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Vincas VitkauskasLithuanian and Soviet military leader, lieutenant general
Date of Birth: 04.10.1890
Country:  Lithuania |
Content:
- Early Life and Military Career
- Service in the Lithuanian Army
- General Staff and Higher Commands
- Commander of the Lithuanian Army and Minister of Defense
- Soviet Military Service
- Post-War Career and Legacy
Early Life and Military Career
Born into a peasant family, Jonas Černius graduated from high school in Orel in 1914 and proceeded to study at Moscow University. In 1916, he joined the army and attended the Alekseevsky Military School. During World War I, he served as a machine gun platoon commander and officer.
Service in the Lithuanian Army
In 1918, Černius returned to Lithuania and became the commandant of the Volkovyysk district. In 1919, he volunteered for the newly formed Lithuanian army, fighting against both Russian and Polish forces. He completed higher officer courses in 1923 and served as commander of the 9th Infantry Regiment named after Lithuanian prince Vytenis from 1923 to 1927. He became a lieutenant colonel and later an instructor at the same courses.
General Staff and Higher Commands
Černius served in the General Staff from 1930 to 1935, while also studying law at the University of Kaunas. In 1934, he was appointed inspector of infantry. In 1935, he was promoted to brigadier general and in 1939 to divisional general. He commanded the 1st Division, which participated in the occupation of the Vilnius region in October 1939.
Commander of the Lithuanian Army and Minister of Defense
On January 22, 1940, President Smetona appointed Černius as the commander of the Lithuanian army, succeeding General Raštikis. He held this position until Lithuania accepted the Soviet ultimatum on June 15, 1940. In the aftermath, he served as Minister of Defense of the People's Government of Lithuania from June to July 1940 and as commander of the Lithuanian People's Army from July to August 1940.
Soviet Military Service
From August 1940 to June 14, 1941, Černius commanded the 29th Territorial Rifle Corps, later handing over command to General Samokhin. He was sent to advanced training courses for senior officers at the General Staff Academy. During the war, he resided in Moscow, teaching at the General Staff Academy from 1942 to 1946.
Post-War Career and Legacy
After the war, Černius became a member of the Supreme Council of the Lithuanian SSR. He served as head of the military department at the University of Kaunas (1946-1950) and the Kaunas Polytechnic Institute (1950-1954). He joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1950 and was a deputy of the Supreme Council of the Lithuanian SSR from 1946 to 1954. He retired in 1955 and passed away in Kaunas, where he was laid to rest in the Petrašiūnai Cemetery.
