Povilas Plechavičius: Difference between revisions

'''Povilas Plechavičius''' ({{Lang-pl|Paweł Plechowicz}}{{Sfn|Tomaszewski|1999|p=435}}{{Sfn|Rokicki|2015|p=46}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Powell |first=Marie-Jacqueline |title=The Battleground of High Politics: A Comparative Study of British and French Policies Towards Poland and the Baltic States 1917-39 |year=2003 |isbn=9781857767575 |pages=94}}</ref>; 1 February 1890 – 19 December 1973) was a [[LithuaniaLithuanians|Lithuanian]]n [[military officer]] and statesman. HeHis firstmilitary career servedbegan in the [[Imperial Russian Army]] as a [[Junker (Russia)|yunker]] during [[World War I]]. andThen, duringPlechavičius climbed the ranks of the [[interwar period]] rose[[Lithuanian Army]] from the rank of [[Captain (armed forces)|Captaincaptain]] to [[Lieutenantlieutenant general]] in the [[Lithuanian Army]].{{Sfn|Šiaudinis|2019|p=4}}

He is best known for his actions during the [[Lithuanian Wars of Independence]], when the partisans he led fought against the Soviet invasion of northwest Lithuania, liberated [[Seda, Lithuania|Seda]], [[Mažeikiai]] and [[Telšiai]], and later helped to forceforced out the [[Bermontians]].{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}} He is also known for organizing the [[1926 Lithuanian coup d'état]] and creating and leading the [[Lithuanian Territorial Defense Force]] during the [[OccupationGerman occupation of theLithuania Balticduring statesWorld War II|German occupation of Lithuania]].{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}} Plechavičius is the subject of much controversy and debate.{{Sfn|Čekutis|Žygelis|2006}}

Povilas Plechavičius was born on 1 February 1890, in the {{ill|Bukančiai|lt}} farmstead, in [[Židikai]] eldership, [[Mažeikiai District Municipality|Mažeikiai district]], to the Lithuanian farmer Ignas Plechavičius.{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}} His mother was [[Lithuanian nobility|Lithuanian noblewoman]] Konstancija Bukontaitė.{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}} Povilas Plechavičius was baptized in the [[Church of the Holy Trinity, Pikeliai|Church of the Holy Trinity]] in [[Pikeliai]].{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}} According to a list of languages made by Plechavičius himself, in addition to his native [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian mother tongue]], he also knew the [[Latvian language|Latvian]], [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Polish language|Polish]] and [[German language|German]] languages, as well as some [[English language|English]] and [[French language|French]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-11-19 |title=Konstancijos ir Igno Plechavičių anūkės prisiminimuose – artimųjų likimai |language=lt |trans-title=In the memories of the granddaughter of Konstancija and Ignas Plechavičius – the fates of loved ones |work=Santarvė.lt |url=https://www.santarve.lt/konstancijos-ir-igno-plechaviciu-anukes-prisiminimuose-artimuju-likimai/}}</ref> Plechavičius is also known to have spoken [[Samogitian language|Samogitian]].{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=21-22}}

Plechavičius graduated from a gymnasium in [[Moscow]] in 1908.{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}} Because Plechavičius was proud of his Samogitian background, he was disliked by the Russian teachers and thus suffered because of it.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=10}} Later, he graduated from the [[Plekhanov Russian University of Economics|Moscow Commercial Institute]] in 1911.{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}}{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}} Plechavičius then graduated from the {{ill|Orenburg Cossack Yunker School|ru|Оренбургское казачье училище}} on 13 May 13, 1914.{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}}{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=10}}

