and converted to Lutheranism
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
, because this helped him pursuing his career. Žukauskas participated in the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
and advanced through the ranks. In 1912 he was promoted to Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. He held a command in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and for the defense of Šiauliai
Šiauliai
Šiauliai , is the fourth largest city in Lithuania, with a population of 133,900. It is the capital of Šiauliai County. Unofficially, the city is the capital of Northern Lithuania.-Names:...
, was awarded the golden sabre. In 1916 he attained the rank of Major-General.
Lithuanian Wars of Independence
Upon Lithuania regaining its independence in 1918, Žukauskas returned home to Lithuania and began creating and organizing the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Between April 26, 1919 and May 27, 1919 Žukauskas served as the Chief of General Staff. During that time he also organized a defense against the BolsheviksLithuanian–Soviet War
The Lithuanian–Soviet War or Lithuanian–Bolshevik War was fought between newly independent Lithuania and the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic in the aftermath of World War I. It was part of the larger Soviet westward offensive of 1918–1919...
. On May 7, 1919 he was appointed the Supreme Commander of the Lithuanian army (serving until September 24), at the time also acting as Chief of the General Staff. Under Žukauskas' direct command the Kurkliai–Panevėžys operation was planned. During its implementation, 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...
and Panevėžys
Panevežys
Panevėžys see also other names, is the fifth largest city in Lithuania. As of 2008, it occupied 50 square kilometers with 113,653 inhabitants. The largest multifunctional arena in Panevėžys is the Cido Arena...
were liberated from Bolshevik control. After this operation Žukauskas established the military Order
Order (decoration)
An order or order of merit is a visible honour, awarded by a government, dynastic house or international organization to an individual, usually in recognition of distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. The distinction between orders and decorations is somewhat vague, except that most...
Už tėvynę (For the Homeland), later renamed the Vytis cross on February 3, 1920 and the Order of the Cross of Vytis
Order of the Cross of Vytis
The Order of the Cross of Vytis is a Lithuanian Presidential Award conferred on people who heroically defended Lithuania’s freedom and independence.-History:...
on September 1, 1930. At first it was awarded as a ribbon, without a medal.
On May 26 – June 6, 1919 the Lithuanian offensive continued during the planned Kupiškis–Utena operation, and the towns of Biržai
Biržai
Biržai is a city in northern Lithuania. Biržai is famous for its reconstructed Biržai Castle manor, and the whole region is renowned for its many traditional-recipe beer breweries.-Names:...
, Nemunėlio Radviliškis, Utena
Utena, Lithuania
Utena is a city in north-east Lithuania. It is the administrative center of Utena district and Utena County. Utena is one of the oldest settlements of Lithuania. The name of the city is most probably derived from a hydronym. The name of the settlement has been known since 1261.Utena is an...
were liberated. 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...
retreated from Kupiškis
Kupiškis
Kupiškis is a city in north-eastern Lithuania. It is the capital of the Kupiškis district municipality. Kupiškis is situated on the Lėvuo and Kupa rivers. The name of the city originates from Kupa River. Gediminas bridge crosses river Kupa.-History:...
in order to avoid encirclement. The offensive continued as Obeliai
Obeliai
Obeliai is a small city in the Rokiškis district municipality of Panevėžys County, Lithuania. At the foot of the town is one of the area's many lakes....
was captured. The Lithuanian army halted when it reached the Daugava River, and then joined the Lithuanian army's main forces and took on the Bermontians who were invading northern Lithuania.
On February 23, 1920 he was again named Supreme Commander of the Lithuanian army until June 14, 1920. When the war with Poland
Polish-Lithuanian War
The Polish–Lithuanian War was an armed conflict between newly independent Lithuania and Poland in the aftermath of World War I. The conflict primarily concerned territorial control of the Vilnius Region, including Vilnius , and the Suwałki Region, including the towns of Suwałki, Augustów, and Sejny...
erupted on October 8, 1920, he again became Supreme Commander of the Lithuanian army until the end of hostilities. He resigned on May 29, 1921.
Following the end of hostilities Žukauskas returned to civilian life and began working as a nominal executive of the American-Lithuanian Company. This enterprise initiated a power plant near Šiauliai, began a bus transportation line, and built gas stations and maintenance garages.
Upon being recalled into military service, Žukauskas served once again as the Supreme Commander of the Lithuanian Army between June 5, 1923 and January 25, 1928.
Silvestras Žukauskas died in 1937, and is buried in Kaunas' Lutheran cemetery.
Awards
- 1919 Great cross of the Order of the Cross of VytisOrder of the Cross of VytisThe Order of the Cross of Vytis is a Lithuanian Presidential Award conferred on people who heroically defended Lithuania’s freedom and independence.-History:...
- Order of LāčplēsisOrder of LacplesisThe Order of Lāčplēsis, the first and the highest Latvian military award, was established in 1919 on the initiative of the Commander of Latvian Army, during the Latvian War of Independence, Jānis Balodis. The Lāčplēsis Order is awarded in the first, second and third class. Initially, a holder of...
, 2nd class.