IV pėstininkų pulko kovos su Vilnių puolančia generolo majoro Liucjano Želigovskio kariuomene 1920 m. spalį Medininkų apylinkėse

ENOn 16 February 2018, we will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the restoration of the Lithuanian state. After declaring independence on 16 February 1918, the new state faced some fierce struggles. To remain free and independent, Lithuania had to resist three considerably more advanced enemies: Soviet Russia, the Bermontians and Poland. Poland, which had also re-established its independence, viewed Lithuania as a constituent part of the former united state of Lithuania and Poland - the Commonwealth of the Two Nations. It declared war against Lithuania, claiming the state was no more than a political structure created by Germany. After a peace treaty was signed between Lithuania and Soviet Russia on 12 July 1920, Poland claimed that Lithuania was Russia’s ally and declared that Poland would restore the state within its former borders. The war between Poland and Lithuania began in May 1919, but its biggest battles took place in the period between August and November 1920. In mid-August 1920 occurred the so-called ‘Miracle of the Vistula’: having received material support from the West, the Polish army concentrated its forces and drove off Red Army units near Warsaw, pushing them eastwards. The Red Army began to retreat. As the Polish continued their counter-attack against the Red Army, it was convenient for them to officially regard the Lithuanians as collaborating with the Soviets. At 10 am on 27 September, the headquarters of Lithuania’s 1st Infantry Division issued a command to the 4th Infantry regiment to mobilise its forces along the line from Kužiai via Šalčininkai to Slabada. On 5 October, as negotiations in Suwałki began, military actions were suspended. But by 6 October, the Poles had already attacked by the Lithuanian regiment’s guards and a great battle ensued.On 7 October 1920, representatives of Lithuania and Poland signed an agreement, drawing a demarcation line between their territories. However, the ink was not even dry on the Treaty of Suwałki when Polish General Lucjan Żeligowski, following orders from the Polish military command, “rebelled” - because Warsaw could not formally disobey the decision of the Triple Entente to transfer Vilnius to Lithuania - and marched his units towards Vilnius. On 8 October, Zeligowski’s forces attacked the units of the Lithuanian 4th Infantry Regiment, which was defending the city. The Polish forces were several times larger than those of 4th Infantry. By 4pm, the Poles had already breached the Lithuanian lines and began their march on Vilnius. The Lithuanian troops were forced to retreat, attempting to resist in hard-fought defensive battles. Some of the fiercest fighting occurred near Smolianka, Mažosios Salos, Gudeliai, Vidnapolis, Sližiūnai, Keidžiai, Rūdninkai, and Rukainiai. Despite fierce resistance, the situation for Lithuanian army was catastrophic. Army Commander General S. Žukauskas, realising that the 4th Infantry Regiment on its own would not be able to defend Vilnius, commanded them to retreat. On the afternoon of 9 October, the regiment’s staff left the capital and marched in the direction of Sudervė. The regiment’s 2nd battalion, unable to retreat through Vilnius, went via Naujoji Vilnia in the direction of Nemenčinė, and joined the regiment in the Sudervė district the following day. By November, Lithuanian forces managed to halt the advance of Zeligowski’s troops, but Lithuania lost its capital, Vilnius, and a considerable piece of its territory for almost 20 years.