During [[World War I]], he fought in the 5th Cavalry Regiment of the [[Imperial Russian Army]] against the [[German Empire]], [[Austria-Hungary]] and the [[Ottoman Empire in World War I|Ottoman Empire]].{{Sfn|Šiaudinis|2019|p=4}}{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}}{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}} During the war, he was wounded.{{Sfn|Šiaudinis|2019|p=4}}{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}} The first time he was wounded was in the fights near [[Šiauliai]].{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=10}} Some sources give the number of his wounds as three,{{Sfn|Šiaudinis|2019|p=4}}{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}} but his biography claims that he was wounded as many as 29 times during the war.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=10}} In one case, he was unconscious for three days after receiving an injury.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=10}}

In October 1917, the [[Bolshevik coup]] began and the [[Russian Army (1917)|Russian army]] fell apart, including in the [[Caucasus]] where the Plechavičiai brothers were involved in the [[Caucasus campaign|campaign against]] the [[Ottoman Army (1861–1922)|Ottoman army]].{{Sfn|Šiaudinis|2019|p=4}}

The situation in Lithuania in 1918 was chaotic due to the rampage of robbers as well as the requisitions and robberies by the [[Imperial German Army]] units.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=205}} The robbers were mostly composed of former Russian [[Prisoner of war|prisoners of war]] on their way to [[Russia]], which included Bolsheviks, and local criminals.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=206}} The robbers frequently engaged in brutal actsbrutality like beating people up, burning their soles, and even skinning live people, thereafter burning them with all their homesteads.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=206}} A lot of those robbers ran rampant in the vicinity of [[Seda, Lithuania|Seda]], [[Pikeliai]], [[Židikai]] and [[Skuodas]].{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=206}}

The [[German Empire]] had already signed the [[Treaty of Brest-Litovsk]] with [[Soviet-Russia|Soviet Russia]] on 3 March 3, 1918, thus ending the hostilities on the [[Eastern Front (World War I)|Eastern Front]] between the [[Russian Army (1917)|Russian]] and German armies.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=206}} Germany had also recognized [[Act of Independence of Lithuania|Lithuanian independence]] on March 23, but negotiations were still goingongoing on regardingabout the form of its governance.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=206}} Regardless, the German soldiers remained in Lithuania, looting and requisitioning from it.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=206}}

On 25 July 25, 1918, Povilas and Aleksandras returned to their farmstead, from where they had not heard from for a long time while serving in the Russian army.{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}}{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=202}} In August, the two brothers organized a {{Ill|Gegužinė|lt}} (Lithuanian version of [[May Day]]) in {{Ill|Juodeikėliai|lt}} to celebrate the [[Act of Independence of Lithuania]].{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=203-204}} It was a mass gathering of the region's locals, where [[Patriotism|patriotic]] speeches were made, Samogitian pipe orchestras played, people sang patriotic songs and danced.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=203-204}} The celebrations were held in a garden.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=203-204}} Several local [[Communism|communists]] disturbed the celebrations by firing shots.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=203-204}} Plechavičius chose a couple of men, told them to catch those communists, spank them and let them go, which the men succeeded in doing.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=203-204}} The people were calmed down and continued dancing.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=203-204}} The May Day had a great significance for the local residents, as it strengthened their patriotism, united them and encouraged them to fight for freedom.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=203-204}}

In the autumn of 1918, Povilas Plechavičius went by train to [[Vilnius]], where [[Council of Lithuania]], the provisional [[government of Lithuania]], was already located.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=208}} Because the Germans still ''[[De facto|''de facto]]'']] occupying the country, the Council of Lithuania could not really do much even if it was functioning.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=208}} The [[Council of Lithuania]] appointed Plechavičius as the Seda County Commander on November 15 and authorized him to organize the [[militia]], military headquarters ({{Lang|lt|komendantūra}}), self-defensedefence units and local administration in [[Samogitia]] and to strengthen the Lithuanian state there in all ways.{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}}{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=208}} After receiving the wide-ranging mandate from the Lithuanian government, Plechavičius started an uncompromising fight against the Bolsheviks, whose foremost enemy he became.{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}} On November 23, Plechavičius volunteered to join the [[Lithuanian Army|Lithuanian army]].{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}}

