Jonas Cernius
Encyclopedia
Jonas Černius was a Lithuania
n general and Prime Minister
. When Lithuania declared independence in 1918, he joined the army as a volunteer and participated in the Freedom Wars
. He was one of the first graduates from the Military School of Lithuania, but he continued to study military engineering in Brussels
(1929) and Paris
(1932).
On his return to Lithuania, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and appointed as chief of the military technical staff. In 1934 he became a colonel. In 1935 he was promoted to brigadier general and chief of staff of the army. From March 30 to November 22, 1939 he was the Prime Minister and led the 20th cabinet. After resigning as prime minister, he was promoted to major general and put in command of the 1st Division. Following the annexation of Lithuania by the Soviet Union, he served in the Soviet Army's 24th Rifle Corps until his arrest in 1941.
He escaped from the Soviet occupation in 1944. At first he lived in Germany, then England, and in 1948 came to the U.S. He later worked as an engineer for General Motors
.
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...
n general and Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Lithuania
The Prime Minister of Lithuania is the head of the executive arm of Lithuania's government, and is chosen by the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas. The modern office of Prime Minister was established in 1990, although the official title was "Chairperson of the Council of Ministers" until 25...
. When Lithuania declared independence in 1918, he joined the army as a volunteer and participated in the Freedom Wars
Freedom wars of Lithuania
The Lithuanian Wars of Independence, also known as the Freedom Struggles , refer to three wars Lithuania fought defending its independence at the end of World War I: with Bolshevik forces , Bermontians , and Poland...
. He was one of the first graduates from the Military School of Lithuania, but he continued to study military engineering in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
(1929) and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(1932).
On his return to Lithuania, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and appointed as chief of the military technical staff. In 1934 he became a colonel. In 1935 he was promoted to brigadier general and chief of staff of the army. From March 30 to November 22, 1939 he was the Prime Minister and led the 20th cabinet. After resigning as prime minister, he was promoted to major general and put in command of the 1st Division. Following the annexation of Lithuania by the Soviet Union, he served in the Soviet Army's 24th Rifle Corps until his arrest in 1941.
He escaped from the Soviet occupation in 1944. At first he lived in Germany, then England, and in 1948 came to the U.S. He later worked as an engineer for General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
.