Adaptation of the French military thought to the Lithuanian Army in the 1920s and the 1930s

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Karo mokslas; Statutai; Lietuvos kariuomenė; Military science; Statutes; Lithuanian army.

ENThe present article discusses the main provisions and military thoughts of the French military doctrine and their application to the Lithuanian army in the 1920s and the 1930s. The research of world scholars and the analysis of Lithuanian sour-ces has revealed which French military ideas were suitable to be adapted to the Li-thuanian army and which of them were adapted. The main provisions of the French military doctrine in the 1920s and the 1930s were created taking into consideration the experiences of WWI positional battles, where firepower was the key factor, influencing victory. The French doctrine itself was based on the principles of both offensive and defensive battles. Military features in this state were created expecting a war with Germany, and it was expected to win against it, using the same measures as in WWI. Taking into consideration local conditions, the fundamental French provision was adapted to Lithuania, i.e. success in military operations is reached employing offensive actions, which combine two elements, firepower and maneuver. However, the French model of a methodi-cal battle and centralized command related to it were not adapted to Lithuania. In the operation tactics of the Lithuanian artillery, the features of the French artillery tactics were adapted, which were related to fire concentration, the surprise factor, and mobility.Lithuanian military officers studied in French military institutions and learned the principles of a methodical battle; nevertheless, because of the Lithuanian state and army specificity, these principles were not applied as unsuitable for maneuver battle. Cavalry operation tactics and its functions were mainly adapted to the Lithuanian army on the basis of the French examples. Especially the principles of armed forces universality were used, and by using them, cavalry could use the factors of surprise, speed, and mobility. Lithuanian military officers studied in French military institutions and learned the principles of a methodical battle; nevertheless, because of the Li-thuanian state and army specificity, these principles were not applied as unsuitable for maneuver battle. Cavalry operation tactics and its functions were mainly adapted to the Lithu-anian army on the basis of the French examples. Especially the principles of armed forces universality were used, and by using them, cavalry could use the factors of surprise, speed, and mobility. The operation tactics of armoured military equipment in Lithuania was also adapted from France, where Lithuanian officers of this field had studied. The tank models produced in France or Great Britain, which was influenced by the French military thought, were used in Lithuania; this also influenced the adaptation of tactical tank operation of these states. [From the publication]

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