When the Bolsheviks seized control in [[Seda, Lithuania|Seda]] in late 1918, the two militarily experienced brothers Povilas and Aleksandras, supported by the local population, began to organize a local [[Partisan (military)|partisan]] unit.{{Sfn|Šiaudinis|2019|p=4}}{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}}{{Sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=69}} Plechavičius began organizing the partisans after first receiving weapons from the inhabitants and, later on, also from the German military units in Latvia.{{Sfn|Šiaudinis|2019|p=4}}{{Sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=69}} Plechavičius taught military drill to the partisans and the militiamen that joined them.{{Sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=69}} They also had basic shooting practice.{{Sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=69}} TheTheir centreactivity forcentred their activity wason [[Skuodas]].{{Sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=69}} Plechavičius was assigned military commander of [[Skuodas]] and its surroundings by the Council of Lithuania.[[File:Povilas Plechavičius photographed in the front of the Lithuanian Wars of Independence, 1919.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Povilas Plechavičius photographed in the front of the Lithuanian Wars of Independence, 1919]]

Plechavičius' organizational talent, awareness of his responsibility and duty, combined with the public support for him and his fighters, soon gave tangible achievements.{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}} Together with his brother Aleksandras, Plechavičius succeeded in creating volunteer partisan units.{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}} On February 9, the partisans of Skuodas swore an oath and paraded through its streets on February 16, the day of the [[Act of Independence of Lithuania|restoration of Lithuanian independence]].{{Sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=71}}

In the first half of 1919, the threat posed by [[Bolshevism]] to Lithuania was huge, because the [[Red Army]] had invaded up to the line along [[Mažeikiai]], [[Seda, Lithuania|Seda]], [[Telšiai]], [[Šiluva]], [[Kėdainiai]], [[Jonava]], [[Kaišiadorys]], [[Alytus]] and [[Merkinė]].{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}} The Samogitian partisans stopped the Soviet invasions into Samogitia in the areas where there was no German military.{{Sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=71}}

With the help of a German battalion and an artillery battery, the partisans liberated Seda and [[Mažeikiai]] by the end of February.{{Sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=71}} The retreating Bolsheviks were being pursued until [[Kuršėnai]], while in the north, they were followed in the direction of [[Laižuva]] and [[Žagarė]] until the [[Latvia–Lithuania border|Latvian border]].{{Sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=71}} Thus, in February 1919, Plechavičius was appointed the Commandant of Seda.{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}}

After reorganizing, the partisan headquarters moved to Seda.{{Sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=71}} The nearby [[Telšiai]] received a military headquarters group for the town and its district from [[Kaunas]].{{Sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=71}} The commandant was the officer B.Bronius Zaleskis.{{Sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=71}} Military headquarters were also established in Mažeikiai.{{Sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=71}} The general situation throughout the war-torn lands was improving.{{Sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=71}} The partisan self-defence squads had roughly 200 soldiers in them, while the local militia had a similar amount as well.{{Sfn|Lesčius|2004|p=71}}

On 31 May 31, 1919, Plechavičius married Irena Grinbergaitė, born(1897–1983) in 1897{{Ill|Aleksandrija, inSkuodas|lt=Aleksandrija|lt|Aleksandrija [[Liepāja]](Skuodas)}}'s Catholic church.{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2006}} According to [[Rapolas Skipitis]], she was of [[Baltic Germans|Baltic German]] descent and from [[Liepāja]].{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=228}}

==== Bolshevik assasinationassassination attempts ====

The Bolshevik elementsBolsheviks tried to assasinateassassinating Plechavičius numerous times, but they always failed.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=224}} For example, once Plechavičius was riding a bike near Seda.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=224}} Someone shot at him and the bullet made a hole in Plechavičius' hat, but Plechavičius was unscathed.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=224}} Plechavičius guarded that hat as a souvenir.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=224}} Another time, in the [[Ylakiai]] district, while riding in a carriage from [[Kivyliai]] to {{Ill|Klauseikiai|lt}}, someone threw a grenade into his carriage, but Plechavičius grabbed it and threw it away, with the grenade exploding and not harming anyone.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=224}}

