Stasys Raštikis
Encyclopedia
Stasys Raštikis was a Lithuania
n military officer, ultimately obtaining the rank of General
of the Lithuanian Army, as well as the Minister of Defense in the Provisional Government
established before the German takeover of Lithuania in 1941.
, Raštikis attended school in Zarasai
, Lithuania. At the outbreak of World War I
, he was mobilized into the Russian Army
, and served on various fronts of the war. In 1918, he returned to Lithuania and entered the Catholic Seminary
in Kaunas
. However, the following year, he left and enlisted in the 5th Infantry Regiment and continued his career in the newly created Lithuanian military. He was wounded during the fighting against the Russian SFSR and Poland
, (Polish-Lithuanian War
). In 1919, severely wounded for the second time, he was taken prisoner by the Red Army, and was only released in 1921. After returning to Lithuania, he resumed his military career and was promoted to the rank of Major
in 1928, and rose through the ranks until he ultimately became a General
. He became Chief of the Army General Staff in 1934, and Commander-in-Chief of the Lithuanian Armed Forces in 1935.
In 1938, Raštikis became the Defense Minister in the government of Vladas Mironas
. After the invasion and subsequent annexation of Lithuania by the Soviet Union, he fled to avoid capture to Nazi Germany
. After the retreat of Soviet forces following Operation Barbarossa
, he was able to return to Lithuania. In German-occupied Lithuania he participated in the Provisional Government of Lithuania
as a shadow Minister of Defense until August 5, 1941. Later, he worked in the Lithuanian War Museum
.
Before the reoccupation of Lithuania by the Soviets, Raštikis again escaped to Germany and then emigrated to the United States
, where he died. Originally interred in Los Angeles
, his remains were returned to Kaunas
in 1993, where he was reburied in Petrašiūnai Cemetery
with full military honors.
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 military officer, ultimately obtaining the rank of General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
of the Lithuanian Army, as well as the Minister of Defense in the Provisional Government
Provisional Government of Lithuania
The Provisional Government of Lithuania was a temporary government aiming for independent Lithuania during the last days of the Soviet occupation and the first weeks of German Nazi occupation in 1941. It was secretly formed on 22 April, 1941, announced on 23 June, 1941, and dissolved on 5 August,...
established before the German takeover of Lithuania in 1941.
Biography
Born in KuršėnaiKuršenai
Kuršėnai is the twenty-fifth largest city in Lithuania. According to the 2001 census, it had 14,197 residents.-Famous people:* Stasys Raštikis, Lithuanian army general* Donald Kagan, Yale Classics professor-References:...
, Raštikis attended school in Zarasai
Zarasai
Zarasai is a city in northeastern Lithuania, surrounded by many lakes and rivers: to the southwest of the city is Zarasas, north – Zarasaitis, southeast – Baltas, and east – Griežtas. Zarasaitis and Griežtas are connected by Laukesa rivulet....
, Lithuania. At the outbreak of 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...
, he was mobilized into the Russian Army
Imperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army was the land armed force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian army consisted of around 938,731 regular soldiers and 245,850 irregulars . Until the time of military reform of Dmitry Milyutin in...
, and served on various fronts of the war. In 1918, he returned to Lithuania and entered the Catholic Seminary
Kaunas Priest Seminary
Kaunas Priest Seminary is the largest seminary in Lithuania serving the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kaunas. It is part of the Faculty of Theology of Vytautas Magnus University. Its current rector is Aurelijus Žukauskas. As of 2007, the seminary had 35 students...
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...
. However, the following year, he left and enlisted in the 5th Infantry Regiment and continued his career in the newly created Lithuanian military. He was wounded during the fighting against the Russian SFSR and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, (Polish-Lithuanian War
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...
). In 1919, severely wounded for the second time, he was taken prisoner by the Red Army, and was only released in 1921. After returning to Lithuania, he resumed his military career and was promoted to the rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in 1928, and rose through the ranks until he ultimately became a General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
. He became Chief of the Army General Staff in 1934, and Commander-in-Chief of the Lithuanian Armed Forces in 1935.
In 1938, Raštikis became the Defense Minister in the government of Vladas Mironas
Vladas Mironas
Vladas Mironas was a Lithuanian priest, politician and later Prime Minister of Lithuania....
. After the invasion and subsequent annexation of Lithuania by the Soviet Union, he fled to avoid capture to Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. After the retreat of Soviet forces following 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...
, he was able to return to Lithuania. In German-occupied Lithuania he participated in the Provisional Government of Lithuania
Provisional Government of Lithuania
The Provisional Government of Lithuania was a temporary government aiming for independent Lithuania during the last days of the Soviet occupation and the first weeks of German Nazi occupation in 1941. It was secretly formed on 22 April, 1941, announced on 23 June, 1941, and dissolved on 5 August,...
as a shadow Minister of Defense until August 5, 1941. Later, he worked in the Lithuanian War Museum
Vytautas the Great War Museum
The Vytautas the Great War Museum is a museum in Kaunas, Lithuania. It was opened on 16 February 1936 and named after Vytautas the Great, Grand Duke of Lithuania. The museum displays historical artefacts pertaining to Lithuania and Kaunas from prehistoric times to the present day, including a...
.
Before the reoccupation of Lithuania by the Soviets, Raštikis again escaped to Germany and then emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he died. Originally interred in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, his remains were returned to 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...
in 1993, where he was reburied in Petrašiūnai Cemetery
Petrašiunai Cemetery
Petrašiūnai Cemetery is Lithuania's premiere last resting place formally designated for graves of people influential in national history, politics, arts, and science.- Location :...
with full military honors.