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1st Division (Lithuania)

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1st Division
Pirmoji divizija
Divisional symbol
Active1775–1795
1920–1923
1931–1940
2025–
Country Lithuania
Branch Lithuanian Land Force
TypeDivision
Size~20,000
Part of Multinational Corps Northeast (NATO)
Garrison/HQRukla (?)
Motto(s)Unity, Strength, Victory
Anniversaries11–12 April 1775
Commanders
Current
commander		Brigade general Aurelijus Alasauskas
Chief of StaffLieutenant Colonel Darius Kisielius

The 1st Division (Lithuanian: Pirmoji divizija) is the main military unit of the Land Forces of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The division is planned to reach full operational capacity by 2030.[1]

As of January 2025, the division consists of a command headquarters, three infantry brigades, engineering and artillery regiments, as well as a reconnaissance battalion.[1][2] Units of other military branches are also used to support the division.

History

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On January 28, 2025, the president of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, and the chief of defence, General Raimundas Vaikšnoras, unveiled the division's emblem.

The 1st Division continues the traditions of the Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army's 1st Lithuanian Division.

1775–1795

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Officially, the Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army's 1st and 2nd Divisions were established on April 11–12, 1775, after the Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth approved the framework.[1] However, the actual formation through the transformation of the old units into a new structure began in 1777.[1] The divisions were equivalent to a modern military district.

The first commander of the 1st Lithuanian Division was Lieutenant General Juozapas Judickis, the Grand Guard of Lithuania (1776–1789), the elder of Strzalków and Bohiń.

Divisional commanders

1920–1940

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In 1918, after the restoration of Lithuanian statehood, the Lithuanian army and its regiments were reborn, which were combined into brigades in 1919.[2] In 1920, the 1st Division was re-formed based on the 1st Brigade, which fought in the Lithuanian Wars of Independence.[2]

With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the 1st Division was mobilized to defend the borders of Lithuania and ensure the security of Vilnius and elsewhere in Lithuania.[2] After the government's surrender to the Soviet ultimatum to Lithuania in 1940 and the subsequent Soviet occupation, the Lithuanian Army was disbanded, but the 1st Division's soldiers went on to fight for Lithuania against the occupation as partisans.[2]

21st century

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At the 2022 Madrid Summit, the main military tactical unit was upscaled from a brigade to a division in NATO's military plans.[3] In May 2023, the Lithuanian State Defence Council [lt] approved the future formation of a division.[3] In order to establish a Lithuanian Infantry Division with a tank battalion, on 11 July 2024 the Seimas approved changes to the basic structure of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, which entered into force on 18 July 2024.

Structure

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The 1st Division's order of battle in 2025
1st Division Infantry Brigade "Žemaitija" and other divisional troops during Allied Spirit 2025 exercise

The 1st Division was re-established on 28 January 2025 in Rukla.[1] and received the Infantry Brigades Iron Wolf, Žemaitija and Aukštaitija, as well as supporting units.[1][2] The division will be fully operational by 2030 and consist by then of the following units:[4][5]

1st Division, in Rukla

Commanders

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Division commanders

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Biržietis 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f kariuomene.lt 2025.
  3. ^ a b kam.lt 2025.
  4. ^ "Lietuvos kariuomenės Pirmoji divizija". Lithuanian Armed Forces. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  5. ^ Delfi Video (2025-03-14). Tiesiogiai: KAM ministrės Šakalienės ir Lietuvos kariuomenės vado gen. Vaikšnoro komentarai. Retrieved 2025-03-14 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ Media, Fresh. "Ministry of National Defence Republic of Lithuania :: News » News Releases". kam.lt. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Brigada „Žemaitija" - Štabas ir priskirti padaliniai". Lithuanian Armed Forces. Retrieved 31 January 2025.

Sources

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