The Bolsheviks tried to murder Plechavičius in his bed while sleeping, by shooting through the wall, but this failed because the assasinassassin missed.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=224}} The Bolsheviks installedinfiltrated a maid in Plechavičius' house, who was supposed to kill Plechavičius.{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}} Wherever Plechavičius and his partisans went, they encountered resistance, which led them to suspect the maid of being an informant.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=224}} Feliksas Veitas discovered that the maid was a Bolshevik agent.{{Sfn|Jurgėla|1978|p=224}} The maid was arrested, sentenced to death by a [[court-martial]] and publicly shot in the middle of the town of Seda, for everyone to see.{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}}

From January 1920, Plechavičius commanded a company and then a battalion of the [[5th Infantry Regiment (Lithuania)|5th Infantry Regiment]].{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}} As an officer in the Lithuanian Army, he participated in the [[Polish–Lithuanian War]] in the battle for [[Seinai]], [[Augustavas]] and [[Varėna]] in late 1920.{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}} At the end of 1920, he served in the [[1st Hussar Regiment (Lithuania)|1st]] and [[2nd Uhlan Regiment (Lithuania)|2nd Cavalry Regiments]].{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}}

After the [[1926 Lithuanian parliamentary election|Lithuanian parliamentary election in May 1926]], the political regime in Lithuania softened and the [[Communist Party of Lithuania|communist movement]] became stronger.{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}} Convinced that it was necessary to protect Lithuania from a Bolshevik coup, Plechavičius, who was freed from prison, where he was serving a 20-day sentence for a fistfight with another officer, became one of the leaders of the [[1926 Lithuanian coup d'état|military coup of 17 December 17, 1926]].{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}} The coup removed the democratically elected government, assumed power and then handed it to [[Antanas Smetona]].{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}}

On 1 January 1, 1927, he was appointed Chief Cavalry Inspector of the Army Headquarters, and at the same time held the position of Chief of the General Staff Board.{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}} In July 1927, he was appointed Chief of Cavalry.{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}} From August 1927, Plechavičius was the [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Lithuania)|Chief of the General Staff]] of the Army.{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}} He wrote a textbook in 1928 called the {{Lang|lt|Jojų tarnyba, divizijos eskadronas ir mišri žvalgomoji rinktinė}} (Cavalry service, Divisional Squadron and Mixed Reconnaissance Team).{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}} He was given the rank of lieutenant general in 1929.{{Sfn|Šiaudinis|2019|p=4}} On 13 February 13, 1929, Plechavičius was released to the reserve against his will.{{Sfn|Blaževičius|2004}} He lived as a farmer thereafter.{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}}

On Lithuanian Independence Day (February 16, 1944) Plechavičius made a radio appeal to the nation for volunteers. Some 19,500 men responded to the appeal.{{Sfn|Šiaudinis|2019|p=4}}{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}} All Lithuanian political underground organizations supported Plechavičius{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}. This was achieved through constant communication between Lithuanian commanders and resistance leaders. This was enormously successful: more volunteers came forward than was expected. The Germans were very surprised and deeply shocked by the number of volunteers since their own appeals went unheeded.

After the failed offensive against Polish Home Army due to the [[Battle of Murowana Oszmianka|pre–emptive Polish surprise attack]], Jeckeln ordered the detachment units in Vilnius to revert to his direct authority. All other units of the detachment were to come under the command of the regional German commissars. Furthermore, the detachment was to use the "[[Heil Hitler]]" greeting. Some soldiers of the LTDF committed crimes against civilian residents of the Vilnius region in April and May 1944. The most tragic incidents took place on May 4-64–6, in the villages of Pawłowo, Adamowszczyzna and Sienkowszczyzna, where a number of Lithuanian soldiers killed eleven people. They also beat or arrested many others, and also burned down dozens of farms and entire Adamowszczyzna.{{Sfn|Rokicki|2015|p=147}}

In May 1944, the occupying Germans unsuccesfullyunsuccessfully tried to force the Lithuanian military units into the SS.{{Sfn|Rogers|2015|p=21}} The Lithuanian headquarters directed the Lithuanian units in the field to obey only the orders of the Lithuanian officers. It also ordered the LTDF Officers' School in [[Marijampolė]] to send the cadets home. Plechavičius issued a declaration for his men to disband and disappear into the forests with their weapons and uniforms.<ref name="Audėnas">Audėnas, Juozas (ed.). ''Twenty Years’ Struggle for the Freedom of Lithuania''. New York: VLIK, 1963</ref>{{Sfn|Ivinskis|1965|p=84}}{{Sfn|Lane|2002|p=57}} The majority of these soldiers became part of the underground resistance and formed the core of the [[Lithuanian partisans|armed anti-Soviet resistance in Lithuania]] for the next eight years.{{Sfn|Lane|2002|p=57}} Instead of collaborating with the Germans, the Lithuanian units disbanded and Plechavičius and his staff were arrested by the Germans on May 15.{{Sfn|Rogers|2015|p=21}} Plechavičius and 52 other officers were deported to the [[Salaspils concentration camp]] in Latvia.{{Sfn|Šiaudinis|2019|p=4}} Then he was taken to [[Gdańsk]], then to [[Klaipėda]].{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}} Plechavičius was released but remained under the supervision of the [[Gestapo]].{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}} As the Soviet [[Red Army]] approached, Plechavičius left for Germany.{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}}

In 1946, the [[NKVD]] demanded the extradition of Plechavičius from the [[British Zone of Occupation]] and accusingaccused him of being a "[[War Criminal|war criminal]]", "former [[Nazi-collaborator]]" and leading "the recruitment and deployment of paramilitary units which were involved in numerous actions against Jews and Soviet partisans".{{Sfn|Dorril|2002|p=282}} The [[British Foreign office|British Foreign Office]] dismissed this, stonewalling the Soviet demands, and said that there were "vital intelligence reasons which preclude the possibility of our handing him over to the Russians."{{Sfn|Dorril|2002|p=282}}

Although Plechavičius worked with [[MI6]] for some time, he soonlater opted to better work with the [[Central Intelligence Agency]].{{Sfn|Dorril|2002|p=292}} The CIA helped Plechavičius with his emigration to the [[United States]] in 1949,{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}} where his sister and mother lived. He was the chairman of the Board of the Lithuanian Military Veterans' Union ''Ramovė'' in 1950–1959.{{Sfn|Zabielskas|2018}}

He died in [[Chicago]] on 19 December 19, 1973, and was buried at Saint Casimir Catholic Cemetery.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116006294/obituaries-povilas-plechavicius/ |title=Obituaries: Povilas Plechavicius |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |page=54 |date=1973-12-25 |access-date=2023-01-07 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He had three children, who were daugterdaughter Irena and sons Povilas and Norbertas, and three grandchildren.<ref name=":0" />

* {{Cite news |last=Čekutis |first=Ričardas |last2=Žygelis |first2=Dalius |date=2006-02-06 |title=„Laisvės"Laisvės kryžkelės“kryžkelės" (II) – Povilas Plechavičius ir Lietuvos vietinė rinktinė |language=lt |url=https://www.bernardinai.lt/2006-02-06-laisves-kryzkeles-ii-povilas-plechavicius-ir-lietuvos-vietine-rinktine/}}

[[Category:LithuanianCommander's militaryGrand personnelCrosses inof the Imperial Russian ArmyOrder of Worldthe WarCross of IVytis]]